Welcome to today’s stop on the A BOOK OF SPIRITS AND THIEVES blog tour!! We are so excited to share an awesome Q&A we did with Morgan Rhodes, plus Penguin has been kind enough to offer up a hardcover copy of this book for our followers! I’m such a huge fan on Rhodes’ FALLING KINGDOM series, so I’m so excited for this spin-off series. ðÂ
A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes
Published by Penguin on June 23rd 2015
Genres: Family, Fantasy & Magic, Legends, Myths, Fables, Other, Siblings, Young Adult
Goodreads
â...A modern day Outlanderâ¦filled with adventure and dangerâ¦a breathless tale that only Morgan Rhodes could tell.ââHypable New York Times bestselling author Morgan Rhodes takes readers into exhilarating new high-fantasy territory with A BOOK OF SPIRITS AND THIEVES, an epic contemporary saga perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Diana Gabaldonâs Outlander. The lives of Toronto teens Crystal and Becca Hatcher revolve around helping their mother out at the family's used bookstore, The Speckled Muse. It's a relatively uneventful after-school job, until an package arrives addressed to her mother, Julia. Thinking it's nothing more than run-of-the-mill inventory, Becca opens it and removes the book inside, unwittingly triggering an ancient magic and intertwining their fates with the powers that flow from the mysterious leather-bound book. Two parallel worlds collide and Becca is left in a catatonic state after her spirit is snatched from modern-day Toronto back to the ancient world of Mytica. Crys is guilt-ridden, having witnessed the entire event, and vows to do whatever is necessary to save her⦠but from what? Nothing has prepared them for whatâs in store.Written in alternating perspectives that shift between modern-day Toronto and the ancient kingdoms of Mytica, Rhodes delivers a rich and suspensful series opener that will leave readers breathless. From the Hardcover edition.
B:Â What made you want to do a spin-off of the Falling Kingdoms series?
MR: Itâs funny because I didnât originally intend on doing a spin-off. At all. I was perfectly happy writing the original series and maybe, in my spare time, writing something completely different. But when the muse talks to me, she usually yells. I had a few different ideas simmering in my head â a story about sisters, about a magical porthole to another world, about an unreadable book (inspired by the Voynich Manuscript). Once my imagination realized that book was from Mytica, everything fell into place and I knew I had to tell this story!
B: I think we will all gladly take more stories about Mytica ;P
B:Â Can you tell us what the time difference is between Falling Kingdoms series and this one? Is this a substantial time after Falling Kingdoms?
MR: Well, I would call A BOOK OF SPIRITS AND THIEVES more of a prequel and a companion, rather than a spin-off. Two-thirds of it is set in modern day Toronto and the remaining third is set in Mytica, a thousand years before the events in Falling Kingdoms. The tie between the series is that the myths and legends told in Falling Kingdoms, about the goddesses (among other surprises) are now being shown on the page â and readers can have an advantage over the FK characters in that they will see what is truth and whatâs only lies.
B: Is there any scene that you had to cut that you wish you didn’t?
MR: I rarely cut a scene and regret cutting it. If something is cut itâs for a very good reason â to make the story work better. In the original draft, I had introduced a threat in modern-day chapters, humans infected with a dark magic that made them very deadly. In the end, this was only a distraction from the main storyline so I axed it.
B:Â Who is your favorite character in this new series? Why?
MR: I enjoy writing about all of the characters, but if I need to pick a favorite it would be Maddox. Maddox is, essentially, a ghostbuster in medieval-esque Mytica who is forced by his cruel guardian to perform spirit vanquishings for money. For all of his dark and mysterious powers, Maddox is so sweet and earnest and wears his heart on his sleeve. I (almost) feel sorry making bad things happen to him! ð
B:Â What is the most unusual word you can recall misspelling in a manuscript? What words do you commonly get wrong?
MR: Common words, really. I cannot for the life of me spell âcemeteryâ or âirrelevantâ correctly the first time. Also âmurmuredâ is a problem for me. Thankfully, thereâs spellcheck!
B:Â If you could write a book with anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose?
MR: I would love to write a book with JK Rowling, Stephen King, or Richelle Mead.
B: I love this answer! Mead and Rowling are two of my absolute faves so that would be EPIC!
B:Â If you had to eat ONE food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
MR: Tough question. Pizza? Yes, definitely pizza.
B: Pizza would definitely be a contender for my pick also!Â
Q:Â If someone dared you to write “book nerd” on your forehead while wearing your favorite pajamas – and then share a photo of it – would you do it? (If so, we double dog dare you to do it and share it with us right here!) ð
MR: Hahahaha. You first!!
B: Touche ;P
About Morgan Rhodes
Morgan Rhodes lives in Ontario, Canada. As a child, she always wanted to be a princess -- the kind that knows how to wield a sharp sword to help save both kingdoms and princes from fire-breathing dragons and dark wizards. Instead, she became a writer, which is just as good and much less dangerous. Along with writing, Morgan enjoys photography, travel, reality TV, and is an extremely picky, yet voracious reader of all kinds of books. Under another pen name, sheâs a national bestselling author of many paranormal novels. Falling Kingdoms is her first high fantasy.
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Good Luck!!
I love Morgan Rhodes and her amazing series! I cannot wait for Frozen Tides! Thanks for the giveaway. ð
I can’t wait for Frozen Tides either!!
I haven’t actually read a Morgan Rhodes book yet, but I really want to and I’ve heard amazing things about her writing.
I hope you do soon and that you love them!!
I love Morgan! I got to meet her last week in Toronto for the book launch. She’s such an amazing person in real life and on social media.
Such a fun little interview you did! It’s nice to know the answers to some of these questions too!
Ah that had to have been so exciting!!
I just recently added this to my GR TBR, so when I saw this giveaway, I immediately jumped right in! ð
Good Luck!!
Yeesss Morgan Rhodes! Such a fantastic author. Thanks for the giveaway, and awesome post!
You’re welcome! I really enjoy her books ð
These books look so so so amazing and I can’t wait to read them! Thanks for an amazing giveaway!!!!!!
I can’t wait for you to binge them all!!
Yay ð Gorgeous interview sweetie. <3 Love this post. I adore Morgan. And I must read this book very soon ð So excited for it. Thank you for sharing. <3
Thanks Carina â¥
Very pleased to see the new book. Thanks very much for the chance to win a copy.
You’re welcome and good luck!!
I picked it up as soon as I could, but sadly, it was just a library copy. I loved it, though, so thanks for the chance!!
I love recommending Morgan’s books at school for students who love Game of Thrones!
I really liked Falling Kingdoms. I hope I like ABoSaT once I get around to it.
The misspelling question was cool. Never heard that asked before in an author interview. It’s interesting to know.
I finally finished Falling Kingdoms and really liked it! Can’t wait to continue the series!
I LOVE the Falling Kingdom series! And I’m pretty excited about this book! Thanks!!!
I’ve heard amazing things about the Falling Kingdom series! I have to start it soon!!
I read all 3 of her books on Friday and Saturday of this weekend! I’m now wishing I waited until closer to Frozen Tides. . . But then I wouldn’t have this awesome in my life right now.
I wanted to read fallen kindom serious so bad! But I haven’t
I have heard some really great things about this start to a new series and I can’t wait to read it! I’m also looking forward to a re-read the Falling Kingdoms books before I start this one!
I can’t wait to start A Book of Spirits and Thieves it sounds awesome:)
Morgan rhodes is one of my favorite authors. The genre I love to read is fantasy. When I first read falling kingdom, I was hooked. The alternating perspectives, the magic, the characters that towards the end, didn’t know who to label as good or bad, and the unpredictable twist and turns.