A rare look at the SHADOW AND BONE ARC from Leigh Bardugo and welcoming her brand-new book THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS into the world! (Plus, Enter to win a copy!)

Welcome to Magic, Myth, & Mischief in celebration 
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Happy Book Day to...

THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS
by Leigh Bardugo!

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to interview Leigh Bardugo for BroadwayWorld.

Today, her new book THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS is out in the world and it is going to be SO beautiful! I cannot WAIT to do an in-depth film analysis of this beauty for you. From underneath the jacket to illustrations on literally every page, this book has been lovingly brought to life and will sit proudly on the shelf next to other retellings.

THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS is reminiscent of J.K. Rowling's THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD and Ransom Riggs' TALES OF THE PECULIAR, which are both full of folklore and cautionary tales that characters grew up reading in Harry Potter, Mrs. Peregrine's Peculiar Children and now the Grishaverse. The way we grew up reading the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen and Andrew Lang, so too do other worlds have their own tales. Macmillan is does a fantastic job making the tome the Grisha grew up reading look luxe and at home next to so many other great collections.

I've been reading Leigh Bardugo since almost the very beginning. I had an ARC of SHADOW AND BONE back before the book ever had a cover--and even then, the preliminary "Cover Coming Soon" cover was awesome to behold! (I really wish I still have the ARC, but I'm pretty sure I loaned it to someone at work and didn't get it back..and didn't care, either, because I ran out and bought the finished copy after falling in love!)

It came in a shiny blue mailer, which is reserved for special books to help them stand out, but even then, it took me a little while to dive into the series. I finally read it and loved it, of course, but it was a rough start. The back flap with the summary initially turned me off with the line, "...crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh."  It also mentioned words like "brutally" and "war-ravaged."  I was afraid the book was going to be super-violent.  Plus, the summary read as paranormal/supernatural, which is never my first choice.  I honestly put the book aside and forgot about it for a few months.  I began seeing reviews pop up on SHADOW AND BONE around the web and noticed people talking about how amazing the book was on Twitter and Goodreads.  Everyone kept calling it a fantasy, too, which wasn't what I would have called it based on the summary.  I decided to take a chance.  I'm incredibly glad I did. 

(And thankfully, Macmillan has since changed the summary, so it reads more in line with what the books stand for and has brought in many new fans!)

I've read each book in the trilogy as soon as it came out and loved the way it would at times feel as lyrical as a fairy tale. When I heard that Bardugo was going to write a new duology set in the world, Six of Crows, I was really excited. 

Bardugo has been really lucky and has had stunning design-work from the beginning, but SIX OF CROWS and CROOKED KINGDOM really take the cake with their black and red stained edges and their pop of color on the endpapers. But even in the beginning, the design was amazing. Check out my YouTube video exploring the design of the hardcover if you don't believe me!

YouTube Link

If you've never read anything by Bardugo, I recommend beginning with SHADOW AND BONE. The world of the Grisha and their magic isn't explained well in SIX OF CROWS, and I know a few people who have put it down because they couldn't understand the world. Plus, there's a pretty large spoiler for the original series if you're thinking about reading that second! THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS, on the other hand, is full of lore and could be read on its own. Its beauty and design may very well bring new readers into the world!

Not everyone loves reading short stories and tales. As for me, I love them! I have a whole shelf of fairy tale anthologies. Here are just a few:

THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS is different because it's a short story collection from one author, not an anthology from multiple authors. And the tales are set in one world. But that just enhances the world and makes it fuller, in my opinion. It's like a bonus treat I didn't know I wanted until it was handed to me in the most beautiful package, complete with a bow!

I can't wait to hold this finished book in my hands today, and hope you'll be running out to grab your copy as well! But if you can't afford it right away? Never fear, you have a chance to win a copy below!

Thank you to Macmillan / Fierce Reads for having me on the Release Day Tour for THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS and sending this lovely thank you gift. I love it and will treasure it!

~*~

O F F I C I A L   I N F O:

Title: THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Release Date: September 26, 2017

Publisher: Macmillan

SUMMARY:

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns. 

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price. 

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love. 

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse. 

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves. 

 ~*~

GIVEAWAY

During Magic, Myth, & Mischief,
we're giving away a book of YOUR CHOICE
from the event!

It could be THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS!

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL to any country that Book Depository ships to.  You can also claim an e-book as a prize; it doesn't have to be a physical copy!

You must be at least 13 years old to enter or have a parent's permission!

Enter now! 

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