My Favourite Authors (1): Jodi Meadows

Hi, guys!

Today is a pretty exciting day on the blog! I'm launching my new feature called "My Favourite Authors." Every other Monday, I'll be featuring an author here that I LOVE and that I think you guys should all read! Sometimes it will just be my fan-girling, sometimes there will be author interviews, and maybe sometimes a giveaway! I get to recommend books to people a lot, either through blogging or being a bookseller. What I don't always get to do is recommend an author. There are some authors out there whose books I will buy without even reading the description because I KNOW it will be great. This feature is dedicated to those incredible talents.

And, first up, we have the spectacular Jodi Meadows author of the New Soul trilogy (Incarnate, Asunder, and Infinite) and the upcoming duology, The Orphan Queen! Here are some of the reason she is one of my favourite authors!

Jodi Meadows is, simply, a phenomenal writer. Her talent is incredible. When I was reading the New Soul trilogy, I wanted to soak up every single word on the page. They were elegant and powerful, heartbreaking and gut wrenching and they came together to make such a beautiful story. I found myself sitting back in awe at points cause, seriously, the writing was Just That Good. It brought the already incredible story to a whole other level. Jodi Meadows is, in my opinion, one of the best YA writers out there, and you need to read her books if you haven't already.

 
The story in the New Soul trilogy (and I'm sure the same goes for The Orphan Queen) is so well-crafted. I could imagine the world perfectly because the writing, and it was so unique. Her world-building was just spectacular. There were slyphs and dragons and souls and all kinds of other magical elements! Jodi created a world both familiar and so completely different that I was captivated by. I was terrified and horrified at parts of it, but also stunned at how beautiful it all was. Meadows is CRAFTY and TALENTED and knows how to create one heck of a story!

This is where I get to tell you a personal, non-bookish reason why Jodi Meadows is a great author. I run a teen book club at work. I love hosting it, I love the girls that attend, and I love how many authors have expressed their happiness about being featured. But, no one has done as much as Jodi has. When I tweeted about our club reading Incarnate, Jodi immediately asked if I wanted her to Skype into the meeting. I was overjoyed, and so were the girls. (Seriously, they talked about how cool it was for ages afterward). Jodi even sent bookmarks for the group! I mean, how amazing is that? We decided to read Infinite for our one-year anniversary meeting, threw a masquerade party and, again, Jodi offered to Skype in. I am so utterly grateful for the time she took to chat with us, and for being so responsive to us.

Okay, let's be real here, Jodi Meadows seriously won the cover lottery. Her books are GORGEOUS. Even her e-novella's are GORGEOUS! I mean, just take a peak at those bright, vibrant, striking covers! They enchant me every time I look at them. I usually don't like covers that have faces on them, it's actually one of my pet peeves (I like to picture the characters myself, without an image already in my head). But, these are covers perfect. The girls on the cover don't make me picture Ana a certain way, but rather feel the atmosphere of the book. Those colors are vivid and captivating and I love love love that each cover features elements of the story. The cover for The Orphan Queen is stunning as well! Another time I don't mind the face on the cover! I love how detailed and dark it is, and the font is STUNNING. I can't wait to get a finished copy on my shelf so I can stare at them all in awe.

And another reason she's awesome (seriously, though, I could name SO MANY OTHER REASONS)? She agreed to do a Q&A with me! Check it out!

Lost at Midnight Reviews:  We saw the New Soul trilogy come to an end with Infinite earlier this year. I know it was difficult for me to let go (there was a boat load of tears involved!), how did you handle finishing up your first series?

Jodi Meadows: Overall, I think I handled it pretty well. I was a mess when I finished the second first draft of INFINITE, because that felt pretty final, even though I would do a lot of revising and editing on it later. But for me, writing the first draft is usually the most emotional part, so that was the bit that really got me. After that, I still got pretty sniffly as I edited the book, but mostly I was fine. By the time I'd gone through all the editing and the book came out, I was well into writing and editing THE ORPHAN QUEEN, so I felt pretty distanced from it. Not in a bad way, but in a healthy moving-on-with-my-life way. 

LM: Your next series is a duology (the first book, The Orphan Queen is out March 10^th, 2015!) How different was writing a duology instead of a trilogy? Did you have a different kind of world-building techniques?

JM: The biggest difference between writing a trilogy and duology was the structure. In a trilogy, each book has a beginning, middle, and end, and the entire story has a very clear beginning, middle, and end -- a book for each. Which does lead to some brain loops, like "I'm writing the end of the middle but it still has to feel like the end of this book." Or "I'm writing the beginning of the end but it still has to be the beginning of a book but also the ending of the entire series." It's a mess in my brain.

Writing a duology presents a trickier look at structure, at least for me. Each book, again, has to have a beginning, middle, and end. Each must have its own resolution. But the end of THE ORPHAN QUEEN (the first book) is the very middle of the story. (Presumably. Wordcount wise, not really, but let's not talk about that.) And if the middle of the story is where things start getting really bad, then the middle of the duology -- the end of the first book -- is where poo really hits the fan. 

And then the beginning of the second book must also be the middle of the story but the beginning of its own book. So really bad and tense, but not so much that it doesn't also look like the beginning of another book-length arc that needs to be resolved. 

Wow, that was a long, twisty answer. And I'm not done yet.

I didn't really have any different worldbuilding techniques for a duology. In fact, the worldbuilding in THE ORPHAN QUEEN might be more complex than the worldbuilding in INCARNATE. I know the plot and cast are definitely bigger. It was just the story structure that screamed to be a duology. The rest has no bearing on the size of the story. 

LM: We all know about the calligraphy research you did for The Orphan Queen (and if you don’t, get yourself over to Jodi’s Instagram page STAT. Her calligraphy artwork is gorgeous!) Was there any other type of research involved?

JM: Of course there was! I learned a ton about paper making, fighting, and even scorpion anatomy. I did lots of detailed research on the region where the story takes place, how long it takes to travel from one place to another, flora and fauna, and even looked at geology. 

LM: One thing I loved about the New Soul triogy was all the different themes expertly woven into the story and how much growth Ana experiences from start to finish. Can we expect the same thing in The Orphan Queen? Will we being seeing a lot of growth and self-discovery?

JM: Absolutely. Wilhelmina has a lot of growing up to do. She starts off as a very strong person, I think, but that's certainly not all there is in life. She has a lot to learn about becoming a good leader, as well as finding her own identity. (That seems to be a theme for me. Yum, books about identity.) 

LM: We all got to know Ana and her generous heart in the New Soul trilogy. What would you say is your favourite quality of hers? And Wil?

JM: I think my favorite aspect of Ana is her heart, definitely, and her optimism. After everything she's been through, she still expects the best from people. She still sees ways to survive and succeed after everyone else has given up. I think that's one of the things that makes her special.

As for Wil, I really admire her drive to be a strong leader, and do whatever it takes to make sure her people are safe. Plus, she's pretty handy with a dagger. I'd like to be that handy with a dagger. 

LM: Now for some fun final questions: what are the top three songs you just can’t get out of your head right now?
At this moment?? 

JM: Well, Hubs and I just watched SLEEPY HOLLOW, so I have the theme song stuck on repeat in my head. That makes it hard to sleep at night.

Some 80s hair band song my husband was listening to earlier. 

A pop song I heard on the radio last week. I don't even know what it is. 

Do I want any of these songs stuck in my head? No. Can I stop this weird loopy mix from happening? No. The only thing that might change the channel in my head is if I think of "Eye of the Tiger" because that is the ear-wormiest song that was ever written. 

Oh.

Now I have "Eye of the Tiger" in my head. 

Thanks. 

LM: And, since we’re talking about awesome authors, can you name a couple of your favourites?

Oh I have a lot of favorites. Do I have to limit myself? Really? 

JM: Okay, C.J. Redwine and her DEFIANCE series. Rae Carson and her GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS series. I'm also a huge fan of Sherry Thomas and THE BURNING SKY, and Robin LaFevers and her GRAVE MERCY series. And I'd be a fool not to mention Robin McKinley. Enormous fan of her books.

Thanks for stopping by, Jodi!

So, what about you guys? Do you love Jodi's books? Never read them? Let me know in the comments (and if you need even more convincing, check out my reviews of Incarnate and Asunder! And we sure to check back in two weeks for more author love!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

P. S. Shout out to Emilie for making the graphics! YOU DA BEST.

The Best of 2013

Hi all!

It's the beginning of 2014 and I decided to start it by taking a look back at the books I loved in 2013. I didn't get to read a ton of YA this year, I found. A lot of my reading was focused on school (at least for the latter half of the year) and YA sadly had to take a back seat. I did read some phenomenal books though, so many that, really, it's impossible for me to choose which book I loved best. So! I'm going to put them in the order I read them in! 

Without further ado, here are my favourite books of 2013 in order of when I read them!

1. Just One Day (Just One Day #1) by Gayle Forman

What a way to start off the year, Gayle Forman! Seriously, Just One Day is probably one of my favourite books ever. I connected with it so completely, and Gayle's writing is simply beautiful. There was nothing I didn't love about this book (well, except maybe that ending....)

2. 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma

I hosted 17 & Gone week on my blog because this book stole my heart. Nova Ren Suma is an incredible writer. Her words are lyrical and magical, and this story was haunting and moving. If you haven't read it yet, go pick up 17 & Gone.
 

3. Asunder (Incarnate #2) by Jodi Meadows

I read Incarnate a couple of months after it came out and I was blown away. This series is one of my absolute favourites, and Asunder was probably the best sequel I've ever read. Period. It was everything I wanted and more and I will be so heartbroken this month when I have to say goodbye to my precious Sam and Ana. Jodi Meadows is a phenomenal storyteller.
 

4. Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi

Goodness gracious, Tahereh tells one heck of a story. I had been waiting AGES to finally read Unravel Me and it did not disappoint! It was a can't-put-down-stay-up-all-night kind of read and I loved every little bit of it. 
 

5. Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

After a lot of poking and prodding, I was finally convinced to read the Lux series. And I loved it. I couldn't stop reading it/thinking about it/wanting more/swooning over Damon. Onyx was my favourite of the set and I'm really excited to see how it'll all come to an end in August!
 

6. The Program (The Program #1) by Suzanne Young

This book really took me by surprise. I received an ARC of it from the publisher, and was a bit wary at first. I always am with books dealing with mental health but my oh my did I adore The Program! It had me so emotional I could barely take it! What a book!
 

7. Perfect Scoundrels (Heist Society #3) by Ally Carter

It was The Book of Hale, and by golly was it glorious. Ally Carter became one of my favourite authors last year when I finally, after YEARS of planning to read her books (seriously, I was in grade 9 when I first heard about them), sat down and picked up Heist Society. She is so witty and clever! I just want to jump right into her books!
 

8. Sweet Peril (Sweet Evil #2) by Wendy Higgins

#ISighForKai, let me just start off my saying that. I am such a HUGE fan of this series, and Sweet Peril was such a great addition to the story. If you want a book that will having you swooning and having major fits of THE FEELS, you need to read the Sweet Evil series!

9. The Dream Thieves (The Raven Boys #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

There really aren't words to express how much this series means to me. I've honestly started crying just thinking about it. It's inspiring. Magical. Moving. It's what I have been hoping and dreaming for in a book. And, I was so scared I would pick up The Dream Thieves and it would tell me that all the hype I had in my head was wrong. But it didn't. It stunned me, shocked me, once again. It made me fall right back in love with this world. 

10. Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

This is another one of those books that hits so close to home. That honestly rocked my world. There was one scene where I started crying, and then I began to laugh. I was so overwhelmed with emotion I didn't know what to do with myself. This book is beautiful in every way possible. Melina Marchetta is one of the best authors out there, and if you haven't read her yet: do it.

11. The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

This was a debut book that took me by surprise. I honestly thought it was just going to be one of those light, fluffy, fun books that would get me to smile. But it was so much more than that. It was a coming-of-age story with witty, heartbreak and everything in between. I read it twice in 2013 and I plan on reading it again and again for years to come.

12. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

I had this book on my radar since its release but it took me until September to finally pick it up. I wish I had sooner because it was just SO. GOOD. It was dark and gritty at points but also so heart-warming and caring. I bawled my eyes out (in the middle of the hallway in my university) when it was over because I didn't want it to end. I will be reading every book Rainbow Rowell writes from now on because, wow. She is incredible.

13. The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4) by Richelle Mead

SYDRIAN FEELS. This book was a roller-coaster of emotions and an addicting installment in this series. I simply love these books. They are just so good. I love the world, I love the characters, I love the stories, I love every single thing and I loved The Fiery Heart.

14. Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White

Perfect Lies, also know as The Book That Utterly Destroyed Ciara in 2013. I actually can't even tell you want this book did to me but I was an emotional wreck for days. I didn't know what to do with myself. I still don't, when I think about this book. All I know is this: Fia, you are incredible and Kiersten White, you are a talent.
 

15. Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan

After the heartbreak of Perfect Lies, I needed a pick me up. I needed a funny, lovable book and I heart Unspoken was just that. It was also EVIL (at least, at the end) and EXTRAORDINARY (in the whole book) and HILARIOUS (I mean, laugh-out-loud-til-your-mouth-hurts-funny). This book was just so great, guys. So so great. Hats off to you, Sarah Rees Brennan.
 

16. Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry

I read Pushing the Limits earlier in the year and I realllllly liked it. So when I finally got a copy of Dare You To I was looking forward to reading more about these intriguing characters. I didn't really realize how freakin emotional I would be reading this book. It was amazing! I was so invested in this story and I couldn't stop reading! Every time I had to put it down, I was upset that I had to let these characters go. It was such an awesome book.

Well, looking back I read a lot of sequels this year! What were your favourite books of the year?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

Waiting On Wednesday (53): Infinite by Jodi Meadows

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: Infinite (Incarnate #3) by Jodi Meadows

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: January 28th 2014

DESTRUCTION
The Year of Souls begins with an earthquake—an alarming rumble from deep within the earth—and it’s only the first of greater dangers to come. The Range caldera is preparing to erupt. Ana knows that as Soul Night approaches, everything near Heart will be at risk.

FLIGHT
Ana’s exile is frightening, but it may also be fortuitous, especially if she can convince her friends to flee Heart and Range with her. They’ll go north, seeking answers and allies to stop Janan’s ascension. And with any luck, the newsouls will be safe from harm’s reach.

CHOICE
The oldsouls might have forgotten the choice they made to give themselves limitless lifetimes, but Ana knows the true cost of reincarnation. What she doesn’t know is whether she’ll have the chance to finish this one sweet life with Sam, especially if she returns to Heart to stop Janan once and for all.

With gorgeous romance and thrilling action, the final book in the Incarnate trilogy offers a brilliant conclusion to the compelling questions of this fascinating world, where one new girl is the key to the lives of millions. (Summary from Goodreads)

UM. THIS COVER IS GORGEOUS. Like, pet-the-screen-stare-at-it-for-hours gorgeous. I just adore it so much. It also matches the previous covers which is a must in my books.

Guys, this is one of my all time favorite series. It is beautiful in every way imaginable. I'm going to be an emotional wreck when I have this book in my hands. I don't want it to end! I am going to miss my sweet Sam, and brave young Ana. But, I know Jodi Meadows will give them the ending they deserve and that Infinite will be spectacular. If you haven't checked out this series yet, do it. You will love it. 

Check the blog closer to the release date of this one because I am definitely going to be doing something to celebrate!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)
 

Review: Asunder by Jodi Meadows

Title: Asunder (Newsoul #2)

Author: Jodi Meadows

Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books

Release Date: January 29th, 2013

Source: Purchased

My Rating: 5/5

DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

LOVE
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.

In this second book in the Newsoul trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy.

Where do I start with this book? All my thoughts are clamoring to be discussed and I can't seem to pick just one. Everything about this book was beautiful. Every. Single. Part. Even the dark and horrific points were tinged with hope, with conviction. Jodi Meadows is a pure talent, and Asunder was more than I could have ever expected.

I would love to study this book. To dissect the characters, explore the themes, and talk about the prose. The English major in me is just itching to dive deeper into this story. There is just simply so much depth to Asunder and I can't get enough of it. I want to read it again and again just so I can soak it all up.

In Incarnate we saw the image of a butterfly being used to tie the story together. In Asunder roses were a central theme and by gosh, was it done well. It added an extra layer to the story and Ana's character. The fleeting life of a rose, its undeniably beauty, and its fierce will to live describe Ana and her situation perfectly. She doesn't want to just be a blip on the map. She wants to make a difference. She wants to break past the barriers set before her. As I said in my original review of Incarnate, the cruelty that marred this beautiful world is striking. These apparent "pure souls" are sullied by their hatred and bigotry. And in Asunder, this is taken to an entirely new level. I was horrified by what the People of Heart did, both to these New Souls and to the people they considered "friends". It was painful to read about and made me beyond livid. There was so much injustice and lies that I wanted to shake the book and those awful characters in it. But, while there was so much darkness there was also many moments that had my heart soaring.

Now, let me gush about Sam and Ana. Individually, they are two moving characters with so much heart and strength. The musical Sam makes my heart melt because he is just such a good and loving guy. I loved his passion and dedication, his kind heart and his never ending love. He's the kind of guy I wish I knew simply because he would bring such joy to my life. And the protagonist Ana is such as kind and beautiful as her love. She is such a strong, passionate person dealing with many difficult obstacles. Ana is dealing with past and present abuse. She was raised by a cruel and vicious woman who told her time and again that she was less than a person. And now, Ana has to face the same hatred, mental and physical abuse at the hands of a community. Asunder really addresses the painful and damaging affects of that abuse, and how it alters her relationship with Sam. And that, despite all the hatred, Ana sends back out love. Together, her and Sam are such a realistic couple. They clearing care for each other, but they're both human. They make mistakes. They're scared. But, despite everything, they work together to create a strong relationship.

I love how Jodi Meadows weaves music into the story. I felt like I can hear Dossam on the piano and Ana on her flute. The music just wraps around me, and gave me this inherent feeling for hope. Music plays such an important and powerful role in the story, and I could totally relate to that. It made me want to run out and listen to my favorite songs and just revel in the magic of them.

Asunder sees a lot of plot progression as well. Lots of questions were answered, and lots of craziness ensued. Putting this book down was not an option. I was so entranced by the characters and the need to know exactly what was going to happen next! I was blind-sided by some of the twist and turns, and my heart swelled with pride every time the characters faced these challenges with determination.

Asunder was one of the best sequels I have ever read. I was completely blown away. Jodi Meadows knows how to write, how to create a gorgeous and original story, and how to create characters that will become a part of you. Asunder, you were no fleeting rose. Your beauty will remain with me for years and years to come.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Find This Book: Amazon | Chapters/Indigo | Goodreads | Jodi Meadows' website  

A Change of Scenery: Jodi Meadows author of Incarnate!

Hey, everyone!

Today marks the last day for my guest post series "A Change in Scenery"! I hope you have enjoyed the posts this week, I know I have! I decided to leave this post for last, since I pretty much fainted when I got the email. I am delighted to welcome Jodi Meadows, author of Incarnate, onto the blog! Jodi has written an awesome blog post on how setting affects her novel! 

How does setting affect tone/feel/direction of a novel, specifically INCARNATE?

This is probably one of the most interesting questions I’ve been asked about the series.

Before we start, I have to admit: I’m going to talk about all this like it was by design, but the truth is that much of my writing process is instinctual. Even when I plan ahead, I still feel my way into worlds and stories. The first draft is all about discovery. It’s about exploring a world I’ve read travel guides about, but never visited. It’s about getting to know characters I’ve heard about, but never met until I type the first sentence.

Even so, I need to understand why things work and what will make them stronger. An architect can have a great idea for a new high-rise building, but if s/he doesn’t understand how tall buildings stay up, the whole tower will come tumbling down. So when I’ve written my first draft and I’m starting on edits, I need to be able to look over what I have and get it into a structure that is stable.

All that said, here’s me acting like I know what I’m talking about:

INCARNATE is set in a world where everyone is perpetually reincarnated and they remember every lifetime. Everyone except Ana, that is.

The premise requires a new world to accommodate it, and since worldbuilding is a process I really enjoy, I let myself go wild with it, adding dragons and sylph and dozens of other creatures. I didn’t think about why these things were present, only that they were.

But then I had this world filled with mysteries and questions waiting to be answered. In order to satisfy the reader, those mysteries must be explored. I needed to get Ana moving in a direction that would begin answering those questions.

Like the reader, Ana is new to this crazy world, making her the perfect character to narrate the story. As Ana discovers more about the world she was born into, so does the reader.

INCARNATE begins with questions about Ana’s existence. Naturally, she’s curious about why she’s the first (and only!) new soul in the whole world. As she begins to look into her origins, the reader is introduced to new questions, like why do dragons attack the temple, and what are the sylph? Why do characters have trouble remembering certain things, and why do they put up with so many inconsistencies in their own lives?

By the end of INCARNATE, a few questions have been answered, but even more new questions have been introduced. ASUNDER answers questions and asks even more. By the end of book 3, Ana -- and the reader -- should have a much clearer picture of the world than in the beginning of the series.

One of the challenges of unfolding the mystery of the world is, of course, figuring out when to reveal information and when to ask questions. No single way is going to satisfy every reader, so the writer will always have to use their best judgement (and the judgement of their critique partners/agent/editor) when it comes to dolling out information in a non-boring way.

So, circling back to the original question: The mysteries of the world must be answered in order to provide a satisfying journey for the reader. If the story wasn’t set in a world filled with mysteries, the book would no doubt be much different!

Jodi Meadows lives and writes in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, with her husband, a Kippy*, and an alarming number of ferrets. She is a confessed book addict, and has wanted to be a writer ever since she decided against becoming an astronaut.

*A Kippy is a cat.

Jodi Meadows can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and her website.

Thank you SO MUCH Jodi for stopping by the blog! So great to see an author's perspective on the question!

Well, that's all for now! Hope you guys enjoyed and thanks for reading!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Waiting On Wednesday (23): Asunder by Jodi Meadows

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for! 

This Week's Pick: Asunder (Newsoul #2) by Jodi Meadows

Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books

Release Date: January 29th, 2013

*WARNING: Plot summary contains spoilers for book one!*

DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

LOVE
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.

In this second book in the Incarnate trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy. (Summary from Goodreads)

I was entirely enchanted by Incarnate when I picked it up earlier this year and the spell it cast has lingered to this day. Jodi Meadows created a beautiful novel that was full of magic and wonder contrasted with hatred and exclusion. And I happen to love it. I cannot wait to be immersed once again in this fantastical story, and find out what happens to these amazing characters *cue the swooning over Sam*! 

Also, the cover of Asunder? Beautiful! And apparently very symbolic which is always a great touch!

In other news, I've recently joined Team Incarnate, so expect some exciting Incarnate/Asunder themed posts in the coming months!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Title: Incarnate (Newsoul #1)

Author: Jodi Meadows

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: January 31st, 2012

Source: Purchased (Thanks, Mom!)

My Rating: 5/5

New soul

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul

Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart

Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

There are so many things I want to say about this book. I want to pour all my thoughts, feelings, emotions about this book onto the page and pray they do Incarnate justice. What a beautiful, beautiful novel. I think that would be the best way to sum it up. Even in it’s most disturbing, and painful moments Incarnate manages to be stunning.

Originality is something I appreciate in a novel, as is themes apart from the story. Incarnate had both of these in spades. The story tackled issues like abuse, identity, and exclusion with precision, and passion. It was heart-wrenching reading about Ana’s upbringing, and enraging knowing the cruelty she had to face not only in her home, but in this warped society was well. I wanted to stand in front of Ana, and protect her from the abuse. But Ana wasn’t some down-trodden soul, but a determined and courageous one. Reading about her growth, and her journey made me smile, and made me feel proud of this beautiful New Soul. I loved her relationship with Sam as well. It didn’t seem fake, or cheesy but rather honest and refreshing. I couldn’t help but smile at their conversations, and felt my heart give a little squeeze in anticipation. Sam himself was such a genuinely great guy. Not perfect, but heartfelt and sweet, which I loved.

The plot line of Incarnate was such a new idea! I loved the idea, and Jodi Meadows wrote a fantastic story to match. The idea of reincarnation was given new life, and made you question if this constant simply made the world stagnant. The edition of dragons and sylphs to the story was also great. Can’t say I’ve read about dragons in a very long time! But, the fantastical monsters were nowhere near was frightening as the human monsters. Usually “soul” is synonymous with the world “pure” but in this case, many of these souls were blackened to the core. It was amazing how such a seemingly “perfect” society could harbor such judgement.

Overall, Incarnate blew me away. It was spectacular, creative, and simply fantastic. Jodi Meadows, you are on my must-buy list! Check out this book. You’ll feel the same way!

- Ciara who is lost at midnight 

Find this book: Amazon | Goodreads | Jodi Meadow's Website  

All Covered Up: Asunder by Jodi Meadows

Hey all!

So, I've been meaning to start posting book covers cause I absolutely adore them. I love talking about them, I love trying to dissect their meaning, and I loved simply staring at them. I thought I should give cover posts a name so I'm calling them "All Covered Up!"

Just today, Jodi Meadows revealed the cover, summary and title for the Incarnate sequel! It's going to be called ASUNDER and here's the cover! 


*WARNING: summary contains spoilers for Incarnate*

DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

LOVE
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.

In this second book in the Incarnate trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy.

Isn't it just gorgeous! It's going to look fabulous next to my copy of Incarnate. Jodi Meadows answered a few questions on her blog (includes a giveaway!) so be sure to stop by and read about it! She does mention that, like the butterfly on the first cover, the rose petals have some significance in the novel. I haven't read the summary due to my "no summaries" rule, but I'm sure it's really intriguing! I just can't wait to read this one! Incarnate was one of my favorite books this year. 

Tune in to the blog later in the week for my review of Incarnate!

-Ciara who is lost at midnight