{Story Diary} Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Young Adult Fantasy

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

Places

Novyi Zem

Top left corner

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"There were sleek sloops and little junks from the rocky coasts of the Shu Han, armed warships and pleasure schooners, fat merchantmen and fjerdan whalers. A bloated prison galley bound for the southern colonies flew the red-tipped banner that warned there were murderers aboard."

--Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm (pg. 4)

Novyi Zem was was loosely inspired by American and Australia colonies, among other influences as well.

The True Sea

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The Bone Road

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"We had entered the Bone Road, the long stretch of black water where countless ships had wrecked on the nameless islands that appeared and disappeared in its mists."

--Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm (pg. 45)

Books + Music

The Istorii Sankt’ya (The Lives of Saints)

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The Istorii Sankt’ya (The Lives of Saints) is a book of collective of religious drawings and mythical animals.

Balalaika

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"The Inferni lit bonfires along the lakeshore, and somewhere in the dusk, someone tuned a balalaika."

--Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm (pg. 350)

Favorite Quotes

"Anything worth doing always starts out as a bad idea."

--Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“The less you say, the more weight your words will carry.”

--Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“Have you looked in a mirror lately?"
"I think you do that enough for the both of us.”

--Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“You just punched a prince, Alina. I guess we can add one more act of treason to our list.”
“First of all, are we so sure he really is a prince? And second, you’re just jealous.”
“Of course I’m jealous. I thought I was going to get to punch him.”

--Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“Keep your elbows in!" Sturmhond berated Mal. "Stop flapping them like some kind of chicken."
Mal let out a disturbingly convincing cluck.

--Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

Book Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FRJYF1bmbI]

About Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. These days, she lives in Hollywood, where she indulges her fondness for glamour, ghouls, and costuming in her other life as makeup artist L.B. Benson. Occasionally, she can be heard singing with her band, Captain Automatic.

Her debut novel, Shadow & Bone (Holt Children’s/ Macmillan), is a New York Times Best Seller and the first book in the Grisha Trilogy. Book 2, Siege and Storm, will be published in 2013. She is represented by Joanna Stampfel-Volpe of New Leaf.

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my name is in the acknowledgements of diamonds in the rough by michelle madows!

a few months ago, author michelle madow asked her fellow street team if we would like our names mentioned in the acknowledgements of the second book in her the secret diamond sisters series called diamonds in the rough, and of course we jumped at the chance!

harlequin teen sent me an ARC of diamonds in the rough a few days ago, and did find my name in the acknowledgements in the back of the book. i just had to fangirl about it, that's how excited i am! It was one of the items on my bucket list, and i am so ecstatic that it was in a series i enjoy immensely that is set in one of my favorite cities in the US -- las vegas!

thank you michelle for this opportunity, and harlequin teen for kindly sending me an advanced review copy. i cannot wait to see what other shenanigans the diamond sisters, the boys and arch-nemesis madison will be up to when school starts in sin city.

make sure to pick up the follow-up in the secret diamond sisters series, diamonds in the rough, when it comes out in November!

{Story Diary} Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

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The day Isla Martin's universe explodes at the hands of Josh Wasserstein is here! Isla and the Happily Ever After is out TODAY! Josh has been a favorite of mine since Anna and the French Kiss, and although I didn't read any of these books until three weeks ago, I was beyond ecstatic that not only does Josh get a book, but so does another familiar face -- Isla (whom we met in Anna and the French Kiss). This final book kind of brings it full circle. It brought us back to where we first started and our lovely characters from the first two books made cameos, so the gang are all together and the trifecta is complete. 

Like the first two, I've also created a Story Diary for Isla and the Happily Ever After. There will be wonderlust-y photos of NYC and Paris and Spain, favorite quotes and more. We are at the last leg of the #IslaIsComing readalong that is hosted by Andi's ABCs, Cuddlebuggery (who made the lovely banner above), The Perpetual Page-Turner, Paperiot and A Bookish Sinister Kid, and what a fun event it has been.

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Young Adult Contemporary Romance
August 14, 2014 from Dutton

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever. Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

Setting + Places

Manhattan, NY

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The Metropolitan Museum of the Art

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Saint-Jacques, Paris, France

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Pont d'Arcole Bridge

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Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Metz

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Figueres, Catalonia, Spain

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Barcelona, Spain

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Passeig de Gracia

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Casa Batlio

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Sagrada Familia

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Favorite Quotes

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About Stephanie Perkins

Well, hello! I'm Stephanie Perkins, and I write novels for teens (and for adults who aren't afraid to admit that teen books are awesome). I was born in South Carolina, raised in Arizona, attended universities in San Francisco and Atlanta, and now I live in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. My best friend is my husband Jarrod. Our house is almost a hundred years old, and every room is painted a different color of the rainbow. We share it with a cat named Mr. Tumnus. I've always worked with books—first as a bookseller, then as a librarian, and now as a novelist. On weekdays, you'll find me at my desk, typing away, downing cups of coffee and tea. On the weekend, you'll find me at the movies, waiting for the actors to kiss. I believe all novels and films should have more kissing. For more information, please check out my F.A.Q.

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{Story Diary} Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

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There is only FOUR days left until the release of Isla and the Happily Ever After, and while everyone's waiting for it, I created a story diary for Lola and the Boy Next Door! There is also a read-a-long going on. Lola and the Boy Next Door is set in a city close to the one I grew up in -- San Francisco, and although I moved 120 miles north of the Bay Area a decade ago, I still visit the city often. So, reading Lola felt like coming home and I found myself reminiscing while reading. Anyway... I included some photos and facts of what you can expect to find in the quirky city that is SF, my favorite quotes from the book + more! 

Have you joined the #IslaIsComing read-a-long yet? It's not too late! We still have one more book to go (*ahem* Isla and the Happily Ever After)! The #IslaIsComing read-a-long is hosted by Andi's ABCs, Cuddlebuggery (who made the lovely banner above), The Perpetual Page-Turner, Paperiot, and A Bookish Sinister Kid. Follow the tour, or follow along on Twitter! Story Diary for Isla and the Happily Ever After will be posted on release day, August 14!

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Young Adult Contemporary Romance
September 29, 2011 from Dutton Books

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Setting + Places

San Francisco, CA

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Japanese Tea Garden

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Upper Haight

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In Haight Ashbury, you will find a lot of graffiti, art deco (indoor & outdoor), smoke shops, hipsters, street entertainers, Victorian houses and lots of fun and colorful stuff.

Muir Woods

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Muir Woods (named after John Muir) is one of the many beautiful places to stroll or hike at in the Bay Area. Although I prefer my hiking trails in Santa Cruz, Muir in SF is a sight to behold. If you appreciate lighting, the best time to go is late afternoon.

Amoebe Music

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Cliff's Variety (Castro District)

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University of Berkeley

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Where St. Clair and Cricket goes to school. (Side note: This is where I wanted to attend college to study sleep psychology, Latin and Greek, but ended up attending college where I currently reside in Sacramento).

Telegraph Avenue (Berkeley, CA)

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Fun fact: There's this little bookstore called Shakespeare & Co. in on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, CA. Sound familiar? There's also a Shakespeare & Company in France which was also mentioned in Anna and the French Kiss.

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Delores Park

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...Aaaand because it is NorCal after all, I just had to add this...

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Hey, who knows... Maybe this is where Anna and St. Clair gets their Banana Nutella crepe fix while away from Paris. ;)

Books

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There's also a handful of other detective books (i.e. History Greatest Spies, Detecting for Dummies, The Tao of Crime Fighting), all in Lindsay's book collection.

Favorite Quotes

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About Stephanie Perkins

Well, hello! I’m Stephanie Perkins, and I write novels for teens (and for adults who aren’t afraid to admit that teen books are awesome). I was born in South Carolina, raised in Arizona, attended universities in San Francisco and Atlanta, and now I live in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. My best friend is my husband Jarrod. Our house is almost a hundred years old, and every room is painted a different color of the rainbow. We share it with a cat named Mr. Tumnus. I’ve always worked with books—first as a bookseller, then as a librarian, and now as a novelist. On weekdays, you’ll find me at my desk, typing away, downing cups of coffee and tea. On the weekend, you’ll find me at the movies, waiting for the actors to kiss. I believe all novels and films should have more kissing.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Tumblr | 8tracks | Goodreads