Long Time, No See: The Shadow Book Review

Hello, my lovely readers and fellow writers!

Image taken from http://www.whiskeyriff.com/where-have-you-been/

You don't have to tell me how long it has been because I know that it has literally been YEARS. So much has happened in my personal life that has caused me to take an extended hiatus from blogging and writing. There will be a more in-depth blog post (with pictures) but here are the highlights:

1. Graduated College - two bachelor's degrees in French and English-Creative Writing

2. Met and married the love of my life - Michael <3

3. Graduated with my Masters of Arts in Teaching

4. Now have a big girl job teaching English Language Arts to the best kids in the world. I currently teach American Literature and Composition to Juniors in the Gwinnett County area. AND. I. LOVE. IT.

Taken from https://www.hercampus.com/after-college/15-thoughts-every-girl-has-while-looking-job 

So, those are my four excuses for leaving you all in suspense. However, I do have some great news. The third and final book in The Forget Me Not Trilogy is almost done. Over halfway finished before it is sent to the editor. I promise, as soon as I get information on the publication, you will be the first to know.

But moving on. I am here to review one of my favorite authors and good friends, Marianne Curley. Marianne has published the fourth book in the Guardians of Time Series, entitled The Shadow.

The image is taken from Marianne Curley's Website

If y'all know me at all or remember me from when I used to post on the regular, then you know how much I love Marianne Curley. Not only as an author but as a person. She is truly one of the most humble, kind, and talented young adult novelists that I have had the pleasure to read growing up and to have as a friend now that I am also an author. Even if we live several continents away from one another.

Her latest novel, The Shadow, picks up where the last in her trilogy, The Key, left off. Now, this review will not contain specific spoilers, but if you haven't read this novel or any other books by Marianne Curley, then stop reading now. Seriously. Stop. Go buy them. Read them. Love them.

Marianne Curley takes the reader on a beautiful journey back through the characters she created many years ago. We see all of our favorites: Ethan, Isabel, Arkarian (we know most people read just to see what our favorite blue-haired ageless mentor is doing), Matt, Dillon, Neriah, and many others. Marianne also brilliantly weaves in new characters that seem they have been there the whole time. While most continuation to series can leave the reader empty or wanting more, Marianne Curley successfully and seamlessly brings this world back to life and transports readers to another world where The Named and immortals are real and protect our world from the powers of chaos.

To be honest, I wasn't sure if The Shadow would live up to the last three novels in this series, The Named, The Dark, and The Key, but it surpasses all of my highest expectations. This novel is true to the characters and to the story of The Named. Marianne Curley's prose takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotion - from sorrow to hope to suspense to laughing out loud (Legit, I love that Ethan and the others refer to using their wings as "wing out.") to absolute happiness. Readers new and old will not be disappointed by this novel. It is one of my absolute favorites and one I will read and read again.

The Shadow by Marianne Curley can be purchased on Amazon, both in print copy and via Kindle download. Links to Marianne's website and her latest novel are below! GO BUY IT!

Image is taken from Goodreads.com 

BUY BOOK

Marianne Curley's Website

*This review is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.*
* All images are copyrighted to their proper owners found via Google search*

Fan Girl Scream...NOW!

Okay, so you know how I eluded to the fact that my favorite author of all time...ALL TIME (note the excitement with the caps lock) said she was, and I quote, "looking forward" to reading my book? Well, she also read my blog....and LOVED IT!

AKJFHADKJFASJFKA TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT!

The lovely author, who you all should go out right now and buy all her wonderful books, is Marianne Curley (Seriously, if you need to stop reading to go get her books, then stop and come back. I'll be waiting). I will post a link to her website at the bottom of this post. She is a lovely Australian young adult novelist whose books literally inspired me to read and write. If it wasn't for her books, I probably wouldn't be typing these very words.

Her works include "Old Magic" (LOVE!), The Guardians of Time Trilogy, which include "The Named", "The Dark", and "The Key" (LOVE LOVE LOVE!) and her latest work "Hidden" (Book 1 in The Avena Series) should be available soon. I am already counting down and can't wait to get my hands on a copy! Where is that darn pre-order button?

So how did my favorite author find out about "Forget-Me-Not"? Well, I sort of just told her. I decided that it was necessary to pay the proper thanks where it was due. So, I bit the bullet and messaged Marianne (Yeah, we're on a first name basis. It's legit.) thinking the odds of her actually having time to read and respond were very slim (She is super busy writing and doing what published authors do). So, I let it go and tried not to think about it.

Well then she replied. And I cried. And then ran around my house while my dogs barked at me.

She was so encouraging and sweet, saying how she was looking forward to reading my book and how excited she was for me. Later, I sent her the link to this blog just so she could stay up to date until my website is finished (which may be launched as early as next week! AH!). She checked it out and actually said I was funny. And that I inspired her. I. Inspired. Her. WHAT?!

And then she said she was proud of me. Again, WHAT?!

So, why does this particular author make it to the top of my favorites list? Well, her words inspired me during a time when I didn't think I'd be able to see any good in the world.

You see, when I was in the 6th grade, my Dad was diagnosed with cancer, which he later died of when I was fifteen. At that point, I couldn't see any real goodness or happiness. I didn't understand and I questioned my purpose. Then, the Lord pointed me to a Borders where I was roaming the young adult section looking for a novel for a book report. I hadn't particularly enjoyed reading up until that point. It was more or less something I had to do for school, not pleasure. I was glancing at the different titles aimlessly when my best friend at the time pulled a book out and showed it to me. It looked like this:

Perfection.

I flipped through a couple of pages, deciding that this would be good for the assignment. (I think it was analyzing a familial relationship. I chose Ethan and his father Shaun for those of you who care.) Well, I started reading and well, couldn't stop. After the book report was turned in, I reread "The Named" one more time before going back to the same Borders and buying the second installment "The Dark" where within the first couple of chapters realized I was in Arkarian's POV and I honestly thought I had died and gone to heaven. Then I zoomed through the second book and went on to the third, "The Key" where I literally balled like a baby when a few choice characters *ahem* died (I'm still in denial about those). Then after wallowing in a depression that only fictional characters can inflict, I realized Marianne Curley had written "Old Magic". I then forced my brother to drive me back to the bookstore to buy it.

There is a reason why God led me to that particular book that day, why it was "The Named" that ignited a fire and a passion within my heart for reading. Of course, I didn't know at the time that this newfound love for books would blossom into my very own career. It is true when the Bible says that the Lord has all of our days and moments planned. The Lord knew exactly who would read "The Named" when it was first published and He knew how it would drastically change my life at only twelve.

So, you see it isn't just the books themselves that changed me, but it's how they helped me cope with a harsh reality that I didn't completely understand at twelve. Marianne Curley's books not only inspired me to read, and love every second of it, but to write too. It was after reading her works that I knew what I wanted to be, what the Lord had laid on my heart. I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to be a writer so I could inspire other little girls who, maybe, all they need at the moment is a good book that can take them somewhere else. Somewhere safe, somewhere they can realize that they are not alone.

At least that's what these books did for me. And that's why I had to thank the author who inspired this dream. So, thank you again Marianne. You have no idea how much you helped the scared little girl with your beautiful words.

Here is the link: http://www.mariannecurley.com/index.html

Seriously, I miss Arkarian like no other. It's bad.