You want to know what’s glorious? TODAY IS GLORIOUS. I’m extra incredibly shriekishly (shhh, that’s totally a word) excited to be plastering the goodness of Rebel of the Sands in your faces.
This book was one of my top “I-must-have-this-book-in-2016-or-spontaneously-combust-with-longing” books and it did not let me down. So today I am a) interviewing the author, Alwyn Hamilton, b) giving you a list of reasons WHY this book is everything, and c) having a GLORIOUS giveaway at the end.
READY FOR THIS? OF COURSE YOU ARE. YEEHAAA!
Alwyn Hamilton was born in Toronto and spent her childhood bouncing between Europe and Canada until her parents settled in France. She grew up in a small town there, which might have compelled her to burst randomly into the opening song from Beauty and the Beast were it not for her total tone-deafness. She instead attempted to read and write her way to new places and developed a weakness for fantasy and cross-dressing heroines. She left France for Cambridge University to study History of Art at King’s College, and then to London where she became indentured to an auction house. She has a badhabit of acquiring more hardcovers than is smart for someone who moves house quite so often.
How long did it take Rebel of the Sands to go from inkling of an idea to published novel? Did it go through any ginormous changes?
ALWYN: The very first inkling of an idea about a girl with a gun in a Wild West Meets Arabian Nights setting came sometime in early 2012. I started writing it towards the end of that year after letting the idea brew long enough that it had become an actual story. A first draft took about a year, then another six months of editing before I queried it. I signed with my agent shortly after and we did another four months of edits together. The book sold at the end of 2014 and had about another 8 months of edits before it reached the final state you can hold in your hands! So from idea to actually sitting on shelves it was 4 years, though not four years of non stop work!
The biggest change from idea to execution was that when I was letting the idea brew, I planned out the entire story, all the way to the end of the Rebellion. I realized somewhere around 60,000 words in that it would never fit in a single book. So I added the plot of them stumbling across a destroyed desert city and reworked it so that I could end book 1 before it became a 300,000 word tome. The rest of what I had planned for the story has now evolved and goes in books 2 and 3.
Can you tell us a little about how you got a book deal?
ALWYN: Absolutely! On a Friday afternoon in November, after we’d been doing some editing, my agent told me that if I could finish some tiny little tweaks quickly she might be able to get in on desks in New York before the weekend. I cancelled my plans for the evening and managed to get home from work at about 8.30 and finish it off and send back to her about 9 p.m. And then suddenly it was out in the world. My agent told me to take up a hobby to keep myself sane as it might take a while. But maybe we’d hear back before Christmas. She was amazing and kept me posted about who had it and what they were feeding back. We heard back very quickly. On the following Wednesday we had my first call with an editor.
In the weeks that followed I had calls with 7 more editors in the US and met with 4 in London and the sales in other countries started to build up. It was all a total blur. My agent set a date to hold an auction for U.S and U.K. I was a nervous wreck that Tuesday of the U.S auction, I don’t think I got any work done. Unless you count using the work printer to print out the 8 pitches sent for the book. The first round ended at 3 p.m that day, and it started to narrow down. The afternoon was a rush of emails and calls as I dodged around my office pretending to do my job. I worked in an auction house then, and we had a furniture sale that day. Around 6 p.m I had to go upstairs and find a fainting couch. My best friend came and collected me to be supportive, and took me home via Pizza as I stayed glued to my phone. On the train back to mine she read through all the pitches sent. She pulled out the one from Viking from the pile of 8 and told me it was her favourite one. I don’t know if that swayed anything in the great cosmic balance, but by 10 or 11 that night everything done and the book was with Viking.
The next day was a daze. Towards the end of it I would up at my agent’s house being handed a box containing a bottle of sand with a pitch from Faber rolled up in it. I thought I might be hallucinating. It was amazing. The next day the UK auction was held and Faber won the book for the UK
Do you have a favourite quote from Rebel of the Sands?
ALWYN: So hard to chose from your own writing! And I’m looking forwards to seeing what quotes stand out to readers. But I really liked getting to use “lying is a sin” to mean so many different things depending on who is saying it.
What is the toughest and what’s the easiest part of the writing process for you?
Easiest Part has to be drafting. I love just pouring out words even if they’re bad and nothing makes sense. Hardest part…I struggle sometimes with editing small pieces. If I have to pull out a whole scene and write a new one that’s fine. But if it’s just doing a small tweak like pulling out a character, I find it quite tricky to close the gaps around where the change used to be sometimes.
What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
ALWYN: The best storytelling advise out there, for me, has to be the list that, Emma Coats, an ex-Pixar employee tweeted. It was 22 amazing tips on telling a story which I saved to my phone. They are all winners, but the one I refer to the most is “Simplify. Focus. Combine Characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.”
And lastly! (The most important question.) Has any chocolate been harmed in the making of your novel?
ALWYN: Most of the chocolate harmed has been at the bottom of a café mocha, accompanied by an almond croissant usually. But the odd piece of chocolate Guinness cake or pain au chocolat has been seen on the writing battlefield, for sure.
Sounds absolutely delicious, to be honest…mmm CAKE. Ahem. Thank you SO MUCH for stopping by, Alwyn! It’s been amazing chatting with you!
- IT FLAWLESSLY MIXED PERSIAN FANTASY, MAGIC, SASS, AND GUNS. Fantasy is my life, honest, it absolutely is. But mix an epic fantasy vibe with a wild-western one and add in epic shooting skills?!? I AM SO CONVINCED.
- IT’S BASICALLY SET IN A DUSTY FANTASY WORLD WITH MIDDLE-EASTERN INFLUENCES. And actually reminds me of Blood Red Road, which is only my favourite book of nearly ever, by the way. We have weapons factories and GUNNNNNNS and shooting people — but we also have spirits and ghouls and terrible things lurking in the desert that like to rip your face off. #nice And sand. MUCH SAND. The cowboy western feel to it was absolutely my favourite.
- THE HEROINE, AMANI, IS DOWNRIGHT AWESOME. She’s the “tough heroine” who is a wicked good shot and dreams of running away from her abusive relatives to FIND HER DESTINY OF AWESOME. But she’s not ever irritating. She’s really really sassy. And she makes mistakes. Omg, so. many. mistakes. Yet no skimming on the character development, so by the end I really wanted to hug her. But she’d probably have shot me. #awkward
- THE LOVE INTEREST, JIN, IS AN ADORABLE BUCKET OF SASS. Everyone is sassy in this book. I have zero complaints about that. We meet Jin when he stalks into a shooting game in the local tavern and competes against Amani (who’s dressed as a boy at that point) and they’re so stinkin’ cute together. And he also gets shot at. A lot. I do so like a book where everyone is shooting and bleeding. Ahem.
- DID I MENTION I LOVE THE SASS?!?!?
“You’re going to get us both killed if you go off looking for this on your own, you know. And if I was going to die on account of you, I’d rather have done it weeks ago before I had to do all this walking.”
LITERALLY AMANI AND JIN’S LEVEL OF SASS.
- THE STORY LINE ITSELF ALSO NEEDS BE MENTIONED; MOSTLY BECAUSE I LOVED IT. It’s fast paced! There’s an entire new world crammed into this 330-page novel but a) the world building was amazing, and b) it wasn’t rushed at all, and c) I’m really pleased that you can HAVE a really decent fantasy world story that isn’t 500+ pages. This has epic world building. Epic mythology. Epic settings. EEEEPIC EVERYTHING, DANGIT. (Although it did have a tendency to info-dump in the form of folklore tales. Which I’ll forgive it for, but I wasn’t particularly interested in those tales.)
- THE ONLY DOWNSIDE IS THAT I NEEDED THE SEQUEL LIKE YESTERDAY. It was entirely amazing, okay?! I’m really happy that my all my expectations were met PLUS there were shoot-outs on trains and magical Djinn things and shrieky secrets spilling aaall over the sands.
Jin was at my side…”Did you just shoot someone?”
“I got us hired, if that’s what you’re asking. And I only shot his glass.”
Jin hooked one arm around my shoulder, leaning on me. “I knew I liked you, Bandit.”
THANK YOU TO ALLEN & UNWIN FOR THE REVIEW-COPY. Rebel of the Sands by Alywn Hamilton is published March, 2016.
She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.
Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there’s nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can’t wait to escape from.
Destined to wind up “wed or dead,” Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she’d gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan’s army, with a fugitive who’s wanted for treason. And she’d never have predicted she’d fall in love with him…or that he’d help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.
- Thank you to Allen & Unwin for sponsoring this giveaway!
- 3 x winners
- AUSTRALIAN only
Cool cover and I need this book! It sounds like it has a few similarities to the one I am writing, kinda.
Oooh, really?! THEN I CLEARLY APPROVE OF YOUR BOOK. ;D And the cover is just divinely gorgeous. I wish to stare at it for hours basically. #noregrets
This sounds awesome! Fantasies with modern elements are great (and I loved your interview <33) *looks on library because I need this yesterday* Carswell Thorne is the best, especially when he interacts with Iko 🙂
Squeee! I AM SO GLAD, THANK YOU, SHANTI. And I think there aren’t enough fantasises out there like this…because I want moooooore.
Also oh yes yes to Thorne. <3 He is the best. The Lunar Chronicles would be nothing without his sass.😂
This is such a brilliant idea for a mash-up of Persian and cowboy gunslinger. Seriously, that one quote you posted convinced me I really need this book in my life ASAP. And that cover. Oh my is it glorious or what? The gold. And the blue. And the sand *melts into incoherent cover love* I like this book already!
YAYY I AM SO GLAD. And omg, isn’t it just the best combination in the world?! I really haven’t read anything like this before and I LOVE that. I love reading things that are excitingly different. :’) ALSO THE COVER IS SHINY AND SLIGHTLY RAISED IN REAL LIFE. <3 It is everything.
AHEM! I shall move to Australia so I can enter the giveaway because I MUST have this book.
Fabulous interview, Cait!
YES DO MOVE TO AUSTRALIA. Just for a little while *nods* we shall have tea and lamgintons while you collect Australian books. *nods*
OMG ALL THE SASS DYING DYING DYING. I think I’m already half in love with this novel. And that sounds like an absolutely giddy process re: auctioning the book — that pitch = the BEST THING EVER. So YES OF COURSE I SHALL READ IT.
Now, I WOULD name a fav sassy character, but let’s face it, you are the best source of sass in the blookunity and it would be unfair to name anyone else. ;D
YES YES I FEEL LIKE YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS ONE. And plus that cover is like shiny and gold and glittery and basically my dragonish heart is so happy. :’) This book is soooo a ME kind of story.
DID YOU JUST ACUSE ME OF BEING YOUR FAVOURITE SASSY CHARACTER??!? I ACCEPT. AND ALSO GIVE CAKE. I MIGHT EVEN GIVE YOU A SMALL PLANET WHEN I RULE THE UNIVERSE.
The cover is absolutely gorgeous thank you so much for doing an Australian giveaway
Most welcome. 😀 Good luck!
I’m sooooooo excited for this one. Like, a LOT. I mean, that gorgeous cover aside, there looks like so many things to love about this novel. And there’s sass!? YES, PLEASE.
YES ISN’T THE COVER DIVINE?! And in person, it’s all glittery and shiny and slightly bumpy so basically my dragon heart is so happy. <3
Oh my God, this looks really good! Definitely one for the TBR.
Favourite sassy character????? Oh God. I love sassmasters, so this is the hardest question ever. Sticking strictly to novels, it’s probably Nico Di Angelo. Or Cole St Clair.
Oh Nico? YES TO NICO. He is marvellous when it comes to sass. :’) Actually, come to think of it…Rick Riordan’s characters are just amazing for sass?! Ahem.
I hope you get to read Rebel of the Sands someday! *shrieks because it’s so good*
Sounds awesome! I’ll add it to my TBR list 😀
WOOOOOT. *flails and gives you sandy cake*
I’ve been wanting this gorgeous book for a while because that world sounds amazing, but there’s also sass and it’s faced paced?! GIVE ME THE PRECIOUS!
Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
IT’S NEARLY TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE RIGHT? *sniffles happily* I was so so thrilled at the fast pace, too, because all the books on my TBR at the moment are like a zillion pages long and this was just a breath of fresh air.😂
The cover is LIFE!! I especially love the gold detailing, which takes this cover from ‘wow’ to ‘awe-inspiring’ <3
The interview was amazing & thank you so much for the giveaway!
Hugs
~ Booknut101
And in person, the gold is REALLY shiny and glittery and MY DRAGON HEART IS GLAD. :’)
Don’t we all turn into pseudo-Smaugs around shiny and glittery books?! One of my faves on my shelf is The Children of the Lamp by P. B. Kerr – there is SO MUCH GOLD and SO MUCH HAPPINESS!! http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KCLRrEo9FbQ/VQK7uBVC0OI/AAAAAAAAAFE/pOWRBdgmk5g/s1600/child.jpg
I’m like pretty sure we do. Because SHINY. WE LOVE SHINY. SHINY IS EEEEEVERYTHING.
ALL HAIL SHINY!!! XD
That exchange you quoted has moved this book from “sounds interesting” to “OMG MUST READ” for me.
*awards self shiny sticker* MY JOB HERE IS DONE THEN.
I need to have this book in my life. Pls. I want it. I could cry at this exact moment.
YOU DO. YOU DO NEED IT IN YOUR LIFE. *gives you cake while you wait to snabble this from somewhere*
First of all, those pictures are #goals. Secondly………..WHY DID ANOTHER BOOK JUST MAGICALLY APPEAR ON MY TBR?! *looks suspiciously around*
Alwyn Hamilton sounds like such a fun person to talk to XD
Oh and I tagged you for the Infinity Dream Award tag 😀
AHHH I’M GLAD YOU LIKE MY PHOTOS. And also, your TBR is welcome for the gloriousness that I have inflicted upon it. (Aw thank you for the tag!! I’ll go check it out right now! :D)
Cait, I just entered the giveaway… And realized it was Australia only! Perhaps you should delete my entries? :/ I can’t figure out how to do that from my end…
It doesn’t matter. 😂 If I draw you, I’ll just draw again, hehe.
That works. X’D
Sounds like such an interesting book! I love the cover too 😍
P.s. Loved reading some of your other blogs! Think I’m going to have to jump on board and read regularly.
THE COVER IS JUST DIVINE. I WANT TO PET IT. (Okay, I totally did pet it. Ahem. #noregrets)
Aww, thank you, Michaela! CAKE FOR YOU AND MUCH WELCOME!
Oh, goodness, I seriously want to read this now. Seriously. *races to bookstore* *trips* *falls on face* *gets up and runs anyways*
GET A DRAGON TO SPEED YOU ON YOUR WAY, MY FRIEND. THIS BOOK NEEDS YOU IMMEDIATELY.
Love the cover, and am really intrigued by the fusion of different themes into this fantasy! Hopefully I can get my hands on it sometime soon 🙂
YESSS. It’s kind of unique, right?! I don’t read many fantasies with modern(ish) elements. I AM IN LOVE.
I have yet to read this book but I’ve already heard so much about it, I can’t wait! Also, awesome interview, Cait. I loved your questions, especially the one about the chocolate, and it was really interesting to read how Alwyn Hamilton got her book deal.
Asking about book deals is like my favourite because I’M SUPER NOSEY AND I WANT TO KNOW AND BE PUBLISHED ONE DAY MYSELF. 😂 Ahem. I do hope you get a chance to read this! IT IS GOODNESS. (Because my shrieking post made it hard to tell.)
What an awesome interview, Cait 🙂 So interesting. I love hearing how book deals come about! I’ve been wanting to pick up this book for ages. Hm. must do so,
Saaaame! Hearing the behind-the-scenes for publishing is my FAVOURITE. (So I can take notes. 😂)
Loved reading this interview, and I’m super excited for Rebel of the Sands. Everything I hear about it makes it sound more and more awesome. 😀
(Oh, BTW, I accidentally entered the free entry on the Rafflecopter because I’ve apparently developed a giveaway-entering reflex . . . and then I saw the “Australian only” bit. It probably doesn’t matter because it’s literally one entry, but IDK if someone wants to try to remove it anyway? If that’s even possible?)
Ahhh, don’t worry. 😂 I’ll just re-draw if the winner is American. And you’re NOT ALONE. I literally almost always pull an American for my Aussie-only giveaways several times, hehe. BUT I HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY COMING SOON SO STAY TUNED!!
Also HUZZAH FOR THIS BOOK. And I haven’t heard any bad things about it either, so the pre-reading world seems to agree it’s fabulous. 😉
WHY AUSTRALIAN ONLY?!?!? *cries*
It’s okay, though. I HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK THOUGH. Sassy characters give me life. I’m a broke little potato, though, and that’s really bad when you’re a fangirl/bookworm. I need books and fandom merch! What do you mean they cost MONEY?!?!?! (I’m going to be a terrible adult).
ANYWAYS, THAT COVER. *fans self* IT IS PERFECTION AND BLUE AND SANDY AND ASDFGHJKL.
It’s so cool that you got to interview the author, though! I love hearing author’s publication stories. It gives me hope (and also makes me hopeless because it’s so hard to get published) that I will achieve my dream of taking over the world.
I mean, being a novelist. : )
Excellent post as always, Cait!
I just said though four times in one comment *face palms*
I loooove hearing publication stories too. It’s like my TOP QUESTION OF EVER FOR INTERVIEWS…because I’m nosey. 😂 And “taking over the world” and “Novelist” pretty much mean the same thing, so I understand the slip up. *nods sagely*
I HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY COMING SOON!! 😀
THAT COVER. o_o I must have the preciousss! *pets the cover through the screen*
Seriously though, you made me realllly want this book. No, actually that’s not correct. You made me NEED this book! (Because SASS.)
I apparently need to book a flight to Australia now. The books are calling to me! XD
GOOD. MY JOB HERE IS DONE THEN. 😂 But yes yes! Just pop over to Australia and win my giveaway and pet a kangaroo. DO IT, MARY.
Awesome post! I am 50 pages into this book right now and LOVING IT SO FAR! It’s unique and pretty awesome, I can’t wait to finish!! The cover art/Arabian nights vibe had me interested, then when I started it I was like wait…is this Western?? I’m finding I like the mixed combo pretty amazing so far!! Admittedly it makes me want to sit down and write my own “wild west” book…and I’m pretty jazzed about that HAHA!
AHHHH I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKE IT TOO!! And I had the same thought with the “wait is this Western” and then I loved it. 😂 Although I do have a huge weakness for westerns. :’)
It’s always nice to read how a book goes from idea to finished product 🙂 What a journey!
It’s like my top question to ask authors. I’m SO CURIOUS. 😂
God your pictures are gorgeous! Photo game is so strong. I just finished a book this morning and Rebel of the Sands is up next. I cannot wait to dive into this world of sand and sass!
EEEP. THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY. THANK YOU. Omg, I assume you’ve started it by now so I hoooope you love it!! THE SASS IS PERFECT.
I want to read this book so. freaking. badly. And, yet, I be broke. Also, how the author reacted for the auction was basically how I would have reacted. Obsessively checking my phone, wandering around in a daze, occasionally feeling slightly light headed because OMG ALL THESE PUBLISHERS WANT TO PUBLISH MY BOOK. I actually think that if I ever manage to get a book published I will react like that regardless, because the idea that even one publisher would want to publish one of the messes I write would blow my mind.
Also, epic fantasy with modern elements? YES
AGH. BROKENESS IS THE ETERNAL BOOKWORM STRUGGLE. *weeps quietly for you* Library? When it’s out? hehe. I think having a book go to auction would be absolutely SURREAL OMG. I’m dreaming it’ll happen to me. 😂
I’m so sad this is AUS only! My library hasn’t ordered the book yet. >.< I was already looking forward to reading it because of the cover and because you liked it so much, but I"m even more excited to hear about the sass. I love sassy characters!
Agh, I knoooow. But the next giveaway is INT (and in like a week) so HANG OUT FOR THAT. Ahem. But omg your library must buy it. MUST. The sass is so strong with this one. :’)
This book looks AMAZING! The cover is just filled with gloriousness. I am so going to read it!
Isn’t it just the most PRETTY cover of them all?! *happy sigh*
I am actually so excited for this book I might die. I NEED IT. I MEAN, DESERT AND SHOOTING AND SASS AND LOVELY SHIPPINESS? YES PLEASE. Sadly, I’m still waiting for it to come out. x.x However, I could look at that cover forever. It’s beauteous. *dies slowly*
Also, I totally entered the giveaway before realizing it was Australian only. Whoops.
Sorry about the Aussie only giveaway! Shipping tho. SHIPPING IS AWFUL. *sighs* But my next one (in just a week!) is INT, so stay tuned. 😉
BUT YUS YOU STILL NEED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. Plus the cover is shiny and slightly bumpy so you can pet the shininess and feel glorious.
Muuuust persuade my sister to read it. It is awesome.
WE MUST CONVINCE THE WORLD TO READ IT! HUZZAH!
Okay, so this is a fabulous interview. You ask awesome questions, Cait–and I loved reading Alywn’s answers about writing Rebel of the Sands, the publishing process, etc. Hearing different authors talk about their path to publication is always so interesting to me, especially because as readers and writers some of us might know the basics of “how to get published,” but not a lot of people get the behind-the-scenes look unless they’re in the middle of the process themselves. Reading about the calls with editors and bidding auctions for Rebel of the Sands is so fascinating, and what a cool story!
Also, this book sounds like it was written specifically for you, Cait, haha. High fantasy isn’t always my thing, but I may give this a try–the whole Wild West/Persian mythology combo sounds like an interesting one. I’ll keep it in mind! Also, in answer to your question, offhand I can only think of two fantasy worlds that use modern (or at least semi-modern) technology–Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy (which with the whole parallel universe thing is probably more sci-fi, but shhhh…) and then Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha trilogy (and the Six of Crows duology). It’s always interesting to see a fantasy world that doesn’t revert to the usual ancient swords-and-shields setting, isn’t it?
Fantastic post, Cait! 🙂
Eeep, I’m glad you like my questions! 😂 I always struggle to find the perfect ones, so I end up going with what I’m nosey about. *takes notes so can get a book deal later on* hehe AHEM. I find it intensely interesting to know about the behind-the-scenes-publishing part too. Because it’s rarely the same from author to author, right?!
YES IT WAS BASICALLY FOR MEEEEE. <3
You'd call the Grisha books modern?! Eh, I mean, I guess they use guns so YOU'RE RIGHT. 😂 I really do like that mix of not-so-ancient-plus-epic-magical-fantasy. <3 I WANT MORE OF IT FOR SURE.
ahhhhhh I got a review copy of this one and I am SUCH A BUM for not starting it earlier!!! After reading your review, I want to sprint home and read it NOW. (why do I have life obligations tonight?????) The main character sounds FABULOUS, and I LOVE sassy characters, so Amani and Jinn sound right up my alley. Like gah, I know I’m going to love them already. And the setting sounds SO cool as well! I have been on a MAJOR fantasy kick lately, so hopefully this will continue to fuel it.
I love the story of Alwyn getting her book deal! Always so exciting to hear those stories. Also four years from idea to published book?! I’m always astounded by how long publishing takes, dang.
THANK YOU for sharing the review and interview, lovely lovely Cait! <33
YES YES GET ONTO THIS BOOK ASAP, ANEEQAH!! *flails wildly* Life obligations though. Gah. You clearly need some dragon secretaries to take them over while you read. It’s the only way. *nods* Oh oh I’ve been on such a fantasy kick too!! I WANT ALL THE MAGICAL FANTASY STORIES.
AHHHH I love reading stories about how authors got their agents/book deals. So interesting. And good for future reference. HA. *planning to be a NYT bestselling author clearly*
BUT YES I follow those Pixar steps all the time. They’re so useful.
AND OMG I’m kind of sad I didn’t request this now. Maybe I’ll win your giveaway 😉 😉
I know right?! Me too. 😂 I always ask that question because I’m super curious. hehe GOOD LUCK FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
I am really excited to read this one! It looks and sounds quite interesting.
IT IS. I PROMISE IT’S UTTERLY AMAZING.!
Wow, this sounds even better than I thought it would. I remember hearing that it had some Arabian flavor to it, but Wild West too? I like it. 😀
Yesssss…and that’s kind of a unique combination too, right?! I hadn’t read it until this and NOW I WANT MORE.
THIS IS MARVELOUS. GLORIOUS. And you have positively convinced me that I NEED to read this book. Aaggghhh!
Seriously, I had no interest in reading this before I read this post. AND the giveaway has nothing to do with it! Gosh, I’m so excited for this book! (And of course I will be entering in the giveaway because… heh, why not?)
I love, love, love this book! Agree 100% with all of your points above! The sass is the greatest. 😀 And the cover is so pretty. It’s one of those that when I see it, I want to touch it. 😉
Thanks for sharing the interview and for the giveaway!
The sass is just so ON POINT OMG. I was definitely laughing and I ship Jin and Amani SO HARD. And the cover… *pets it* It’s ever so shiny.
I do want to read this book. (okay, okay, that was unnecessary.) Sassy characters = awesome! My favorite sassy character is probably Britt Arthurs, from K.M. Shea’s King Arthur and Her Knights series.
Thank you for promoting us the sand monsters. Really, it means a lot. (but don’t worry, at heart I’m always a pineapple.)
Omg I haven’t even heard of that series but if it has sassy characters THEN I NEED TO LOOK IT UP EEEEP!
And occasionally we do need to step outside of our normality and be a sand monster for a day or two, right?! ALTHOUGH YOU’LL ALWAYS BE PINEAPPLES TO ME TOO. <3🍍
The cover is beautiful and I need to have this book in my hands I have heard nothing but positive about this book so that a plus. I have been debating on reading this book and I want to read it now. Thank-you for the chance 🙂
Eeeep, I hope you enjoy it if you get your hands on a copy! IT IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT, OMG.
OMG, did you say Blood Red Road? I’m in. I’m seeing so many reading this one at the moment and haven’t bought a copy yet. It sounds incredible. I actually didn’t know book rights are auctioned off, her publishing story is so charming, it’s a credit to her after all of her hard work.
I can’t remember the last time I didn’t hold a fantasy book in my hands that couldn’t be used as a housebrick, so one just over 300 pages that is furiously paced and has awesome world building. Yes please.
Awesome review smushy and wonderful interview. Glad no chocolate was harmed in the process.
YES. *flails because Blood Red Road is understated awesome* Ahem. Book rights aren’t always auctioned off, just when more than one publisher wants it…WHICH MEANS THE STORY IS DEFINITELY AWESOME. And yessss! I love knowing author’s publishing stories and this is a spectacular one. :’)
Ikr?! Why do fantasies insist on being the size of Mt Everest. IT’S EXHAUSTING.
AHHH! I NEED TO READ THIS! Also, great interview!
IT IS ABSOLUTELY 100% WORTH READING. I PROMISE.
Not only is the cover beautiful, the story sounds awesome. I must have it!
YES YOU MUST. YOU WANT IT, SKYE, I PROMISE YOU DO.
Yes, I so want to read this one! I put in a NetGalley request, but I haven’t been confirmed (or denied) yet. It’s definitely one I’ll be on the look for at our library if I can’t get an ARC.
Fingers crossed that you get approved for it!!!
Oh! Awesome interview!
And now that you say it reminders you of BRR I want to read this book even more! Just wow. And SASS for the win!
ZOMG YOU NEED IT, ASHLEY. I think it would be your kind of book, tbh. :’) Sassssssss.
This interview was awesome!
I just finished this book yesterday, and I loved it SO MUCH! I cancelled everything on my social agenda to finish reading this.
“Sorry, I can’t go out for dinner, I already have food. So…yeah.”
HAHAHAH. OMG YOU ARE AWESOME.😂 That is perfect, though, truly. Books over socialising any day.
I’m actually in the middle of reading this one at the moment, and I’m really enjoying it! I think it’s such a unique novel, and I’m loving the mix of elements as well. It’s so unexpected, and it’s so fun, and it’s definitely got the sass going for it – and I’m curious to see how this is all going to end!
Yessss. EXACTLY. Fun and unexpected. 😀 Which is hard to pull off, right?! But this book does it quite spectacularly. :’)
And to think I wanted to read this novel before hand, I must get my hands on it, along side The Wrath and The Dawn, it sounds like an awesome book, good job with the interview 🙂
(Omg the Wrath and the Dawn is another absolutely EXCELLENT book and I recommend it a zillion percent. Just sayin’.) 😉 YES YOU NEED BOTH OF THESE!!
Gah, I’ve been drooling over this book since I first heard about it, and I’m hoping my library will pick it up soon. It looks SO good, and it’s definitely something that would be right up my alley. Also, that cover is gorgeous. I’m not going to lie–that cover is 88% of the reason why I want to buy 10,000 copies of that book and use them as wallpaper.
I really enjoyed reading this interview! Your questions were great, and just adlkfjas;ldfjasd;leks. That is all. Thanks for doing the interview!
THE COVER IS REALLY GORGEOUS IN REAL LIFE, I MIGHT ADD. It’s shiny. It glistens in the right. It is miiiiiine. *hugs cover* Ahem. Definitely use them as wallpaper, or better yet: make a dress out of them. Or a nice shiny glittery paper hat. So many possibilities.
THIS IS THE BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD! LIKE, LEGIT! I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT, AND I HAD TO KEEP PAUSING FROM PURE AWESOMENESS! I agree with you, I NEED THE SEQUEL. Also, I need it to be like 10,000 pages long. AMAZING INTERVIEW!
OMG I’M SO GLAD YOU LOVED IT TOO. THE SASS AND THE ADVENTURE AND THE MAGIC = INTENSE LOVE. <3 I'm dyyyying for the sequel too, tho, omg, 2017 hurry up.😂
What a gorgeous cover! Also that’s such a good interview, Cait and Alywn! Thank you!
Good luck for the giveaway, Joy. ;D
I cannot wait for this! Sassy charries are the b e s t yesyes.
Sage from the Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen is my favorite EVER, but Percy Jackson has some great sass too. XP
Oh YES YES Sage was amazing and I couldn’t stop laughing for that book. Also Percy is beyond perfect. <3 And Annabeth too...basically everyone in that series.😂