One Book a Week, Week Six

[lagilman]

Previous week's winner, still unclaimed: Allison Daugherty
Last week's winner: @hookoa


The Fine Print, in normal-sized print:

Summer, everyone knows, is for reading. Well, so are Winter, Autumn and Spring, but especially Summer.

So every week, from here through the end of August, I'm going to be giving away a book*. Some of them may be mine, some of them may be by other people. They may be just-out, or entry-points to an on-going series. It will be a totally random and whimsical choice, to keep things interesting.

How do you get in on this? Simple: you comment here on why you need something new to read. Vacation? Stuck in bed with a bad cold? Totally out of book-buying funds? Captured by aliens who insist on a new story every night or they'll eat you?

Tell me.

(you can enter every week, but only once every week. And you MUST identify yourself in your post, either via log-in or a name and contact point. I'm not going to choose anyone who doesn't identify**.)

Ready? Go.

Sixth Book: The Grass King's Concubine, by Kari Sperring.

So, I read Kari's first book, Living with Ghosts, and liked it so much I sent an email to her editor saying "if you want, I'd love to read her next book for a blurb."  I do this, oh, maybe once every two years?  So yeah, when I got hold of The Grass King's Concubine I cleared my schedule, and settled in.  

This is not slam-bam adventure fantasy, although there's certainly action and fights to satisfy.  If you're looking for a quick and easy read, you might want to move on.  But if you want a book that can pull you in and make you linger over a page, this is it.  This book reminded me of Garth Nix's work, and of Robin McKinley's, and all things lovely and engrossing.  World building that makes you think you've lived there.  Characters who are so real they can piss you off, or move you to tears.

When a wealthy young woman, obsessed with a childhood vision of a magical Shining Palace, sets out with her true love to search for a legendary land, she discovers the devastated WorldBelow - the realm of the Grass King - and the terrifying Cadre, who take her prisoner and demand she either restore the king's concubine... or replace her.

 Living With Ghosts was  a finalist for the Crawford Award, a Tiptree Award Honor Book, a "LOCUS "Recommended First Novel, and the winner of the Sydney J. Bounds Award for Best Newcomer.  So I'm not alone in liking her stuff.

*yes, a real, actual, PAPER book.
**the post will 'open' on Monday, and 'close' on Friday. Winners will be chosen over the weekend, and informed the following Monday

Comments

[calendula-witch.livejournal.com]

I love Kari and can't wait to read her new book! Thanks!

[wyvernfriend.livejournal.com]

It sounds like a good read. I need a book because I'm trying hard to avoid knitting too much at the moment because of RSI getting very bad and apparently there will be surgery soon.

[elsceetaria.livejournal.com]

I need a new book, because I'm addicted to books. It's a problem, and I don't have the money to support said habit.

[lagilman]

Congra-rats, the Oracle chose YOU!

Please send me a mailing address, so we can get your new reading to you post-haste.

(heh. unintentional pun. sorry about that)

[elsceetaria.livejournal.com]

:) Huzzah, and unintentional puns are fun.

I send my address off to you via email.

[wood-dragon.livejournal.com]

I need this book because the cover rocks & a comparison to Garth Nix can only be a good thing.

[princejvstin.livejournal.com]

Why do I need something new to read?

Um, because then I would finally have a chance to read Kari's work?

And "World building that makes you think you've lived there?"

That sort of reminds me of a certain trio of books of yours, come to think of it. :)


Paul Weimer

[jennielf.livejournal.com]

I need a new book to read because first trimester of pregnancy is kicking my butt, my husband has been out of town on training for the entire time, and I need something new to get lost in. :)

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

We've had the privilege of reading Grass King at Milford and really, folks, this is an exceptional novel. Do go and buy it.

I REALLY need this book.

[(Anonymous)]

How I loved LIVING WITH GHOSTS! I would be so thrilled to win a paper copy of THE GRASS KING'S CONCUBINE. The premise is so intriguing and Kari Sperring is an excellent writer! It would help my finances to win a free copy and I promise to post my comments on the book after I read it.

Thanks so much!
Amy in NYC - lifelong lover of SF & F
aharlib@earthlink.net

[kristi chadwick (from livejournal.com)]

I need a new book because August is the month where the library gets bombarded by children and teens who have realized why yes, they WERE given a reading assignment over the summer and OMG why don't we have that book on the shelf when they (and 40 of their classmates) are looking for it.

This, plus drink in hand, will give me comfort in my off-hours.

[sara gunderson (from livejournal.com)]

I need a new book because I have never even seen Kari Sperring in bookstores here and I love discovering authors, even though it adds to my ever-expanding "need to buy" list.

[indigosoul63.livejournal.com]

Sounds intriguing. I have not read any works by Kari Spelling yet. I need a new book because if I don't have something to read I might actually have to do some housework! Oh, the horror! ;)
Donna

[steelneko.livejournal.com]

I need something new to read because I'm getting stressed out trying to work out details for the fall, and I could use a book to escape from all the mundane details of life planning.

Especially a book full of writing as beautiful as Kari Sperring.'s.