by London Shah
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: October 29th 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Synopsis:
Hope had abandoned them to the wrath of all the waters.
At the end of the twenty-first century, the world has changed dramatically, but life continues one thousand feet below the ocean's surface. In Great Britain, sea creatures swim among the ruins of Big Ben and the Tower of London, and citizens waver between fear and hope; fear of what lurks in the abyss, and hope that humanity will soon discover a way to reclaim the Earth.
Meanwhile, sixteen-year-old Leyla McQueen has her own problems to deal with. Her father's been arrested, accused of taking advantage of victims of the Seasickness-a debilitating malaise that consumes people,often claiming their lives. But Leyla knows he's innocent, and all she's interested in is getting him back so that their lives can return to normal.
When she's picked to race in the action-packed London Submersible Marathon, Leyla gets the chance to secure his freedom; the Prime Minister promises the champion whatever their heart desires. The race takes an unexpected turn, though, and presents her with an opportunity she never wanted: Leyla must venture outside of London for the first time in her life, to find and rescue her father herself.
Now, she'll have to brave the unfathomable waters and defy a corrupt government determined to keep its secrets, all the while dealing with a secretive, hotheaded companion she never asked for in the first place. If she fails, or falls prey to her own fears, she risks capture-and her father might be lost forever.
Author London Shah is a British-born Muslim of Pashtun ethnicity. She has lived in Britain's capital city for most of her life via England's beautiful North. When she's not busy re-imagining the past, plotting an alternate present or dreaming up a surreal future, then she's most likely drinking copious amounts of tea, eating all the sweets and cakes, strolling through Richmond Park or along the Thames, getting lost on an evening in the city's older, darker alleyways—preferably just after it's rained—listening to punk rock, or losing herself in a fab SFF book or film. If she could have only one super power, it would be to breathe underwater. THE LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD is her debut novel.
Before he was freed by Neferet, Kalona was imprisoned within the earth for centuries because of the Darkness in his heart. But what happened to the Other World’s Kalona? It’s as though he’s been forgotten, or maybe he never existed at all …
In the present, Other Neferet may have left her House of Night, but she has far from given up her goal of immortality and world domination. As she operates in secret to gain access to Old Magick, the new High Priestess, Anastasia Langford, works toward peace and acceptance for the vampyres of the Other World. But just as Other Kevin’s broken heart will take time to heal, peace in that world will also take time and work—and not all of the Other World vampyres want peace. After all, why should they return to being shunned by humans, especially when they’ve had a taste of how it feels to be in power?
Meanwhile, Zoey is desperate to help rid the Other World of Neferet once and for all, and not knowing what’s going on over there is eating away at her. But, as the Nerd Herd warns, it’s far too dangerous to call on Old Magick time and again. As a distraction, she throws herself into her work and attempts to bring the humans and vampyres of Tulsa closer together with the first human-vampyre swim meet in history! It’s too bad that something always seems to go wrong whenever the stakes are high.
What happens when worlds clash and powers that should be left alone are awakened? Can Other Kevin and his world heal from the wounds Neferet continues to inflict? Can Old Magick ever truly be harnessed and used for good? Or will Darkness extinguish Light and leave our heroes broken, hopeless, and as forgotten as Kalona of the Silver Wings? Don’t miss this second to last volume in the House of Night Other World saga!
Can you briefly describe the Other World series, FORGOTTEN and its characters?
PC: FORGOTTEN is the third book in a spin-off of the House of Night series. It’s a mixture of beloved HoN characters and new characters with awesome new adventures.
Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?
PC: I’m enjoying the evolution of Other Neferet’s character. It’s interesting to see how just a few changes can completely alter a character’s destiny.
KC: I really love Aphrodite – where she started and who she’s become.
How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?
PC: When I realized the 10th anniversary of the publication of MARKED was near (actually, Kristin reminded me) I thought it would be lovely to write a surprise book – like a love letter to HoN fans – thanking them for a decade of loyalty. That book inspired a spin-off that’s been a lot of fun to write.
I find inspiration everywhere. A life lived fully is filled with inspiration.
Which book was the most difficult to write about? And between the series and the House of Night Series, which one was your favourite to write about?
PC: It was difficult for me to begin the first book of the Other World series, LOVED. It had been several years since I’d written in the House of Night world and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to find my HoN voice again. Kristin finally just told me WRITE THE BOOK WOMAN (literally). As soon as I started it was like coming home and I have enjoyed every moment of revisiting the series.
My favourite book is the last one, FOUND, which I just finished. I adore the ending. It made me snot cry.
If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?
PC: I have delusions of grandeur, so I’ll say the soundtrack to LotRs, RETURN OF THE KING.
If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?
PC: As the series is being readied for TV, I think I’ll leave that to our wonderful producers. Keep an eye on our HoN Facebook page for exciting updates! (read more here)
Fall is here, and we love to go out and find our perfect cosy spot. What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?
PC: A good book is my favourite dinner date! Right now, I love taking mine to a fantastic little vegan Japanese infusion restaurant called Ichiza Kitchen in Portland, OR. I’m a big sake fan – unfiltered is my choice. And I love a giant bowl of noodle soup to go with it!
KC: I love The Stacks Coffeehouse in PDX and always order a London Fog but with breakfast tea and oat milk, so maybe a Portland Fog??
Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish FORGOTTEN?
PC: Kristin and I are working on a new YA trilogy that hasn’t been announced yet, and I have a YA historical (with paranormal elements) series that also hasn’t been announced. What HAS been announced is Kristin’s new series, THE KEY, releasing in 2020, and a possible HoN TV series! Keep an eye on the HoN Facebook page for updates!
KC: Yep! The Key to Fear, the first novel in my YA trilogy releases October 1st, 2020!
P.C. Cast
PC was born in the Midwest, and grew up being shuttled back-and-forth between Illinois and Oklahoma, which is where she fell in love with Quarter Horses and mythology (at about the same time). After high school, she joined the United States Air Force and began public speaking and writing. After her tour in the USAF, she taught high school for 15 years before retiring to write full time. PC is a #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today Best-Selling author and a member of the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame. Her novels have been awarded the prestigious: Oklahoma Book Award, YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Prism, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Booksellers’ Best, and the Laurel Wreath. PC is an experienced teacher and talented speaker. Ms. Cast lives in Oregon near her fabulous daughter, her adorable pack of dogs, her crazy Maine Coon, and a bunch of horses. House of Night Other World, book 1, LOVED, releases July 11th. SUN WARRIOR, book 2 in the Tales of a New World series releases October 17th.
Kristin Cast
Kristin Cast is a #1 NY Times and #1 USA Today bestselling author who teamed with her mother to write the wildly successful HOUSE OF NIGHT series. She has editorial credits, a thriving t-shirt line, and a passion for all things paranormal.
When away from her writing desk, Kristin loves going on adventures with her friends, family, and significant other, playing with her French Bulldogs (Grace Kelly and Sir Laurence Olivier), and discovering new hobbies. This year she'll work on handstands, gardening, and taking her new puppy (Baloo) to puppy classes.
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: October 15th 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Synopsis:
Frozen meets Mad Max in this epic teen fantasy duology bursting with star-crossed romance, immortal heroines, and elemental magic, perfect for fans of Furyborn.
Generations of twin goddesses have long ruled Aeon. But seventeen years ago, one sister’s betrayal defied an ancient prophecy and split their world in two. The planet ceased to spin, and a Great Abyss now divides two realms: one cloaked in perpetual night, the other scorched by an unrelenting sun.
While one sister rules Aranth—a frozen city surrounded by a storm-wracked sea —her twin inhabits the sand-locked Golden City. Each goddess has raised a daughter, and each keeps her own secrets about her sister’s betrayal.
But when shadowy forces begin to call their daughters, Odessa and Haidee, back to the site of the Breaking, the two young goddesses —along with a powerful healer from Aranth, and a mouthy desert scavenger —set out on separate journeys across treacherous wastelands, desperate to heal their broken world. No matter the sacrifice it demands.
Can you briefly describe your novel THE NEVER TILTING WORLD and the characters in it?
In a world where a fatal catastrophe created the Great Abyss, splitting Aeon into two - one side forever cloaked in icy darkness, the other a permanent desert - twin goddesses are raised on the opposite ends of the planet, each believing the other dead. But when strange demons corrupted by the abyss offer the key to a healed, united world, both must undertake separate journeys to travel to the heart of the Breaking, aided by a mouthy desert nomad and a gruff ranger-healer, respectively. But such a promise comes with a sacrifice - and neither sister may be able to pay the price.
Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?
It's always gonna be Arjun, simply because of the four main characters in TNTW he's the one most like my personality! The others do have parts of my personality as well - I'm very stubborn like Haidee, am a sucker for romance like Odessa, and compartmentalize (and react poorly) to trauma like Lan. But when Arjun talks like hes a hotshot, or makes some sarcastic quip, or does something without thinking or bends over backwards for a girl he's crushing over - these are definitely things that I would do in his place. as I've mentioned before, I always like to point out that Arjun is a Hufflepuff convinced that he's a Gryffindor, but this is really just a self-own.
How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?
I live in the Philippines, where the effects of climate change are a lot more visible than elsewhere, and I really wanted to write about where the main enemy is actually the world doing its best to kill you, because *you're* the parasite that's hurting them, instead of just dealing with the consequences of extreme weather without the story centering how it happened in the first place. I did a lot of research on eyeball planets, which are planets that have extreme heat on one side but extreme cold in the other (except for a place where the heat and cold meet, forming the "eyeball" feature on the world). It's theoretically a habitable planet, albeit in specific parts, so that's what I patterned Aeon around!
If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?
Rewrite the Stars by James Arthur. It speaks to all aspects of the story - about Odessa and Haidee separated for years, but with the implication that fate is destined to bring them together no matter what. That despite everything that's happened to the world, they'll be able to rewrite that same destiny because they're together. And romantically-speaking, it's also a nod to Lan and Arjun, who are exactly the kind of people the twins needed in that moment to do so.
Fall is here and we love to go find our perfect spot and enjoy a good book. What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?
I haven't really been frequenting a lot of tea / drink places like I usually do in the past, in a bid to preserve my health, so the weird answer would be at a hotpot! I love how you can get so many varieties of flavor in just a pot. (This is also perfect for me, because I wound up in a lot of hotpots while writing TNTW. a lot of local hotpot places tend to put a metal divider in the middle of the pot so you can get two kinds of soup, which is also a really nice aesthetic when you're writing about a world torn into two halves!)
Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish THE NEVER TILTING WORLD?
My next series, WICKED AS YOU WISH, will be out in March of 2020! I've got a couple of other WIPs in the works - strangely enough, they're adult fantasies this time! The characters that sprung to mind for them are much older and requires a lot more things that kids usually wouldn't be doing - they involve a gay heist and a demonic Regency romance, respectively!
Despite an unsettling resemblance to Japanese revenants, Rin always maintains her sense of hummus. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, she keeps four pets: a dog, two birds, and a husband. Dances like the neighbors are watching.
She is represented by Rebecca Podos of the Helen Rees Agency. She is also fond of speaking in the third person, and may as well finish this short bio in this manner. While she does not always get to check her Goodreads page, she does answer questions posed to her here as promptly as she is able to.
Author London Shah is a British-born Muslim of Pashtun ethnicity. She has lived in Britain's capital city for most of her life via England's beautiful North. When she's not busy re-imagining the past, plotting an alternate present or dreaming up a surreal future, then she's most likely drinking copious amounts of tea, eating all the sweets and cakes, strolling through Richmond Park or along the Thames, getting lost on an evening in the city's older, darker alleyways—preferably just after it's rained—listening to punk rock, or losing herself in a fab SFF book or film. If she could have only one super power, it would be to breathe underwater. THE LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD is her debut novel.
