A Tale Weaved With Finesse // REVIEW: Da Vinci's Tiger by L.M.Elliot

Title: Da Vinci's Tiger
Author: L. M. Elliot
Publication Date: August 2017 (India)
Publisher: Harper Teen
Part of a Series?: No, A Standalone
I Got A Copy Through: Harper Collins India (THANK YOU!)
Buy Links: Amazon IN || Amazon US || Amazon UK || Barnes and Noble || The Book Depository || Wordery || Flipkart  || Infibeam || Foyles || Waterstones || WHSmith || Kobo || Books A Million || Chapters Indigo || Google Books

Blurb Description: For fans of rich and complex historical novels like Girl with a Pearl Earring or Code Name Verity, Laura Malone Elliott delivers the stunning tale of real-life Renaissance woman Ginevra de' Benci, the inspiration for one of Leonardo da Vinci's earliest masterpieces.
The young and beautiful daughter of a wealthy family, Ginevra longs to share her poetry and participate in the artistic ferment of Renaissance Florence but is trapped in an arranged marriage in a society dictated by men. The arrival of the charismatic Venetian ambassador, Bernardo Bembo, introduces Ginevra to a dazzling circle of patrons, artists, and philosophers. Bembo chooses Ginevra as his Platonic muse and commissions a portrait of her by a young Leonardo da Vinci. Posing for the brilliant painter inspires an intimate connection between them, one Ginevra only begins to understand. In a rich and vivid world of exquisite art with a dangerous underbelly of deadly political feuds, Ginevra faces many challenges to discover her voice and artistic companionship—and to find love. 

 

I’ve always been fascinated with everything related to the Renaissance, ever since I first learnt about it back in middle school. Yet, the minute after I flipped open L.M. Elliot’s Da Vinci’s Tiger, I knew that my knowledge about this period or about one of the most renowned painters in history was in fact, barely amounted to anything at all.

Da Vinci’s Tiger weaves a tale around the subject of Leonardo Da Vinci’s first portrait with finesse, bringing to life the Renaissance in Florence and the voice of a woman whose life was dictated by men before this portrait.

My Thoughts:

1.       The first thing that hit me about this book was how much this book felt like living in Florence in the 1400’s. Whether it was the clothing, the dialogue or the Medici, every time I flipped open Da Vinci’s Tiger, I honestly felt like I’d been transported over 600 years into the past.

“But he, awestruck, marvels more at your modest heart,Your old-fashioned virtue, and your Palladian hands,He is inflamed with Holy Love"

2.       I LOVED meeting a young Leonardo Da Vinci. I’ve read about hit, seen a few episodes of DaVinci’s Demons but seeing him through the eyes of Ginerva was a different experience. I saw a budding artist about to make a name for himself and become one of history’s biggest painters and this new take on him was BRILLIANT!

"Outside, my dear, you may be placed within a gilded cage of men's perceptions of you...It is a lonely thing to be turned into an ideal, especially when one is young and has a heart that beats and yearns."

3.       I can’t believe I forgot to mention this but ISN’T THE COVER JUST BEAUTIFUL? It’s simple and yet it catches your eye and I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

"I will not yield to you in this way, signor," I cried. "No matter how much you track me around this room. No matter how many arguments you make to convince me it is my obligation to reward you with my body" 

4.       I loved Ginerva’s poetry, and I loved the fact that she wrote poetry and that it was so important to her. I feel like we barely got to see any of her poetry, despite the fact that it was being mentioned all the time with the exception of one or two pieces. I especially loved this line:

“I beg your pardon. I am a mountain tiger”

5.       More than Ginerva’s poetry, I loved Ginerva herself. Despite the fact that she was confused and growing up, she had this innate strength and thirst for knowledge that made me love the fact that I was in her head!

A book unlike anything I’ve read before. A richly delicate book that will bring Renaissance Florence to life before your very eyes. 

New York Times best-selling writer, L.M. Elliott is the author of the WWII series: UNDER A WAR-TORN SKY—an NCSS/CBC Notable Book in Social Studies, Jefferson Cup Honor Book, winner of Border's Original Voices Award, and a Bank Street College Best Book, plus its companions, A TROUBLED PEACE (also an NCSS/CBC Notable) and ACROSS A WAR-TOSSED SEA (a Jefferson Cup Overfloweth title). Her other books include ANNIE, BETWEEN THE STATES, a New York Times E-book bestseller, an IRA Teacher’s Choice, and an NYPL Book for the Teen Age; GIVE ME LIBERTY; and DA VINCI'S TIGER, a bio-pic style novel about Ginevra de’ Benci, the young poet in Leonardo's first portrait and the artist's only work permanently housed in the Americas.

What are some of your favourite historical books? 

Are you a fan of the art created in the Renaissance period? 

Which of Da Vinci's paintings is your favourite? 

Have you read this book? What do you think of it? 

I can't wait to hear from you!

Lyrical, Diverse, Poignant // ARC Review: Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Title: Starfish
Author: Akemi Dawn Bowman
Publication Date: September 26th 2017
Publisher: Simon Pulse (Simon and Schuester)
Part of a Series?: No, A Standalone
I Got A Copy Through: Simpon Pulse vie NetGalley
Buy Links: Amazon US || Barnes and Noble || The Book Depository || Wordery || Books A Million || Chapters Indigo ||

Blurb Description: Kiko Himura has always had a hard time saying exactly what she’s thinking. With a mother who makes her feel unremarkable and a half-Japanese heritage she doesn’t quite understand, Kiko prefers to keep her head down, certain that once she makes it into her dream art school, Prism, her real life will begin.
But then Kiko doesn’t get into Prism, at the same time her abusive uncle moves back in with her family. So when she receives an invitation from her childhood friend to leave her small town and tour art schools on the west coast, Kiko jumps at the opportunity in spite of the anxieties and fears that attempt to hold her back. And now that she is finally free to be her own person outside the constricting walls of her home life, Kiko learns life-changing truths about herself, her past, and how to be brave.
From debut author Akemi Dawn Bowman comes a luminous, heartbreaking story of identity, family, and the beauty that emerges when we embrace our true selves.

 

There are some books out there that you just connect with on every level, and Akemi Dawn Bowan’s Starfish was one of those for me. 

Before I begin, I would like to that the Cover Gods for coming up with the ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL Starfish cover because everything about this cover works for this book and AAH. It’s just so pleasing to look at. 

“I draw a girl on a plane, leaving her heart on the runway.”

There was absolutely nothing I didn’t like about this book, so let’s talk about all the things I did love:
1. Our Biracial Protagonist: Kiko is half American, half Japanese and from the very first page you can see her struggling with the image of beauty that her mother has drilled into her. She struggles to fall in love with the person she sees in the mirror, she struggles with anxiety, she struggles with her heritage versus just wanting to be “normal” which as an Indian is SO RELATABLE to me. I connected with Kiko, and fell for her instantly because her voice is raw, honest and most importantly, real.

“I draw water and fire, forgetting all the rules and morphing into something new.”

2. THE ART: I don’t talk about it one the internet much, but I’m also an artist. I’m nowhere near as talented as Kiko, but I can paint. When I feel like it. The words used by Akemi Bowan to describe Kiko’s art brought it to life in a way I’ve never seen done before. All the quotes are Akemi bringing to life her imaginings of Kiko’s art, because I thought you should see how BEAUTIFUL it was to read for me. 

“I draw a thousand fairies circling around a girl so she can finally fly away.”

3. THE CHARACTER GROWTH: Three chapters into this book, I felt like I knew Kiko. I understood what it was like to be her, socially awkward and all. I loved how she blossomed and started gambling on herself more as the book progressed and by the end, she actually said out loud what she kept inside before. It was like a caterpillar learning to become a butterfly and I LOVED IT. 

“I draw five Japanese women with very different faces, but all of them are equally beautiful because beauty is not just one thing.”

4. HIROSHI AND JAMIE: Now, they’re not love interests, this book DOESN’T HAVE a love triangle, but they’re both such SPECTACULAR characters. Hiroshi is an artist who takes Kiko under his wing, introduces her to his Japanese family and shows her what unconditional love is. Jamie, on the other hand, is her childhoos best friend with his blue eyes and kind smile. They’re both such perfect people, and exactly the supportive, kind people that Kiko needed and I fell in love with them too. 

A lyrical, gorgeously written, poignant diverse book about loving yourself, growing up and first love. 

5 stars and I COULD NOT RECOMMEND IT MORE.

Akemi Dawn Bowman is the author of Starfish. She’s a proud Ravenclaw and Star Wars enthusiast, who served in the US Navy for five years and has a BA in social sciences from UNLV. Originally from Las Vegas, she currently lives in England with her husband, two children, and their Pekingese mix. She is represented by Penny Moore of Empire Literary.

Goodreads || Twitter || Facebook || Instagram

What are some of your favourite diverse books of the year?

What are some of your favourite books that have art in it? 

Have you had the chance to read Starfish yet? What did you think of it?

Maas' Best Work To Date // REVIEW: Tower Of Dawn by Sarah J Maas

Title: Tower Of Dawn (Throne Of Glass #6)
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publication Date: September 5th 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury India
Part of a Series?: Yes, Book 6/7 of the Throne Of Glass Series
I Got A Copy Through: Bloomsbury India (THANK YOU!)
Buy Links: Amazon IN || Amazon US || Amazon UK || Barnes and Noble || The Book Depository || Wordery || Flipkart || Snapdeal || Foyles || Waterstones || WHSmith || Kobo || Books A Million || Chapters Indigo || Google Books

Blurb Description: In the next installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, follow Chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.
Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.
His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.
But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

In Short: I LOVED EACH AND EVERY SECOND OF THIS BOOK. It reminded me on the initial books in Sarah J Maas’ Throne of Glass series that I fell madly in love with and I don’t know if I have the WORDS to describe what this book meant to me. It was perfect, filled with plot twists that BLEW MY MIND and then some and I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED (and nervous) for the finale that comes out this May.

I will admit that I wish this cover matched the white backgrounds of the rest of the series, but it doesn’t matter that much to me, because there was so much else to love about this book. Let’s break it down:

REASONS I LOVED THIS BOOK:

1.       THE PACE AND PROPER DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTERS: I went into this book a little sceptical. With the exception of two characters (okay, four, but you barely get to know the other two in The Assassins Blade) this book was about to introduce you to a whole new CONTINENT filled with characters and I was nervous that I wouldn’t care about them/ the book wouldn’t make me care about them. I was WRONG. Tower Of Dawn has this medium pace through the book as we are introduced to a whole new court, whole new families and so many new traditions.

I ADORED the world building that Sarah Maas did in Tower Of Dawn – it was brilliantly constructed and explained, rivalled only by her construction of the Night Court.

2.       YRENE TOWERS AND NESRYN FALIQ: If you think that Sarah J Maas can only have powerful assassins/ shape shifters/ fae as her main characters, think again. Both Yrene Towers with her healer magic and her strong sense of self and Nesryn Faliq with her unflinching loyalty and warrior spirit FLOORED me with their strength and courage and I can’t wait to see the both of them again.

3.       A WHOLE HORDE OF NEW PRINCES AND PRINCESSES: Of course Sarah Maas introduced a whole new slew of Princes and Princesses. I loved the cut throat world they lived in, and I ESPECIALLY fell in love with Prince Sartaq. I loved the part where Nesryn and he go to the Aerie, and meet his hearth family. He, and all the other Princes and Princesses, were so different from the ones I’ve been used to reading in Maas’ books and I LOVED IT.

4.       A KINGDOM I GENUINELY WANT TO LIVE IN: Seriously, you guys, Antica is the accepting, teaching and loving world all of us dream of living in where there is no discrimination, hate or abuse. It was this PERFECT kingdom and I sat around FANGIRLING OVER IT.

5.       SO SO MANY PLOT TWISTS: I WILL NOT TELL YOU WHAT THESE ARE, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY TWISTS THAT IMPACT THE WHOLE SERIES THAT YOU HAVE NOT SEEN COMING AND YOU WILL FREAK OUT WHEN YOU DO.

6.       THE LACK OF EXAGGERATION: One of my biggest problems with Empire Of Storms was the amount of repetitive praise that the characters gave the others as the POVs switched around. In their heads, of course, but after reading the same thing for over 600 pages, it got monotonous and boring.

Tower Of Dawn, however, was the EXACT OPPOSITE of Empire of Storms in this manner. Mass’ introduced up to all her new characters subtly but surely and let their actions speak for themselves. It showed me AMAZING growth in her writing and now I can’t wait for the finale.

7.       EVERYTHING ELSE - I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THE TIME I SPENT READING THIS BOOK. It was one of Mass’ best works to date, and I was so sad when it got over.

I honestly cannot believe that we’ll all have the finale in our hands in just a few months because I AM NOT READY FOR THIS SERIES TO END.

A brilliant, perfect fantasy with unrivalled world building and character growth. 5 stars. 

Sarah J. Maas is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series as well as the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

Sarah lives in Bucks County, PA, and over the years, she has developed an unhealthy appreciation for Disney movies and bad pop music. She adores fairy tales and ballet, drinks too much tea, and watches an ungodly amount of TV. When she's not busy writing, she can be found exploring the historic and beautiful Pennsylvania countryside with her husband and canine companion.

 Have you read the Throne Of Glass series? What do you think of it? 

Do you like the Throne of Glass series better or the ACOTAR series better?

Have you dove into Tower Of Dawn yet? What do you think of the cover?

I'd love to chat with you guys!

Book Blitz: This is Not a Werewolf Story By Sandra Evans - Excerpt + Giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Book Blitz for

This is Not a Werewolf Story By Sandra Evans

This Middle Grade Fantasy is perfect for Halloween! Full of fun and mystery, and set at a boarding school where everything isn't quite as it seems. Read the excerpt and enter the giveaway below...

Title: This is Not a Werewolf Story
Author: Sandra Evans
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publication Date: July 26th 2016
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Description: This is the story of Raul, a boy of few words, fewer friends, and almost no family. He is a loner—but he isn’t lonely. All week long he looks after the younger boys at One Of Our Kind Boarding School while dodging the barbs of terrible Tuffman, the jerk of a gym teacher. 
Like every other kid in the world, he longs for Fridays, but not for the usual reasons. As soon as the other students go home for the weekend, Raul makes his way to a lighthouse deep in the heart of the woods. There he waits for sunset—and the mysterious, marvelous phenomenon that allows him to go home, too. But the woods have secrets . . . and so does Raul. When a new kid arrives at school, they may not stay secret for long.

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Book Depository

Excerpt

Chapter 1

This is the chapter where the new kid runs so fast, Raul decides to talk 

New kid. New kid. The words fly around the showers and sinks. I can almost see them, flying up like chickadees startled from the holly tree in the woods.

All the boys are in the big bathroom on the second floor, washing up before breakfast. The littlest kids stand on tiptoe to peek out the windows that look onto the circle driveway.

I pick Sparrow up and hold him so he can see. He’s the littlest of the littles but the kid is dense--like a ton of bricks.

I can’t believe my eyes. No kid has ever come to the school on the back of a Harley. Not in all the years I’ve been here, and I’ve been here longer than anyone. The driver spins the back wheel and a bunch of gravel flies up.

The new kid is holding onto the waist of the driver. He must have a pretty good grip because the driver looks over his shoulder and tries to peel the kid’s fingers away one by one. Then the driver takes off his helmet. We all gasp, because it turns out the driver is a lady with long straight black hair.  

Next to me Mean Jack whistles. “What a doll!”

Mean Jack thinks he’s a mobster. A made man, that’s what he calls himself. I call him a numbskull, but not out loud.

About the Author

Sandra Evans is a writer and teacher from the Pacific Northwest. Her forthcoming middle grade novel, This is Not a Werewolf Story (Simon & Schuster July 2016), was inspired by her favorite 12th century French tale, Bisclavret, by Marie de France. Born in Washington state, Sandra spent her childhood on U.S. Navy bases from Florida to Hawaii, and returned to the Northwest as a teenager. Since then, she has lived and traveled in France and Europe, but has never strayed far for long from the Puget Sound region.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter

Blitz Giveaway

2 winners will receive a print copy of THIS IS NOT A WEREWOLF STORY plus Swag

Open to UK and US entrants

Ends October 31st

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Perfect In Every Sense Of The Word // REVIEW: It Only Happens In The Movies by Holly Bourne

Title: It Only Happens In The Movies
Author: Holly Bourne
Publication Date: October 1st 2017
Publisher: Usbourne Publishing
Part of a Series?: No, A Standalone
I Got A Copy Through: Usbourne Publishing (THANK YOU!)
Buy Links: Amazon IN || Amazon US || Amazon UK || The Book Depository || Wordery || Foyles || Waterstones || WHSmith || Kobo || Google Books

Blurb Description: Audrey is over romance. Since her parents' relationship imploded her mother's been catatonic, so she takes a cinema job to get out of the house. But there she meets wannabe film-maker Harry. Nobody expects Audrey and Harry to fall in love as hard and fast as they do. But that doesn't mean things are easy. Because real love isn't like the movies...
The greatest love story ever told doesn't feature kissing in the snow or racing to airports. It features pain and confusion and hope and wonder and a ban on cheesy clichés. Oh, and zombies... YA star Holly Bourne tackles real love in this hugely funny and poignant novel.

If you haven’t already seen me ranting OBSESSIVELY about Holly Bourne and all the books she’s written so far, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

Holly Bourne writes the MOST REALISTIC TEENAGE GIRLS in her gorgeously awkward and equally hilarious and most importantly, FILLED WITH FEMINISM books that will make you sit up and pay attention because the WORLD NEEDS MORE OF THESE KINDS OF BOOKS.

Yes, see, I RANT OBSESSIVELY ABOUT EVERYTHING RELATED TO HOLLY BOURNE.

Case in point: This Tweet:

BEST. THING. I'VE. EVER. READ. 

Thank you for this, @holly_bourneYA - We NEEDED THIS IN A BOOK (or all of them)#OnlyInTheMovies pic.twitter.com/F2523mYdzZ

— Aditi (@AditiNichani) October 12, 2017

I hadn’t even finished the Spinster Club series when the title was revealed for It Only Happens in the Movies and without even knowing what this story was about, I knew I would be reading it. Then, as if Holly Bourne + NEW BOOK wasn’t enough to sell me on reading this book, Usborne went and put ACTUAL FOOD on the cover of this book and I WAS SO EXCITED I HYPERVENTILATED around my room (Bookworm Cave) for a long time.

It Only Happens in the Movies definitely met my expectations of what I expected my latest Holly Bourne book to be like, even though it was more mature and a little different from The Spinster Club Trilogy.

Let’s break it down:

THINGS I LOVED:

1.       THE COVER: It’s yellow and happy and it has POPCORN on it? I honestly just wanted to eat popcorn through the entire time I was reading the book but YAY FOR FOOD ON BOOK COVERS. THEY’RE THE BEST. And so uplifting.

2.       ALL THINGS FEMINIST AND BRILLIANT: This book analyses MOVIE TROPES FROM A FEMINIST POINT OF VIEW ALL WHILE BEING AWKWARDLY HILARIOUS. Could you really ask for more? Each chapter starts off with a movie trope that we are SO USED TO WATCHING (Eg: The Bad Boy that reforms himself JUST FOR YOU) and then breaks it apart to something that Only Happens in the Movies. It will make you think every time you watch another movie, it will make you think regardless. It is BRILLIANTLY done, even if I am overusing the word because It Only Happens in the Movies DESERVES every bit of praise I give it.

3.       ZOMBIE FEMINIST BRIDES: Ever heard of them? No? I don’t blame you. I spent all the time reading this book in awe of everything about it. A zombie bride in the movie our main characters were shooting raged against the patriarchy as a zombie and it was BRILLIANT. It was funny, and even the ZOMBIES MADE YOU THINK ABOUT THE UNEQUALITY IN THE WORLD WE LIVE IT.

4.       STRONG FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS: If there’s one thing that Holly Bourne’s The Spinster Club series and It Only Happens in the Movies has in common is these strong, brilliant and REAL female friendships. I love reading about these in books because I have the privilege of having them in real life and it just makes seeing them in books so much more affirming.

5.       AUDREY AND HARRY: I loved BOTH of Holly Bourne’s main characters in this book. Audrey was a spectacular narrator, trying to find her own way with her family and dealing with the difference in the world that the movies show you and what she’s been experiencing. Harry, though I would have loved to also see this from his POV was your typical, charming boy and they were SO MUCH FUN TO MEET.

Honestly, you guys, THIS IS THE BOOK YOU DIDN’T EVEN KNOW YOU WERE LOOKING FOR. It’s awkward, hilarious, real, filled to the brim with feminism, cute boys and girl power. It Only Happens in the Movies is perfect in every sense of the word and YOU NEED TO BE READING THIS. 5 stars. 

Holly Bourne writes YA novels and blogs about feminist issues. Her favourite things to complain loudly about are: the stigma of mental health, women's rights, and the under-appreciation of Keanu Reeves' acting ability.

Holly's first two books, Soulmates and The Manifesto on How to be Interesting, have been critically acclaimed and translated into six languages. The first book in the 'Normal' series, Am I Normal Yet?, has been chosen as a World Book Night book for 2016 and has inspired the formation of Spinster Clubs around the country.

Before becoming a full-time author, Holly was editor and relationship advisor for a charity website.

Have you read any of Holly Bourne's books? What do you think of them? 

What are some of your favourite books that highlight all things feminism? 

What is your opinion about Food on Book Covers? Are you a lover or a hater?

I'd love to talk movies, food and feminism with all of you!

 

Meet The Authors: Tracey Neithercott, Author of Gray Wolf Island - Character Interview + Giveaway

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to the last day of Meet The Authors October. Finals start on Monday for me which means I'll mostly be exiting the blogging cave for at least the next week (unless I'm feeling brave and think I can do both studying and blogging) and entering the studying cave of last minute prep, anxiety and trying to remember whatever I can.

Which is not the point of today's Meet The Authors post at all. I have with me today the AMAZING Tracey Neithercott, debut author of Gray Wolf Island who has done on of the MOST FUN CHARACTER INTERVIEWS I've done in a while! (Or Ever?)

Now, there's two Tracey Neithercott giveaways going on on my blog - one is INTL and the other is US, just to include everyone.

Click here to enter the INTL Gray Wolf Island Giveaway.
Scroll down to enter the US one!

 *After some awkward fumbles and no doubt slightly embarrassing moments, clears throat to begin interview*

Aditi: I like your tattoos. I've always wanted one (or many) but I've never been able to decide what to permanently etch onto my body. Which was your first tattoo and what does it mean to you?

Elliot: Did you talk to Ruby about this? Because if she told you my tattoos are nostalgic, you should know she doesn’t even understand the correct definition of the word.

Ruby: It’s the sentiment, Elliot.

Elliot: Nostalgia is wistful longing for the past. I’ve been longing for Gray Wolf Island my whole life, but it’s only ever been my present and future. No, my first tattoo—a wolf for Gray Wolf Island, on the right side of my torso—is badass. I wasn’t even 18 and legal to get a tattoo at the time, but I found a guy who knew a guy. You know what that makes me?

Ruby: Don’t say it.

Elliot: A rebel.

Ruby: He’s really, really not.

Elliot: Get out of my interview, Ruby.

Aditi: My sources tell me that you're a great fan of linguistics. What's your favourite part about it and could you give us the origin and meaning of one of your favourite words - in any language?

Elliot: I started studying the treasure before I could even point to Gray Wolf Island on map. Mostly because Thornes are destined to discover it one day.

Gabe: Says nobody but Elliot Thorne.

Elliot: I know I’m destined to find it the way I know the treasure exists. And part of my studies were with my mom, who was called in by Wildewell’s most famous treasure hunter, Bishop Rollins, to translate the markings on one of the Star Stones. Everyone thought they were runes, but everyone is obviously an idiot. They’re nothing like the runic alphabet.

Ruby: You’re such a badass, Elliot.

Elliot: Anyway, I’m not really into that whole thing anymore. Language and words and all of that. But if I had to choose—like if someone forces me in an interview—I’d say it’s the Welsh word hiraeth. I read an article about it a few years back, how it’s a word with a definition that doesn’t really exist in English. Closest we can come is a deep longing for a place you’ve never been. A place that may never have existed.

Ruby: You feel it, don’t you? About the island.

Elliot: Yeah. I have a hiraeth for Gray Wolf Island.

Aditi: If you had to eat three of Gabe's dishes for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Elliot: Well, he makes really great pancakes.

Gabe: Of all the stuff I’ve cooked for you guys…

Elliot: I like pancakes. I’d also eat his chef salad for the rest of my life—one of the three meals should be slightly healthy so I don’t die when I’m 20. I’d also eat his mac ‘n’ cheese forever. He puts crispy bits of bacon in it.

Gabe: First off, that’s prosciutto, not bacon. Second, what about my paella? I rock that thing.

Elliot: It’s good. Everything Gabe cooks is good.

Gabe: Good.

Charlie: I’d want your paella for my last meal. Not that I’d be in a position to need a last meal. I mean, everyone eventually eats a last meal. It’s, like, a human thing. But I don’t think I’d need to request one from a jailer or anything.

Elliot: Aditi asked me the question. And I want Gabe’s pancakes, chef salad, and mac ‘n’ cheese.

Aditi: Let's talk about the mysterious Gray Wolf Island. When was the first time you heard about it? How long has your family been The Thornes who would find the treasure?

Elliot: I heard about it before I was born. So many stories passed down for so many years—that’s the sort of thing you understand before you take your first breath. And everyone knows my family is destined to find the treasure—they found an old shoe back in 1876. If that isn’t proof a Thorne will find a treasure, I don’t know what is.

Ruby: An actual treasure?

Elliot: So maybe everyone doesn’t believe a Thorne will find the treasure, but I do. It’s a pull inside me. I can feel the treasure out there—miles off the coast of Maine and nearly in my backyard. I’ll find it. I know I will.

Aditi: What would be some of the first things you buy/ do if you find treasure of Gray Wolf Island?

Elliot: Well, we wouldn’t actually keep the treasure. I’m sure whatever is buried there has great historical significance and belongs in a museum.

Charlie: That defeats the entire purpose of a treasure hunt. 

Anne: Unless the purpose is the treasure hunt.

Elliot: You can’t keep priceless artifacts. That’s totally irresponsible.

Ruby: Such. A. Rebel.

Aditi: Since you're such a voracious reader, do give me a few treasure hunting TV/ Movie or Book recommendations that you think will get my in the spirit?

Elliot: Well, you could watch The Goonies, which I liked when I was a kid because of the treasure hunt (obviously) and the fact that it was a bunch of kids who found it. Even at 10 I knew age didn’t make a difference in a person’s ability to find a legendary treasure.

Anne: Well said! Though it does make a difference in their ability to sail a boat to the island hiding the treasure.

Elliot: There’s The Curse of Oak Island on the History channel, but those guys still haven’t found the treasure. I bet I could find it, if I could find a way up to Nova Scotia.

Ruby: Your confidence in your ability to do everything better than everyone else astounds me.

Charlie: I think you’re really starting to win Ruby over.

Aditi: And finally, Is there a significant other (or even someone you just like for now) in your life? Would you take him or her treasure hunting with you? And what would your ideal date with this person be? (Names aren't needed)

Elliot: There might be someone…significant.

Anne: There is.

Elliot: Okay, yeah. There is. And of course I’d take her treasure hunting. I already did.

Ruby: You’re such a Thorne. You took nobody treasure hunting. I took all of you.

Anne: Maybe just talk about the date part of the question?

Charlie: That’s literally the last thing I want to hear Elliot talk about.

Elliot: Aditi, can you remind these interlopers that this is my interview? Because it’s my interview.

Gabe: No way could you plan a better date than I can.

Elliot: I can plan a date, Gabe. It’d be summer. I’d take her to the beach at night—late, when the sky’s a crisp black. I’d bring my comforter, and we’d lay down next to each other.

Gabe: I know where this is going.

Ruby: It better not be going there.

Elliot: Can you two stop talking? We’d lay down next to each other. I’d probably hold her hand because it’s better that way. And we’d stare at the sky, waiting for it.

Ruby: For what?

Elliot: The Perseid meteor shower. We’d watch it side-by-side, and when it was over, I’d walk her back to her house so she wouldn’t get lost.

Ruby: She might cry.

Elliot: I might hold her tight.

Ruby: Would there be kissing involved?

Elliot: Oh yeah. There’d be kissing. 

Tracey Neithercott’s first book was written by hand and illustrated with some really fancy coloredpencils. It was highly acclaimed by her mother. Now, she writes YA stories of friendship, love, murder, and magic. (None of which she illustrates—you’re welcome.) She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, who suggests improving her novels by adding Star Wars characters.

Title: Gray Wolf Island
Author: Tracey Neithercott
Publication Date: October 10th 2017
Publisher: Knopf Books For Young Readers
Part of a Series?: No, A Standalone
I Got A Copy Through: eARC via NetGalley for the SST Tour
Buy Links: Amazon US || Barnes and Noble || The Book Depository || Wordery || Kobo || Books A Million || Chapters Indigo || Google Books

Blurb Description: Right before Sadie died, she begged her sister, Ruby, to do the one thing she could never do herself: Find the treasure on Gray Wolf Island.
With just a mysterious treasure map as a guide, Ruby reluctantly allows some friends to join her on the hunt, each of whom is touched by magic: a boy allegedly born to a virgin, a girl who never sleeps, a boy who can foresee his own death, and a boy with deep ties to the island. Each of them is also keeping a secret—something they’ll have to reveal in order to reach the treasure.
As the secrets come to light, Ruby will have to decide: Can she make peace with her friends’ troubled pasts and continue to trust them? Can she forgive herself for doing the unspeakable? Deep in the wilderness of Gray Wolf Island, Ruby’s choices will determine if they make it out with the treasure—or merely with their lives.
From debut author Tracey Neithercott comes a darkly compelling tale of profound friendship, adventure, and finding the strength to tell the truth.

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