Mundie Moms

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Book Review- The Poison Diaries based on the concept by The Duchess of Northumberland

By Maryrose Wood
Published by HarperTeen
To Be Released July 20, 2010
Source: HarperTeen
3 stars- It Was A Good Read

Jessamine Luxson lives with her father, Thomas, an apothecary, in an isolated cottage near Alnwick Castle. Thomas’s pride and obsession is his locked garden full of dangerous plants, which Jessamine is forbidden to enter.

When a traveler brings an orphan to their cottage, he claims the boy has special gifts that Thomas might value. Jessamine is drawn to the strange but intriguing boy, called Weed. Soon their friendship deepens into love. Finally, Weed shares his secret: He can communicate with plants. For him they have distinct personalities—and some are even murderous. From the locked garden the poisonous plants call to Weed, luring him with promises of deadly power.

When Jessamine falls inexplicably ill, only Weed’s relationship with the Poisons can save her. But Thomas is determined to exploit Weed’s abilities, even if it risks Jessamine’s life—or drives Weed to the brink of madness.…(from good reads)
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The Poison Diaries is a story that fascinated me. I liked that a whole story was woven around botany, mixed in with romance and given a twist at the end. Maryrose Wood really set the tone for The Poison Dairies in her setting. The countryside was described beautifully, and yet had a dreary, gothic feeling to it. It was captivating, erie and real. The story introduces us to Jessamine and her father, who live a very isolated life in a small, run down cottage on the out skirts of the Alnwick Castle grounds. Jessamine's father is obsessed with finding curses with his plants and is often called to assist in helping someone who's sick or injured and healing them. His greatest obsession is his beloved poison garden which Jessamine is forbidden to enter. With her father being gone up to a couple days at a time, Jessamine finds herself lonely, until a stranger is brought to their house, Weed.

It wasn't until Weed's appearance in the book, did I feel the story pick up for me. The language, being authentic for the time period gave the story a real historically feeling. Though it took me a couple chapters to really get into the story, once I did, I didn't put the book down until I finished. It's a quick read, as it doesn't take long for Jessamine and Weed's relationship to grow. Jessamine wasn't a character I connected to, but she was still a character I enjoyed reading about, as she is at a stage in life where she wants her work obsessed father to stop treating her as child and treat like the young adult she's becoming.

Weed's character is one I really enjoyed. He is a wild, broken boy, who's both intriguing and a bit sinister. Weed has a supernatural power that I was fascinated with. It added a new element to the story. His love for Jessamine is so sincere and I really liked reading about their stolen moments together. The dark plot twist at the end took me for surprise and gave the book a darker feeling. It was something I didn't see coming. What I had loved about the book, was a little lost in that feeling. Having said that, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next, when the next book in the series is released.

I was so intrigued by The Poison Diaries and the concept, that I did a little research into it. I needed to know more about the story, which is based on the Poison Garden of The Duchess of Northumberland. You can find out more the real Poison Gardens and the story behind Maryrose Wood's series here http://tinyurl.com/2v3bw4f. I would definitely recommend this for 14 years and up and I think it's going to be a series that readers will become fascinated with.

To find out more about the book, please visit this site here http://www.poisondiaries.com/

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren and was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! We are posting the list of books we've received this past week for review, borrowed from friends or the library, received as a gift and/or bought for both Mundie Moms and Mundie Kids (our Children's Book Review Site).

For Review:
* The Guardian of The Gate (signed published copy) by Michelle Zink
Published by Little Brown, to be released on August 1, 2010
* Personal Demons, A Novel (signed) by Lisa Desrochers
Published by Tor, to be released on September 14th, 2010
* Skin Hunger (Book 1) by Kathleen Duey
Published by Simon and Schuster Teen, released on September 30, 2008
* The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block
Published by HarperTeen, to be released on September 28th, 2010
* Jack Blank and The Imagine Nation by Matt Myklusch
Published by Aladdin/Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing,
to be released on August 3rd, 2010

Bought:
* Other by Karen Kincy
* Faithful, A Novel by Janet Fox

We've posted our goodies for Mundie Kid's here http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/

Thank you to Michelle Zink, Lisa Desrochers, Kathleen Duey, Simon and Schuster, Harper Collins Children, HarperTeen, and Random House for this weeks wonderful reads.

What goodies did you receive this week?

Upcoming Book Signings in Austin, TX

We've got some exciting book signings in Austin this week and next week.

Today Anastasia Hopcus, author of Shadow Hills will be signing her book at Austin-Southpark Meadows-Borders Bookstore, 9500 South IH 35 Service Road, Austin, TX, The United States , their phone number is 512-280-8018
This is not her launch party, and there will not be a reading or any food. It will be a chance to come and meet Anastasia (I've met her and she's fabulous!) and get your copy of Shadow Hills signed.

Maggie Stiefvater will be signing at Book People on July 29th at 7 pm. In talking with them yesterday, there are only getting 60 copies of Linger. To get a book signed, you have to buy a book from them. You can pre-order your copy of Linger now, as they've not arrived in their store yet. You are allowed to bring an outside copy in to get signed along w/ the copy you purchase from Book People. I was told seating will start at 6:30. You can call them here for more information - (512) 472-5050

Cassie's Clockwork Angel Tour Dates!!!


We know you are all dying to know where Cassie will be headed. Today she announced these stops:

August 4: I'll be signing in New York City!**
I’ll be signing paperback copies of City of Glass and discussing the teaser chapters of Clockwork Angel and City of Fallen Angels! I'll also be giving away prizes and making public some super-sekrit news*. There will be Special Guest appearances, trivia games, and a general good time. Details:

Wednesday August 04, 2010 7:00 PM
Barnes and Noble
Union Square
33 East 17th Street, New York, NY 10003,
212-253-0810


Then my Clockwork Angel tour, Part One. As always, on tour, I'll be giving away special goodies to those who come up to me and whisper the password. This time around the password is MAGNUS. Cause why not.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER: USA CLOCKWORK ANGEL TOUR

August 31: PRINCETON, NJ
Tuesday, August 31st
7:00PM
Barnes & Noble
3535 US Route 1
Princeton, NJ 08540

September 1st: EXTON, PA
5:00PM
Borders
298 Exton Square Mall
Exton, PA 19341


September 2nd: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Anderson’s Book Shop
123 W. Jefferson
Naperville, IL 60540


September 3rd: ST LOUIS, MO.
7:00PM
ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY
1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63131
*Books sold by Puddnhead Books

September 5th: ATLANTA, GA
Decatur Book Festival Presentation & Signing /Time and info to come
http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2010/index.php

Clockwork Angel Tour Part 2:

September 13-16: Tour continues, this time as as part of the
SMART CHICKS KICK IT TOUR




September 13th: AUSTIN, TX **MM's will be here!!**
Tour launches at Book People in Austin, Texas w Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Rachel Caine , & Cassandra Clare
7:00 pm
BOOK PEOPLE BOOKSTORE
603 North Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 472-5050

September 13th: The Woodlands, TX
September 14th—B&N The Woodlands in Houston, TX w Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, & Rachel Vincent. 7:00 pm B&N, THE WOODLANDS 1201 Lake Woodlands Drive The Woodlands, TX 77380

September 15th: HOUSTON, TX
September 15th—Blue Willow in Houston, TX w Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan, & Cassandra Clare 7:00 pm Remote location details to come Off site event hosted by: BLUE WILLOW

September 16th: JACKSON, MS
September 16th—Lemuria Book, Jackson, MS w Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, & Sarah Rees Brennan 6:00 pm LEMURIA BOOKS 202 Banner Hall 4465 I-55 North Jackson, MS 39206

Be sure to visit her site here for more: http://cassandraclare.livejournal.com/38420.html

Paranormalcy Book Trailer

I'm so excited Harper Teen released Paranormalcy's book trailer. This is one of my favorite reads of this year and I highly recommend snagging yourselves a copy when it's released on August 31st, the same day as our HIGHEST recommended book of the year, Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare.

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