Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Amazon Queen Blog Tour and Contest

Amazon Queen
Amazon, Book 2
Author: Lori Devoti
Mass Market Paperback: 375 pages
Publisher: Pocket
Available at Indie Bound, Powell's Books, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Summary: Amazon queen Zery Kostovska has never questioned tribe traditions. After all, these rules have kept the tribe strong for millennia and enabled them to live undetected, even in modern-day America. Zery is tough, fair, commanding–the perfect Amazon leader. At least, she was. A new high priestess with a penchant for secrecy and technology is threatening Zery’s rule. Plus, with the discovery of the Amazon sons, males with the same skills as their female counterparts, even Zery can’t deny that the tribe must change. But how?

I was sent a copy of Amazon Queen by the publisher, and hadn't read the first book, Amazon Ink. Both books revolve around the legend of the Amazon tribe, who worshipped Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, forests, and hills. I love the concept, and what the author has done with it. Zery is an interesting main character because she starts out a rigid keeper of Amazon traditions and laws, never questioning her leaders, until it involves the kidnapping of a child. Zery is the focus of the story, but the other characters really make this story a winner. Her interaction with the Amazon sons, women who have left the tribe, her warrior sisters, and the evil priestess make for a fast paced, action filled read.

Amazon Queen has some unexpected twists and turns, plus a bit of sexual tension that adds to the plot. If you enjoy Seressia Glass, Kat Richardson or Patricia Briggs you will enjoy Lori Devoti.

THE CONTEST
The publisher has once again graciously allowed me to give away one copy of Amazon Queen. The contest will end on Sunday, June 6th. Please answer the following question for me:

Do you enjoy when when authors use legends and myths as a basis for their book? Do you enjoy historical fantasy or romance more than an urban setting?

Please leave your email if it's not part of your profile. I will pick a winner randomly on June 7th and post the winner on the blog.

~Moonsanity

CymLowell

26 comments:

throuthehaze said...

I think using legends in myths as a basis is very interesting :) I actually like historical fantasy, romance, and urban settings pretty much equally...as long as the story is good.
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

LSUReader said...

Mythology has always interested me, so, yes, I like it when authors borrow from popular mythological stories for current books.

booklover0226 said...

Ever since I was a kid, I enjoyed mythology and enjoyed reading the tales over and over.

I like the idea of authors mixing some mythology or myths with their works.

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

Sara M said...

I enjoy my urban fantasy the most when an author takes legends or myths and twists them into something unique. I'm not the biggest fan of historical settings. And I like when the romance is there, but not a main part of the plot.

And I'm assuming you meant the contest goes until June 6th. :)

Sara M
sara_UFblog [at] yahoo [dot] com

Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...

I am one to enjoy myth and legends used in the books. :)

I saw the first book out not to long ago. This one sounds interesting as well. I have the first one on my list to get. It's hard to believe the second is comin out so soon. Wow.

Unknown said...

I do enjoy when when authors use legends and myths in books. They are facinating and add a whole world of possiblities to books. I also always wonder if parts are real or not.

I prefer historical just slightly more. But it really depends on the book. Some books are made for urban settings.

donnas said...

I love when myths are used in fiction. I find them very interesting and they were some of my favorite classes. Its fun to read about parts of them again.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Bookyurt said...

I enjoy the use of myths and legends - especially when it's ones I don't know or enjoyable twists on the well known (i.e. Percy Jackson!). Historical fiction is only fun as steampunk, and "Romance" romance tends to be too cheesy for me. I'll take a steamy UF any day of the week!

katiealtman(at)hotmail(dot)com

k_sunshine1977 said...

i enjoy it when authors use legends and myths, especially when they're new to me, because it makes me want to know more about other legends/myths from that culture!

i love historicals if i'm interested in the time period, though sometimes the story is so good it'll sway me anyway. love romances and fantasies, too...or a nice mix of all of them! :)

k_sunshine1977 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Oh I love it when authors use legends and myths as a basis for their book! I'm a mythology buff, loved legends and myths ever since childhood, when I was a teenager I could spend hours reading through mythology books! It is interesting to see how authors are mixing mythological elements with modern settings.

I wouldn't say I have a preference: I love historical romances just as much as modern urban settings if the book is well written.

Thank you for this giveaway, please enter me!

stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

rmattos said...

I prefer historical fantasy like "Mists of Avalon" type, if you will, as long as the story is well written...

rmattos at optonline dot net

Van Pham said...

I enjoy all types of fantasy, i read urban fantasy more than the others but all are great.

thanks for the giveaway!

van
Littopandaxpress(At)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I enjoy both urban and legend, but I think I prefer the legend. There are so many interesting legends around, an author could include one in each book she wrote for 10years and she would never repeat herself.
mom1248(at)att(dot)net

Brittany said...

I love mythology so I really enjoy when authors base their stories on myths and legends. I love both urban fantasy and historical fantasy, but I've read a lot more urban fantasy.

-Brittany
randomlybrittany(at)gmail(dot)com

Shirley said...

I enjoy the romance more than than hitorical setting or myths.

shundelt@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I like both, but I love romance in any genre.

chirth7@yahoo.com

Lori said...

I actually enjoy mythology and legend in a story as long as it makes sense and has a sense of credibility to it.


ladyrogue(at)ymail(dot)com

jellybelly82158 said...

I enjoy when authors use mythology and legends in their books. I prefer more urban settings unless it is someone for the present going to the past or future or someone from the past coming to the present.

jellybelly82158 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Using legends and myths can be really interesting, but I wish there was more emphasis on legends and myths from non-Western/European cultures and more from other places. There's so much Irish/Greek/Russian-inspired fantasy out there, while so much of the rest of the world is just ignored.

I tend to go way more strongly for Urban Fantasy vs. Historical fantasy, but if it's well written, I like it all.

Unknown said...

Oops, this is my first time doing this. I left the above comment and my email is notthatellen gmail(dot)com :)

Ruth (Book Focus) said...

I MUCH prefer books with historical/mythical settings to urban ones, generally.

It really depends on the book, of course, but I love when an author has gone the extra mile to research all of a book's background - it's a way for me to discover more about that time/place/mythos as well as discovering a new book!

I also really like when authors use a less common historical/mythical setting - eg Juliet Marillier's Irish books, or authors who drawn on less-known traditions like old Russian stories.

And do retold fairy-tales fit in this category too? Really like those - when they're well-done!

Email: kiwibooklover at gmail dot com

Ruth (Book Focus) said...

(By the way - is this contest international? Cos I am... if it isn't, please don't enter me. If it is, you're awesome. :-)

Anonymous said...

I love when myths and folklore is used. It adds something extra to a book.

lovemybabysquid at yahoo dot com

Cherry said...

Q: Do you enjoy when authors use legends and myths as a basis for their book? Do you enjoy historical fantasy or romance more than an urban setting?

A: I love myths and legends. There is just something about it that holds my interest and thus I find it entertaining. Historicals tends to put me to sleep.

Re-posted your contest at: http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2010/06/win-amazon-queen-at-wayfaring-writer.html

Cherry Mischievous
mischivus101-warrior [at] yahoo [dot] com

Christa said...

Do you enjoy when when authors use legends and myths as a basis for their book? Do you enjoy historical fantasy or romance more than an urban setting?

I adore books based (even loosely) on legends & myths. : ) I love seeing how closely an author stuck to the original and in what ways they changed it for their story. As for historical/romance/urban: I'm happy with all 3 as long as the setting is appropriate for the story. : )

Thanks for the giveaway.
ambience.of.rain {at} gmail.com

misskallie2000 said...

Actually I enjoy mythology, historical and romantic stories about equally. It depends on the story itself as to how much I enjoy reading the book. But I also like urban settings so I guess I like them all..lol

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com