Hi everyone! A few months ago I decided I really wanted to do something a little different and fun to celebrate Valentine’s Day on the blog this year, so I asked a few debut authors who have February releases to come on the blog with some fun love/dating related posts!Â
Today Heidi Heilig, author of The Girl From Everywhere, is joining us talking about doomed lovers!Â
As far as months go, February can be pretty tough. I myself remember a lot of horrible Valentineâs Days. For example, when I was fourteen, I met the love of my life in Hawaii. And when I was seventeen, I moved five thousand miles away.
This was a tragedy. Obviously my life was over and I would never know love again.
Okay (LIFE SPOILERS!) my life actually did go on, and I did in fact find love again. (With the same gent, as luck would have it.) But for a while there was EPIC SADNESS, and I wondered if love was a cruel joke played by heartless gods.
So in honor of true love and cruel jokes, hereâs a Valentineâs Day tour of my favorite doomed lovers from actual epics.
We begin in Greece, which was chock full of heartless gods.
Orpheus and Eurydice is a popular pick from the era, but my own favorite love story from ancient Greece is the one that passed between Narcissus and Narcissus.
People often admonish each other to love themselves, and Narcissus really took that advice to the next level, drowning himself in his own reflection. But I think his story is instructive–just remember, even if youâre alone on Valentineâs Day, that doesnât mean you have to be lonely.
Another ancient love story Iâm fond of is a bit older and perhaps less well known. The couple hails from ancient Sumeria.
Their story is told in the Epic Of Gilgamesh, which is frequently regarded as the first piece of great literature. Gilgamesh was the haughty king of Uruk, and Enkidu was a wild man forged of mud and spit.
Itâs like a rom-com waiting to happen–but there is no happy ending.
After a wrestling match (!!!), Enkidu becomes the kingâs constant companion and beloved friend until Enkidu falls ill and dies. The loss drives Gilgamesh mad for a while, and he roams the wilderness, clothed in animal skins and grief, demanding the earth itself mourn his friend.
Anyone whoâs ever had a broken heart can surely relate.
The last story Iâll share is a bit happier (but only a bit.) The legend is from Hawaii.
It concerns the origin of the Naupaka plant. Now, there are many versions–a goddess in love with a mortal, a princess falling for a commoner, or just two young people caught together by disapproving authorities. But in all versions of the legend, the lovers are separated, and in their grief, they turn into plants (totally normal, see: Narcissus above)–the mountain Naupaka and the beach Naupaka. But each plant flowers with the petals forming only half a circle; only when the two flowers are brought together is there a complete circle of petals, and the lovers are reunited.
So whether you find yourself in love this February, or out of it, take comfort in the fact that, even if youâre not receiving a dozen roses from your sweetheart, at least youâre not being transformed into a rosebush.
First, I think it’s so cool how Heidi ended up back with the guy she had to move away from! Love stories like this that just seem like fate. I find these ancient stories so interesting, and it definitely puts love in perspective for sure, who wants to be a rosebush?! O.oÂ
The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig Published by HarperCollins on February 16th 2016
Genres: 19th Century, Action & Adventure, Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Pirates, United States, Young Adult
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book ⢠Goodreads
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Heidi Heilig's debut teen fantasy sweeps from modern-day New York City, to nineteenth-century Hawaii, to places of myth and legend. Sixteen-year-old Nix has sailed across the globe and through centuries aboard her time-traveling father's ship. But when he gambles with her very existence, it all may be about to end. The Girl from Everywhere, the first of two books, blends fantasy, history, and a modern sensibility. Its witty, fast-paced dialogue, breathless adventure, multicultural cast, and enchanting romance will dazzle readers of Sabaa Tahir, Rae Carson, and Rachel Hartman.Nix's life began in Honolulu in 1868. Since then she has traveled to mythic Scandinavia, a land from the tales of One Thousand and One Nights, modern-day New York City, and many more places both real and imagined. As long as he has a map, Nix's father can sail his ship, The Temptation, to any place, any time. But now he's uncovered the one map he's always soughtâ1868 Honolulu, before Nix's mother died in childbirth. Nix's lifeâher entire existenceâis at stake. No one knows what will happen if her father changes the past. It could erase Nix's future, her dreams, her adventures . . . her connection with the charming Persian thief, Kash, who's been part of their crew for two years. If Nix helps her father reunite with the love of his life, it will cost her her own.
About Heidi Heilig
Heidi grew up in Hawaii where she rode horses and raised peacocks, and then she moved to New York City and grew up even more, as one tends to do. Her favorite thing, outside of writing, is travel, and she has haggled for rugs in Morocco, hiked the trails of the Ko'olau Valley, and huddled in a tent in Africa while lions roared in the dark.
She holds an MFA from New York University in Musical Theatre Writing, of all things, and she's written books and lyrics for shows including The Time Travelers Convention, Under Construction, and The Hole. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their pet snake, whose wings will likely grow in any day now.
Monday: After the Woods by Kim Savage
Tuesday: The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
Wednesday: Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman
Thursday: Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto
Have any of you ever had to deal with being kept from a person you love by distance?
That was funny and so cute can’t wait to read the girl from everywhere
Heidi did a great post! And seriously SO much love for this book!
Heidi is hilarious ” even if youâre not receiving a dozen roses from your sweetheart, at least youâre not being transformed into a rosebush.” hehehe ð Love the way she writes so I hope I love The girl from everywhere as well!
Right LOL and I think you will! It’s seriously so good!
Awwwww!!! I LOVE that Heidi ended up with her twue wuv! I also enjoyed the topic that Heidi chose to discuss, even though it was sad. I’d never heard any of those stories before so found out very interesting as well.
TGFE has been on my TBR ever since I saw the synopsis and all the great reviews have me chewing at the bit to get my eager little hands on it! LOOKS SOOO GOOOD!
I love the topic also! I hope you can read it soon!!
The Girl from Everywhere sounds amazing! I can’t wait to read it!
It’s fantastic!
I have never had a long distance relationship, thankfully. All these tales of doomed love and heartbreak are perfect for Valentine’s! Lol!
I haven’t either!
I love a good time travel novel! This one sounds great!!
Oddly enough I’m not usually big on time travel but this one is fantastic!
Heidi is so funny! I absolutely adored the concept of this book as well as the maps!
I did too! And I love following Heidi on twitter, she is funny and very insightful!
Aw, true love – that’s cute she ended up with the guy she had to move away from!
Fun guest post. Thanks for sharing!
-Lauren
It is very cute!
This is such an adorable post! It’s awesome that you got reunited with the love of your life <33 Also, I love the myths. Those are practically the only thing that I read when I was younger ð
That’s so cool Tiffany! I’ve never done a lot of reading about mythology stuff but I do find it very interesting!
I love the blurb of this book and I can’t wait to read it! Thank you for the giveaway!
Yw! And I promise it is as awesome as it sounds !
I seriously have been dying to read this book and your review has got me even more excited. Not to mention Heidi is pretty damn awesome. I’m not sure I can live in a tent with lions lurking around. Brave woman.
Yay!! And she is and neither could I LOL
Awesome stories! And I love how these ancient myths and legends have so much truth in them that still can be useful today!
Awesome how she got back together with her boyfriend ð
thank you so very much ð
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This book sounds amazing! thanks for sharing~
Yw! And it definitely is amazing!
I’m really excited for this book!
Yay!
The Girl From Everywhere sounds really cool and Heidi is a super nice author ð I like the stories she shared too, they’re quite interesting!
Sigh. <3 This post is awesome. Thank you so much for sharing Crystal ð Oh, I am SO curious about this book. It looks so pretty. It sounds awesome. I'm just disappointed about love triangle :p But since you loved it so much.. hmm. I am curious ð I shall read it if I win it, hiiiih. <3 The guest post with Heidi is so awesome ð
These stories are adorable! Thanks for sharing!
This story is absolutely adorable!! So funny and cute!! I really need to read this book!! It looks amazing! Thank you very much Crystal!!! Kisses from Italy
I love stories about geography, history and mythology. Usually those kind of stuff bore other people, and I admire writers who can add twists to these type of stuff and make them fun and interesting. The Girl From Everywhere sounds just like that!
Great to hear that you enjoyed it! I’d like to read it, because some of see it slow pace but still loving the elements of the book.
Well, I’m glad Heidi got her HEA. One ‘doomed lovers’ I love is that of that of Cupid and Psyche.
I am loving this book. The sparks have starting to fly and I am looking forward to their travels to come!