{Review/Giveaway} TO BEAR AN IRON KEY by Jackie Morse Kessler

Check out the rest of the tour now for more awesome interviews, guest posts, reviews, etc.!

TO BEAR AN IRON KEY is the first in a brand-new series by Jackie Morse Kessler. 

It came out yesterday.

Happy Book Week, Jackie!!!!

Haven't read Jackie's previous series, Riders of the Apocalypse?

Check out my reviews!
HUNGER     RAGE     LOSS     BREATH
(and my exploration of the mythology in LOSS!)

Check out my previous interviews with 
Billy from LOSS
and
Jackie Morse Kessler here and here!

O P E N I N G   H O O K:

    SHE SAT ALONE IN THE SMALL ROOM, LIKE a storybook princess trapped inside a witch's cottage. But the girl with curly black hair, which draped down to her thighs when she stood, was no princess. Bromwyn, called Darkeyes, was herself a witch, and she was quite certain that one day she would be able to perform magical feats that none had ever seen before...

(Page 9, US e-book edition)

I really enjoyed Jackie Morse Kessler's previous series, Riders of the Apocalypse, and have been waiting to see what she comes out with next. When I heard she had a new book on the horizon entitled TO BEAR AN IRON KEY, I wanted it. Immediately. I didn't even care that I don't tend to read books centered around fae folk. And I didn't need to know much, either. Kessler introduced me to everything I needed to know and created a beautiful, dangerous world that I wouldn't want to live in.

Bromwyn has always been a contrary girl. She'll follow the rules, but only just. She's learned to bend them and search for loopholes in order to get her way. She also has a strong temper that has gotten her into trouble more than once. She's studying to inherit her grandmother's position as the Wise One, but first she must pass a test. If she fails, she'll lose her ability to control magic. Her test comes at the worst possible time--on Midsummer's Eve, where the King and Queen of the Faeries want nothing more than to trick Bromwyn and destroy everything she's worked for. Bromwyn has to be clever if she wants to succeed, and above all, she needs to learn how to control her wayward temper...once and for all.

TO BEAR AN IRON KEY has a slow start, but delivers information that becomes important later on in the novel. Bromwyn is a likable character despite her headstrong tendencies. She has her whole life in front of her, but she's trapped by things outside her control. Like the fact that she's betrothed to a boy she detests, one who fears her magical abilities. Like the fact that she might be falling for her best friend, Rusty. Rusty is also an endearing character. He's a pickpocket in his spare time, and he managers to unknowingly nick Bromwyn's grandmother's iron key. His sticky fingers change the course of Bromwyn's test and open the gates for the fae to betray custom and run amuck. He's actually very level-headed and clever, and a great counterpart to the brash Bromwyn. They're very compatible and compliment one another well. Kessler has also instilled the notion that the fae are dangerous, not to be trifled with. This is especially true with their King and Queen. I don't know much lore, so I was right there learning about ceremonies and etiquette with Rusty. I can't say how unique or faithful Kessler's portrayals are, but the fae felt realistic to me, and I know I wouldn't want to meet one in real life.

While TO BEAR AN IRON KEY concludes fully and can stand alone, it's also the first in a series. I'm not sure where Kessler will take us next, but I'm looking forward to seeing Bromwyn's struggles as she attempts to deal with more circumstances beyond her control.

~*~

C O V E R   D E S I G N:

Doesn't that setting look mysterious? It kind of reminds me of Stonehenge. I don't read a lot of books featuring fae, so I have no preconceived notion of the doors that link our worlds together. I could see an area like this being mystical, though!

I also really like the colors used on the cover and the contrast of orange and blue.

This is a cover I want to see in person, because I know I'm missing small details looking at it on a computer screen!

And look...fitting interior design!

I like when there's proper attention paid to making good interior design, especially when it adds  to the atmosphere of the novel!

~*~

O F F I C I A L   I N F O:

Title: TO BEAR AN IRON KEY

Author: Jackie Morse Kessler

Release Date: May 6, 2014

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC

SUMMARY:

This richly-imagined universe from an acclaimed fixture of YA storytelling introduces a the young witch Bromwyn, a strong heroine who wields great power. 

Five years ago, Bromwyn refused a gift from the powerful fairy king. Tonight, on Midsummer, that decision comes back to haunt her. 

When her best friend Rusty picks the wrong pocket, he and Bromwyn are all that stand between their village and the rampaging fairies who have pushed through the World Door. 

If they cannot outwit the fairy king and queen before the World Door closes at sunrise, the friends will lose everything--their village, Bromwyn's magic, and Rusty's life.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | 

~*~ 

Jackie Morse Kessler grew up in Brooklyn, NY, with a cranky cat and overflowing shelves filled with dolls and books. Now she’s in Upstate NY with another cranky cat, a loving husband, two sons, and overflowing shelves filled with dragons and books (except when her sons steal her dragons). She has a bachelor’s degree in English and American Literature, and yet she’s never read any Jane Austen (with or without zombies). She also has a master’s degree in media ecology. (The living study of technology and culture. Which is cool, but she still can’t figure out how to use Tweetdeck.)

Jackie is the author of the acclaimed YA series Riders of the Apocalypse, published by Harcourt/Graphia. The first two books in the quartet, HUNGER and RAGE, are YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers; in addition, HUNGER has been nominated for several awards and RAGE is an International Reading Association YA Choice. RAGE, LOSS and BREATH are Junior Library Guild selections

Author Links:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

~*~

****Giveaway*****

Ready to check out
TO BEAR AN IRON KEY?

Tour wide giveaway (INTL)

Four (4) winners will receive an ebook copy of TO BEAR AN IRON KEY by Jackie Morse Kessler (INT)

One (1) winner will receive an ebook copy of O BEAR AN IRON KEY by Jackie Morse Kessler AND a $10 Amazon Gift Card or B&N Gift Card – Winner’s Choice (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway