Let's play...Q&A with Alison Goodman

London, April 1812. Eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall is on the eve of her debut presentation to the Queen. Her life should be about gowns and dancing, and securing a suitable marriage. Instead, when one of her family's housemaids goes missing, Lady Helen is drawn to the shadows of Regency London.

There, she finds William, the Earl of Carlston. He has noticed the disappearance, too, and is one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of powerful demons that has infiltrated every level of society. But Lady Helen’s curiosity is the last thing Carlston wants—especially when he sees the searching intelligence behind her fluttering fan. Should Helen trust a man whose reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her headstrong sense of justice lead them both into a death trap?

In The Dark Days Club, internationally best-selling author Alison Goodman introduces readers to a heroine who is just as remarkable as Eona—and yet again reinvents an establlished literary genre, making it her own.

I was lucky enough to ask Alison Goodman a few questions about The Dark Days Club (out now!), you can read my review for it here, if you like to read reviews and whatnot.

There's not even a demon, in Heaven or Hell, is it all just human disguise, as I walk down the aisle

 The Dark Days Club
Author: Alison Goodman
Publication Date: January 21st 2016
Publisher: Walker Books
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

London, April 1812. Eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall is on the eve of her debut presentation to the Queen. Her life should be about gowns and dancing, and securing a suitable marriage. Instead, when one of her family's housemaids goes missing, Lady Helen is drawn to the shadows of Regency London.

There, she finds William, the Earl of Carlston. He has noticed the disappearance, too, and is one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of powerful demons that has infiltrated every level of society. But Lady Helen’s curiosity is the last thing Carlston wants—especially when he sees the searching intelligence behind her fluttering fan. Should Helen trust a man whose reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her headstrong sense of justice lead them both into a death trap?

In The Dark Days Club, internationally best-selling author Alison Goodman introduces readers to a heroine who is just as remarkable as Eona—and yet again reinvents an establlished literary genre, making it her own.

Although The Dark Days Club isn't original in its concept, it's unique in its execution. Set in Regency England, Lady Helen's coming to terms with the fact her mother's traitorous legacy has more to it than what it seems, and that she herself is more like her than anyone would like.

Review: The Jewel

The Jewel
Author: Amy Ewing
Publication Date: September 4th 2014        
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd.
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~
 

A shocking and compelling new YA series from debut author, Amy Ewing; The Handmaid's Tale meets The Other Boleyn Girl in a world where beauty and brutality collide.

Violet Lasting is no longer a human being. Tomorrow she becomes Lot 197, auctioned to the highest royal bidder in the Jewel of the Lone City. Tomorrow she becomes the Surrogate of the House of the Lake, her sole purpose to produce a healthy heir for the Duchess. Imprisoned in the opulent cage of the palace, Violet learns the brutal ways of the Jewel, where the royal women compete to secure their bloodline and the surrogates are treated as disposable commodities.

Destined to carry the child of a woman she despises, Violet enters a living death of captivity – until she sets eyes on Ash Lockwood, the royal Companion. Compelled towards each other by a reckless, clandestine passion, Violet and Ash dance like puppets in a deadly game of court politics, until they become each other’s jeopardy – and salvation.

I don't know what I was expecting with The Jewel, but it wasn't this. In a good way this time. It was a lot darker and twisted than what you'd think- especially with the gorgeous cover. In that aspect, I read Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill not that long ago, and The Jewel reminded me a lot of it- not in character or storyline- but the message behind the book. The way women (in this case, the Surrogates) are viewed and valued and used and treated in a world that has less morality than ours right now. It's deep rooted in power among the rich and Royal bloodlines.

Stacking the Shelves (#53) & Recap

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

So, how was everybody's week? It's been a slow-ish week here, everyone in the UK, enjoying the heat? I hate the sun. And the heat. I'm a total winter person, because I'm pale and I burn. Learnt something this week. I sound like an idiot on the phone, but I have an interview, so you know, I'm okay with that. Also, I'm not alone!

 

Now, onto the books...

 Had a few awesome surprises in the mail, one I'm freaking out about, even though I did get approved for the ebook last week, it just showed up in the mail this week. I didn't think I'd get one since Abrams and Chronicle brought a lot of proofs to YALC last week. But Tina (@TinaMories) at A&C is awesome.