Realms Review: 'The Foretelling'

Imagine a world where women ruled the lands, where women went to war with men and won, taking prisoners and killing the rest. In The Foretelling, by Alice Hoffman, women are feared by men, but the protagonist, Rain, is curious about her role in this tribe of Amazon-like women.
          Due to the traumatic circumstances surrounding Rain's conception and the brutal birth Rain's mother, the chief, went through, Rain's mother rarely looks, let alone speaks, to her daughter. As the daughter of the tribe's leader, Rain is determined to learn her role and be a great leader like her mother. But, more importantly, she tests her boundaries to prove she's worthy of her mother. Determined to be accepted, she accomplishes amazing feats, but also tests the limits of her own culture, even making contact with a boy outside her tribe.
          Despite The Foretelling being listed as a children's book in some stores, we strongly believe that this is actually a young adult novel for several reasons. The protagonist is a teenager, though quite mature for her age due to her culture's expectations of her. The story has several coming-of-age elements to it, as well, and there is a lot of dark content. The book also released before the YA category (target audience) took off in publishing. If released today, we're 99% certain it would be released as a YA title.
          Hoffman weaves a story that imbeds itself in your heart as you root for the main character and long to see what happens with Rain's various relationships with those around her. And a little bit of magic, woven in so carefully that it seems a normal everyday thing, never hurts, especially to us fantasy-lovers. We rate The Foretelling with five out of five stars for Hoffman's incredible storytelling, diverse characters, and ability to make it a truly unforgettable tale.

Realms Review

Realms Review: 'Wicked Lovely'

If we had to pick our all-time favorite faery story, Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr easily tops the list. Full of danger, intrigue, magic, romance, and daring feats of bravery, this book, and the rest of the series, is must read for fans of the supernatural and the Fae. Marr's writing hooks you in from the start, beginning with three tantalizing rules:

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.
Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

Aislinn is the main character, a girl who can see faeries, along with her grandmother, since they both have the Sight. They follow the rules above. Why? Because faeries blind or kill those with the Sight. Unfortunately for Aislinn, a faery king has started following her around, and she's drawn into their world to potentially save the Summer Court. The Summer Court is one of four faery courts, along with the Winter Court, the Dark Court, and the High Court.
          We give Wicked Lovely five out of five stars for its originality, highly enticing plot, dark and attractive setting, and its well-developed characters. Marr has built an elaborate, believable world that the reader dives right into. We see the politics behind court decisions, and attach ourselves to the characters, feeling their pain when they must decide between what needs to be done and what is right. The author takes you on a roller coaster of emotions as you hand onto the edge of your seat, rooting for your favorite characters and hoping the real villains get what's coming to them. And some character will win you over, while others betray you.
          Even if Wicked Lovely doesn't become your favorite faery story, we guarantee it's a high quality read that'll be close to the top of your list. If Wicked Lovely captures your heart, be sure to read the rest of the series: Ink Exchange, Fragile Eternity, Radiant Shadows, and Darkest Mercy.

Realms Review

Realms Review: 'A Great and Terrible Beauty'

Many of us are used to stories where magic is defined by rules. In fact, most, if not all, magic has rules, but what if you didn't know them? What if you had to figure them out on your own? Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty does just that. Gemma, the protagonist, stumbles across a magical world she has discovered through visions. She, and three other girls, unravel their powers there, and discover when they return to their world that the magic lasts for a little bit outside the strange world, but doesn't last forever. It wears off, leaving them wanting to return, but an evil also lurks in that world.
          Bray's elaborate and beautiful settings hook you in and make the reader lust after the magical world and Victorian England, where most of the story takes place. The characters are all well-developed and exceed your expectations as you read on and learn they are more than their stereotypes. Felicity is not just the snobby leader, but a girl who dreams of being more than she's allowed to be. Pippa may be beautiful and seemingly stuck up, but she hides a terrible illness she's afraid of. Ann seems to be a weak sidekick, but she also has a quiet strength. Gemma, the protagonist, is not easily manipulated, and finds her own sense of leadership along with her sense of self; she changes immensely throughout the whole trilogy.
          For a novel with well-written and strong female characters, as well as a dangerous plot full of unexpected twists and turns, A Great and Terrible Beauty might be the right story for you. The beginning, we found, was a little slow, but if you can plough through it, we promise it picks up, and we promise you won't be disappointed. We give this book four out of five stars.

Realms Review

Realms Review: 'Book of a Thousand Days'

What's more terrifying than death? Being locked away in a tower for seven years. Dashti, a maid to Lady Saren, is locked away with her mistress in a tower after Lady Saren refuses to marry a man she despises. Dashti is the protagonist in Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale, which is written in the form of a journal entry. Food begins to run low and they both suffer from extreme heat and cold. Lady Saren's two suitors come to them from time to time: one who is welcome and brings hope, and one who is downright terrifying.
          In the days to come, they will need to figure out why the guards of Lady Saren's kingdom have stopped coming, how they can escape, and if the hopeful suitor will help them. Hale's beautiful writing weaves this re-told fairy tale on the Asian Steppes with intrigue, suspense, love, and surprise. There is murder, distrust, disguise, and hope, but who can Dashti and Lady Saren trust?
          At Realms, we give this story five out of five stars for its ability to take an old story and transform it into something original, its strong protagonist (and characters, overall), lovely world-building, and the thrills of the built-up suspense. You will not be able to put it down. Your opinions of characters will change in between the beginning and the end. You will want Dashti to have her happy ending, but will she obtain it? Read the highly recommended Book of a Thousand Days by master storyteller Shannon Hale to find out.

Author Interview: Rachel Carter on 'So Close to You' and Time Travel

So Close to You
by Rachel Carter

Realms Young Adult Fantasy Literary Magazine: Will you give us a brief background about who you are and where you’re from?

Rachel Carter: I grew up in Vermont, in a log cabin in the woods. My dad makes maple syrup every spring, and my first job was working on a ski mountain. I always knew I wanted to be a writer; I started my first novel in high school. It was very, very terrible––about a secret society of teenagers who live in the forest––and I only got through about twenty pages.

I studied English at UVM (the University of Vermont), and then I moved to New York to get my MFA in nonfiction creative writing at Columbia University. I really loved living in NYC, writing and learning and growing. That’s where I made the connections that would eventually help me publish my first book, So Close to You, in 2012. About two years ago, I decided to move back to Vermont. Now I’m living in the mountains again and working on a new young adult trilogy.

Realms: Your trilogy, So Close To You, is a young adult series involving time travel. What do you think is the defining feature that separates it from other time travel stories?

Rachel: I really do love all time travel stories. There’s something about the idea of a romance transcending space and time that just appeals to me. But I think what sets So Close to You apart is the government conspiracy aspect of it. Lydia, my main character, stumbles upon something called the Montauk Project––which is a real life conspiracy theory. People believe that Nikola Tesla faked his own death and created a time machine under the ground of Camp Hero in Montauk, New York. I think by basing it on something real (or realish!), it lends a sense of possibility to So Close to You that might not have been there otherwise.

Realms: What appealed to you about writing from the point of view of a YA character?

Rachel: I’ve always been fascinated by coming-of-age stories. Even when I was in grad school and writing nonfiction, all of my essays were about my teenage years. It’s not that the biggest events in my life happened in high school, but that’s when I felt the most strongly about everything that did happen. I love capturing that heightened sense of emotion, when every event––like getting asked to a dance, or having a fight with a friend––has such huge meaning for your characters.

Realms: Do you think adults have something to gain by reading YA stories?

Rachel: Yes. I wrote a long essay about this for the New Republic actually, but here’s the gist: YA is a complex, interesting genre with more layers and themes than it’s often given credit for. There’s something for everyone in YA, whether you happen to be a teen or an adult. And there should certainly be no shame in loving YA, regardless of your age.

Realms: What do you think your readers will connect to the most about Lydia, the main character in So Close To You?

Rachel: In the beginning, Lydia is very naïve and driven, almost to the point of being reckless. She doesn’t understand––or is unwilling to understand––the consequences of meddling with time. Her world has been a safe bubble for so long; when that safety is destroyed, it takes her a while to comprehend what that means. By the third book, Find Me Where the Water Ends, Lydia is almost a completely different person. She’s more cautious and more capable, but also closed off and angry. I always find myself connecting with characters who go through a huge transformation in a book or a series, and I hope readers feel the same about Lydia.

Realms: What is it about YA Fantasy that draws you?

Rachel: Before So Close to You, I never thought I would write a sci-fi or fantasy novel. I always assumed I would write realistic fiction––it seemed closer to my writing background and I do love telling complicated love stories. But then I heard about the Montauk Project, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to write a time travel story. There are so many choices when your world has a little more leeway––whether that’s magic or science fiction or mystical creatures. It opens up the plot, allows your characters to become special in a very unique way, and, honestly, it’s just really fun to write.

Realms: You also have an MFA in nonfiction writing. Do you find that your nonfiction writing skills crossover into your fiction writing?

Rachel: Sometimes! I wrote a lot about being a teen myself, so I think that has helped me empathize with the emotions and milestones my characters are facing. On a writing level, it can be both helpful and a little tricky––when I’m writing memoir or nonfiction, I have a tendency to over-explain my feelings. That’s something I had to train myself not to do in fiction, instead showing a character’s feelings through action, description, and dialogue. But certain things stay the same regardless of genre: at the end of the day, people just want to read a good story.

Rachel Carter

Realms: Can you tell us about what you are currently working on?

Rachel: I’m knee-deep in a fantasy novel right now, and I should have a first draft finished by the spring. I can’t say much about it, though I can tell you that it involves a lot of magical elements––something I’ve never written before!

Realms: Which author(s) influence you the most?

Rachel: There are so many! I love magical realism and lyrical writing, so I’ve always loved Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Michael Ondaatje, and Angela Carter. I read their writing to get into the headspace to write myself. In terms of YA writers––I love John Green for his realistically quirky, portrayal of modern teenagers, Carrie Ryan for her creepily lush prose, and Holly Black for her insane imagination.

Realms: What is your favorite YA fantasy story?

Rachel: Probably the Graceling Realm series by Kristin Cashore. So beautifully written and such a fully realized world. There’s a huge fantasy boom in YA right now, but her books came out years ago, when it wasn’t really the trend. Despite that, people just flocked to her series from the beginning. She does fantasy right: a strong heroine, a compelling romance, and villains who are more than they seem.

Realms: If there was the kind of magic in this world that is in storybooks, what would you want to be or be able to do?

Rachel: That’s a tough question––there are a lot of powers I would want (flying, teleportation, telekinesis) and a lot I wouldn’t want (reading minds, anything I couldn’t control). I think it would be cool to be a witch, but only if I never went over the dark side. Magic is very unpredictable––it might be the kind of thing that seems like a blessing but is actually a curse.

So Close To You is a novel about a girl, Lydia Bentley, who stumbles on the Montauk Project, which is surrounded by several conspiracies. Her grandfather believes it was the cause of his father's disappearance. As the two search for clues at Camp Hero, an abandoned military base, Lydia is transported back in time to 1944, a few days before her great-grandfather's disappearance....

You can buy So Close To You on Amazon, and/or check out what else Rachel Carter is up to on her website.

Author Interview: Elizabeth J. M. Walker on Dragons and Teenagers

She Dreamed of Dragons cover

Realms Young Adult Fantasy Literary Magazine: Will you give us a brief background about who you are and where you’re from?

Elizabeth J. M. Walker: I live in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. I currently work as a freelance journalist/photographer for an online community newspaper. I grew up being involved in dance and theatre, including writing scripts for dance theatre shows. Dancing often finds its way into my stories, including She Dreamed of Dragons. I’ve always loved books and writing.

Realms: For those who don’t know, can you give a brief synopsis of your debut novel, She Dreamed of Dragons?

Elizabeth: She Dreamed of Dragons follows a young dragon mage named Trina as she unwillingly attends a competition to find a new prince or princess for the fantasy world of Dorlith. The novel is a YA fantasy adventure, but is also suitable for Middle Grade readers.

Realms: What was it that inspired you to write She Dreamed of Dragons?

Elizabeth: When I was in high school, I remember watching the very first season of American Idol, when “reality TV” was first becoming popular. I thought it’d be fun to write a fantasy story about young people attending a competition to find a new prince/princess.

Realms: What appealed to you about writing from the point of view of a YA character?

Elizabeth: I write YA because the teenage years are such an interesting and life-changing part of life for everyone. Things like first romantic relationships, feeling like you’re growing up and changing into a new person, and making choices that will ultimately affect you for the rest of your adult life can all happen while you are a teen. It can be exciting, wonderful, frightening, and stressful––or a combination of all of the above and more. For a writer it creates a wealth of material for stories, whether they are contemporary fiction or fantasy.

Realms: What is it about Trina, the protagonist who is a dragon mage, that you think readers will find relatable?

Elizabeth: Even though Trina has magical powers, I still wanted her to be a very down-to-earth and “normal” character. I think some readers would be able to relate to her feeling awkward and unsure of herself, but her confidence grows throughout the story.

Realms: What would you like your readers to take away from the book?

Elizabeth: I would like readers to be able to enjoy a fun, fantastical story. However, on a deeper level, a lot of the book is about accepting others’ differences and accepting who you are.

Realms: Do you think adults have something to gain by reading YA stories?

Elizabeth: I have never stopped reading YA, even though I’m no longer a teenager. I think it’s an important part of life where many interesting stories can be told.

Realms: Currently, your book is only offered as an eBook and/or PDF. Are there any plans to have it available in paperback or will there be any sequels?

Elizabeth: I believe Musa Publishing is gradually adding all of their books to a Print-On-Demand option. A few of their books are currently available with this service, but She Dreamed of Dragons has not been added yet. Hopefully within the next year or so it will be available as a paperback.

I have ideas and outlines for sequels, but have some other manuscripts closer to being finished that I would like to work on before fully committing my time to a She Dreamed of Dragons sequel.

Realms: Since you are also a contributing author in our upcoming issue, we would like to know your opinion about us. Do you think it is important to broaden the YA Fantasy genre and open it up to short stories, poetry, and other writing forms?

Author Elizabeth J. M. Walker

Elizabeth: I think there are a lot of wonderful YA fantasy novels out there, but not too many places that focus on fantasy short fiction for the YA audience. I think it’s great that Realms is around to provide readers with some great fantasy short fiction and poetry.

Realms: Do you believe there is magic in the world? What kind?

Elizabeth: If you look in the right places….

Realms: What is it about YA Fantasy that draws you?

Elizabeth: Ever since my dad read The Hobbit to me when I was little, I loved reading about fantasy worlds. I enjoy reading to escape, and reading about a fantastical world is the best way to do so. There are all kinds of fun and magical ideas waiting to happen, but at the heart of good fantasy stories there are always great characters that bring everything together.

Realms: Which author(s) influence you the most?

Elizabeth: When I was a teen, the first YA fantasy stories I fell in love with were the Song of the Lioness Quartet and The Immortals Quartet by Tamora Pierce. I think she has influenced a lot of current authors who write about strong female heroines in fantasy settings. Some of my other favourite YA/MG fantasy authors that I find inspiring are Kristin Cashore, Maureen Johnson, Eoin Colfer, and J. K. Rowling.

Realms: What is your favorite YA fantasy story?

Elizabeth: I guess I would have to say Harry Potter. I think the first book came out when I first started high school, and the last book came out after I was done with high school for quite some time. Like a lot of people, I feel as though I grew up with the books, and Harry and his friends. I have a lot of fond memories of borrowing the books from friends at school, discussing the books while waiting for the bus, going to see the first couple movies together, watching the DVDs and bonding with new friends while living in university dorms, and the final book being delivered in a special box on a Saturday, even though we usually don’t get mail delivered on Saturdays.

Realms: If there was the kind of magic in this world that is in storybooks, what would you want to be or be able to do?

Elizabeth: I think it would be pretty amazing if we had fantastical healers who could heal every disease. And…I’ve always wanted to be able to teleport, so I wouldn’t have to spend time driving everywhere. I could also travel the world for free and be able to visit family more often.

She Dreamed of Dragons is a YA fantasy adventure that follows Trina, a struggling dragon mage, as she competes in a competition to find a new prince or princess for the fantastical Kingdom of Dorlith.

She Dreamed of Dragons can be purchased at:

Musa Publishing

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Elizabeth J. M. Walker is also the writer of “The Sea Rider,” a short story that will be featured in the first issue of Realms. You can read an excerpt on our website.

Realms Review: "Cruel Beauty"

Cruel Beauty cover

In a retelling of the classic fairytale Beauty and the Beast, set in a world based on Greek mythology, what isn’t there to love about Rosamund Hodge’s debut novel, Cruel Beauty? Nyx, the protagonist, is being forced to marry the cruel ruler of their land, Ignifex. Even though she’s been forced to marry him, Nyx has also been training to kill him and unravel the spell that has separated their kingdom from the real world.

            Without giving anything else away, we would like to rate this tale with four stars. For a debut novel, it’s absolutely mesmerizing. The writing is beautiful, the world-building in incredible, and for a tale that’s been retold in so many ways, Hodge still makes it original and spins it on its head. Nyx is our strong female protagonist who represents the dark side within all of us. We’re all bound by responsibility, but that doesn’t mean we can’t hate those responsibilities. And, sometimes, what we want the most is what everyone else disapproves of.

            Rarely have I seen such a well-developed character with a strong voice. Even when she’s “helpless,” she’s independent and strong. Whether dealing with her father, her sister, or Ignifex, she bends the rules to achieve her goals. Ignifex is a great foil to her character. He represents pure evil, but, ultimately, reveals that no one can be categorized in such a black-and-white fashion. The well-rounded characters have you constantly guessing who the real villain is, and in the end, you have decide for yourself.
          Cruel Beauty is a magnificent tale that will have you dying to know what happens next. We couldn’t put the book down. You can buy the book here on Amazon! And, if you like this book, you need to check out Hodge’s new novel, Crimson Bound, a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and The Girl with No Hands, set to release May 5, 2015.

Crimson Bound cover

Realms Review

Author Interview: Mary B. Sellers on Shoulder Bones and Magic

Shoulder Bones cover

Realms YA Fantasy Literary Magazine: Will you give us a brief background about who you are and where you’re from?

Mary B. Sellers: I was born and raised in Mississippi, and have spent my entire life in the Deep South. I graduated from The University of Mississippi’s Honors College program in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Religious Studies. I now work as one of the associate publishers at Blooming Twig Books, and freelance for a couple of online and print publications, including Click Magazine, where I write a monthly cocktail article, Real Talk Mag, and Thought Catalog.

Realms: Would you say that some of your stories in Shoulder Bones are influenced by your childhood and adolescence?

Mary: Definitely. While I wouldn’t describe any of my stories as autobiographical, I did pull from certain events and feelings that I experienced over the years. I was surprised by how much my southern upbringing influenced those stories.

Realms: Not all of your stories in this collection feature young adult characters, but for the ones that do, what appealed to you about using YA characters?

Mary: I’ve always found myself drawn to writing about young girls, because I think that’s the most important time in a woman’s life. It’s also the most challenging for a variety of reasons. They are old enough to grasp a good many “adult” feelings, and yet they’re still classified as a child.

Realms: Do you think adults have something to gain by reading YA stories?

Mary: Certainly. I’m still a huge fan of reading some YA literature. One of my favorite YA collections is Kelly Link’s Pretty Monsters. It’s absolutely fantastic.

Realms: One of our favorite stories in your collection is “Playtime,” when the dolls and toys come to life. What is the inspiration behind that particularly story?

Mary: I loosely based that story on the Pinocchio and Geppetto. That tale always disturbed me as a child, and I wanted to explore the darker themes and reinvent a scenario that wasn’t “Disney-fied.”

Realms: In your introduction, “Little Ghosts,” you speak about seeing things that cannot be explained. Do you believe that children and adolescents are more receptive to these little ghosts?

Mary: Yes. As children, we’re much more in touch with the supernatural and magical. Our imaginations are at their most powerful, and we haven’t yet been “grounded” by science and reason.

Realms: Do you believe there is magic in the world? What kind?

Author Mary B. Sellers

Mary: I would like to think there is. It may not be as grand as flying broomsticks and fairies, but I think we can make our own magic, as well as find it, if we look in the right places. I think magic is intrinsically tied to emotion, if that makes sense.

Realms: What is it about fantasy and the supernatural that draws you?

Mary: I’ve always loved a good ghost story. I’m attracted to darker themes, and stories that have a point or lesson to them. A lot of the time, I find that fantasy and the supernatural are really great at providing this.

Realms: Which author(s) influence you the most?

Mary: Kelly Link, Kevin Brockmeier, Karen Russell, Flannery O’Connor, Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Judy Budnitz, and Helen Oyeyemi.

Realms: What is your favorite YA fantasy story?

Mary: I mean, I’ve gotta say Harry Potter. There’s nothing like it, and I grew up with that book, those characters, and went into three-day-long depression when I finished the seventh book.

Realms: If there was the kind of magic in this world that is in storybooks, what would you want to be or be able to do?

I’ve always wanted to be able to fly. I know that sounds cheesy, but I’ve had countless dreams about it. However, it’s ironic to me, because I’m also deathly afraid of heights. It’s probably for the best that I’ll only be flying in my dreams, honestly….

Shoulder Bones is an eerily beautiful collection of short stories that feature feminism, the South, and the supernatural. It contains some of the best, most original work we've read, and the stories will send shivers down your spine. If you're a fan of horror, fantasy, and strong female characters, this is the collection for you! You can buy the book here on Amazon. 

To read more work by Mary B. Sellers, you can view her portfolio on her website.