Release Day & Giveaway: Walk on Earth Stranger by Rae Carson

I am so excited that WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER by Rae Carson releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful new series by Rae Carson, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a set of the GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS series (in paperback format). US only. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About The Book:
Title: WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER
Author: Rae Carson
Pub. Date: September 22, 2015
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 448
Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads


The first book in a new trilogy from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Rae Carson. A young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold must flee her home, taking her on a sweeping and dangerous journey across Gold Rush–era America.

Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, dazzles with this new fantasy that subverts both our own history and familiar fantasy tropes.

Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in this new trilogy, introduces—as only Rae Carson can—a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance. Includes a map and author’s note on historical research. 

Read chapter 1 of WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER annotated by Rae Carson HERE!

About Rae:
Rae Carson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy. Her next book, Walk On Earth A Stranger, will be available September 22, 2015. She lives in Arizona with her husband.


Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a set of the 3 GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS series (in paperback format). US Only.

Ends on September 30th at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

Author: Rae Carson
Title:The Bitter Kingdom
Series: Fire & Thorns #3
Publication: August 27, 2013
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

The epic conclusion to Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns trilogy. The seventeen-year-old sorcerer-queen will travel into the unknown realm of the enemy to win back her true love, save her country, and uncover the final secrets of her destiny.

Elisa is a fugitive in her own country. Her enemies have stolen the man she loves in order to lure her to the gate of darkness. As she and her daring companions take one last quest into unknown enemy territory to save Hector, Elisa will face hardships she's never imagined. And she will discover secrets about herself and her world that could change the course of history. She must rise up as champion-a champion to those who have hated her most.

Elisa has grown so much into a capable, strong woman and Queen in this book. She begins to show everyone what type of leader, she will become. Her journey continues in this book with her and a few of her companions attempting to rescue Hector before her enemies do irreparable harm to him. Hector realizes he is a ploy to lure Elisa but he's not exactly sure to what end. The Invierne need her, she believes to get her godstone but what she uncovers is much more horrifying and harmful to everyone if they get there hands on her. War looms in the shadows if Elisa can't find a way to peace and be the "champion" they all need. 

I really love this trilogy. Elisa is a great female lead to root for because her emotions and actions are so realistic to how someone with her character would behave. She's not physically tough but considering everything she's endured, she's stronger than most. Hector is protective of Elisa but still stands aside to let her grow as a Queen. The romance between these two oozes a gentle sensuality, I could feel their need for each other without it having to overly steamy but sweet.

Overall, the characters developed nicely into this ending to a great story. The details and the writing flows throughout the plot. I felt the urgency of the characters plight through the pace of the work. I think that those that love the books will enjoy the conclusion to this trilogy.

Review: Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

Author: Rae Carson
Title: The Crown of Embers
Series: Girl of Fire and Thorns
Publication:September 18, 2012
Publisher: Greenwillow Brooks
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 416 pp.
Rating: 5 out 5
Source: Cassie@CitrusReads
Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Synopsis
In the sequel to the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns, a seventeen-year-old princess turned war queen faces sorcery, adventure, untold power, and romance as she fulfills her epic destiny.

Elisa is the hero of her country. She led her people to victory against a terrifying enemy, and now she is their queen. But she is only seventeen years old. Her rivals may have simply retreated, choosing stealth over battle. And no one within her court trusts her-except Hector, the commander of the royal guard, and her companions. As the country begins to crumble beneath her and her enemies emerge from the shadows, Elisa will take another journey. With a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa crosses the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone's power. That is not all she finds. A breathtaking, romantic, and dangerous second volume in the Fire and Thorns trilogy.


Elisa believed that her duty as the Chosen One had been fulfilled but she doesn't know that God's plan for her has yet to even scratch the surface. Seventeen, a widow and now a Queen, she has to prove herself to the people she now governs. It's a tough job when there are those that rather see her dead than rule. After an attack on her life, Elisa journeys to find a myth that will make her more powerful and therefore able to protect her people. In addition to the attacks on her life, the council also expects to her marry, which will supposedly make the unrest in the kingdom die down but of course they have an agenda of their own in mind for Queen Elisa. This young lady has a lot on her hands and not many adversaries, other than her ladies and then there is Hector. The chemistry between them is sweet, both of them bound by duty to their kingdom, so neither can act upon how they feel but I still have hope for Elisa to finally get her man, if her nurse butts out of her business. Elisa must decide if she will succumb to the desires of her heart or the duties imposed by her station.

It's nice to see Elisa grow, she has become much deeper than the last book and I loved her in that one. She is a realistic character with real world problems of love, duty, and fears of inadequacy. She has yet to feel truly capable and accepted as the Queen, even though the title is rightfully hers. I love the writing; the author has created an imaginative and vivid story. The characters are well developed and the plot flows considerably well. Overall, Elisa is one of my top favorite female heroines and I look forward to seeing how her story ends.

Check out my review of Girl of Fire and Thorns

Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by @raecarson

Author: Rae Carson
Title:The Girl of Fire and Thorns
Publication: September 20,2011
Publisher: Greenwillow Books 
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 432
Audience:13 and up
Rating: 4.5 out 5
Source: Library
Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Synopsis

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one. 

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will. 

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

Thoughts:I feel in love Elisa right from the start. She is colorful, witty and though she is special, she is just a regular girl. I find the fact that she is thicker than average, which is a nice change. She is easy to relate to because of that and her vulnerability makes her endearing. Elisa seems to appear as the misplaced princess because she struggles to figure out her place in the world and why she must bear this stone, this destiny she does not desire. Now, she feels the sting of the reality that though she is the King's wife, she not in truth because he still chooses to keep her secret, and flaunt around with his mistress... that is until her unexpected kidnapping puts a dent in whatever plans he had. He may be handsome but he is a weak King. Elisa may just be the strength he needs to save the kingdom, if only she knew more about the history of the Godstones and how they work. There is so much that is great about this story and I'm so glad that I decided to try a new author. Carson has beautifully crafted this story, plot and characters in a way that is vividly appealing. I think fantasy and magic lovers will like this one.  I look forward to reading the rest of this series.