Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
We're continuing the love fest with another blog tour today, this time via Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. (Hi Amanda!) It stars a Fantasy Fairytale Storybook for ADULTS. Yep, you read that correctly...for ADULT READERS. It combines the beauty of traditional fantasy art with the storybook layout younger readers are usually permitted to indulge in. Guess what? Now you can grab your own copy off the shelf and dance around in exuberant joy that it's all yours, not theirs but yours. (Oh admit it...you've always wanted to, if you don't currently... ^_^) Anywho, getting back to today's show. Please join me in welcoming today's blog tour guest and book of choice is....
by
Illustrated by
John Blumen
9780990726821
About the book....
Evil plots his return to power and Good fights to defeat Evil’s sinister plan. Caught between them in this epic struggle are two young lovers—Martak, master of the forest, and Marianna, a beautiful maiden and governess to Rosy, the impetuous, young princess. Evil’s desperate scheme to outwit Good and rule the Kingdom puts Martak, Marianna and the Princess at risk as they are drawn into the conflict. Will the soulmates realize their “happily ever after?” Martak must first unravel the curse and destroy Evil. In this land where magical forces vie for dominance, could true love be the most powerful weapon of all?
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Okay, so first things first, as soon as I saw the cover, I was captivated. It reminded me so much of the couple from The Princess Bride that I simply had to know more...and that's coming from a reader that doesn't dabble in the pure Fantasy realm that often.
Now, second thing to note....I didn't just receive the book for review but a special little package...
....including the beautiful hardback, tour badge and two Fairytale Brownies to indulge in during my read. Admittedly, I have eaten one...the other I am saving for a rainy day (or not so rainy, perhaps just a chocolate required sorta day which I foresee in the VERY near future ^-^). Anywho, getting back to the reading at hand...
Martak and Marianna are a wonderful couple, both compelling and innocent in their encounters until passion ignites emotions in them both that they've never experienced before. Though they've never been touched by love of this magnitude, they are unable to deny it (nor should they!), leading us to witness their firsts on all counts....including heartbreak. Now, it's not in the way you might think. Neither has done anything to the other, they are merely pawns in a game being played by Good and Evil to determine the light or darkness of our days. Poor dears...they never knew what they were in store for but then truly, what lovers do? When all is said and done, a horrible deed has been carried out but I dare say with love to guide the way, the wounds left behind can be healed. A hard story to read emotionally with all that happens but certainly memorable.
As for the presentation, who doesn't like a good storybook? I mean, I know I do and the formatting serves us well here. The full page illustrations are not as often as you might think (bummer) but when they do make an appearance, they are worth the extra time to explore. Along the way, we have smaller pictures to break up the text depicting key objects important to the characters or illuminating something to come in a more symbolic style. The rich colors draw the eye while the scenes portrayed bring otherwise mundane circumstances to life....okay, well except the initial meeting of Good; that was pretty big illustrated or not.
In the end, it's a story I'd recommend for Fantasy and Storybook fans alike, so long as they are in their late teens or adult years; once again, the story is mostly chaste, but there are instances more sensual in nature as well as those that I wouldn't wish on my enemy (don't worry, he is dealt with....*hmpf*). Come for the illustrations, stay for the story, and leave with another couple of which to remark upon the next time you think of "great loves".
Martak and Marianna are a wonderful couple, both compelling and innocent in their encounters until passion ignites emotions in them both that they've never experienced before. Though they've never been touched by love of this magnitude, they are unable to deny it (nor should they!), leading us to witness their firsts on all counts....including heartbreak. Now, it's not in the way you might think. Neither has done anything to the other, they are merely pawns in a game being played by Good and Evil to determine the light or darkness of our days. Poor dears...they never knew what they were in store for but then truly, what lovers do? When all is said and done, a horrible deed has been carried out but I dare say with love to guide the way, the wounds left behind can be healed. A hard story to read emotionally with all that happens but certainly memorable.
As for the presentation, who doesn't like a good storybook? I mean, I know I do and the formatting serves us well here. The full page illustrations are not as often as you might think (bummer) but when they do make an appearance, they are worth the extra time to explore. Along the way, we have smaller pictures to break up the text depicting key objects important to the characters or illuminating something to come in a more symbolic style. The rich colors draw the eye while the scenes portrayed bring otherwise mundane circumstances to life....okay, well except the initial meeting of Good; that was pretty big illustrated or not.
In the end, it's a story I'd recommend for Fantasy and Storybook fans alike, so long as they are in their late teens or adult years; once again, the story is mostly chaste, but there are instances more sensual in nature as well as those that I wouldn't wish on my enemy (don't worry, he is dealt with....*hmpf*). Come for the illustrations, stay for the story, and leave with another couple of which to remark upon the next time you think of "great loves".
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About the author....
As a child, Roth was enchanted by fairytales and spent countless hours reading and dreaming. After earning an MFA from Syracuse University, Roth moved to Pittsburgh, PA, where she worked as a registered art therapist, helping emotionally disturbed and developmentally disabled children, before earning her Ph.D from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education. In 1991, Roth co-founded Getting to the Point, Inc., a premier consulting firm that specializes in helping corporations attract high level executives to Pittsburgh. A member of the National Speakers Association, she has published numerous professional papers and articles. During her career, Roth has received several awards and was named one of the Best 50 Women in Business in Pennsylvania. She shares her life with her husband, Dr. Loren Roth, and her children.
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About the Illustrator....
With an eclectic portfolio that runs the gamut from industrial design to children’s books, John’s career in advertising and publishing reflects his wide range of expertise in the multi-faceted world of illustration and design.
After years of perfecting his techniques with traditional media, John chose to apply his creative knowledge and artistic insight to the discipline of digital illustration. This seamless transition from canvas to computer has yielded some of the most imaginative and thought-provoking imagery in his career.
John lives and works as a freelance illustrator in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His images grace the covers of books published by The Penguin Group, Tor Books, Harcourt Publishing, Llewellyn Worldwide and a myriad of other publications and periodicals for clients ranging from Japan to the UK.
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Special thanks to Amanda at Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. for the review package and the chance to bring this tour to all of you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the tour, those tours forthcoming, the author, the publisher, or other flights of fancy, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.
Until next time...happy reading!
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