Posts Tagged: fairies

Book Review and Giveaway

08 Apr, 2011 by in book giveaway, paranormal YA fiction, the gifted 5 comments

The Gifted
by Deborah Andreasen
Paperback, 240 pages

Published March 28th 2011

ISBN 1456578235

4 stars

Pyper just wants a normal life. But ever since the day she died, she’s been able to control objects with her mind. What she can’t control is a mother who fears Pyper’s ability and the possibility of it being discovered. Pyper only finds solace in her friend and brother, Baler. When Pyper moves to yet another new school, she meets Kael, who takes an immediate interest in her. He knows her secret, and he’s got one for her: he needs her help saving the Fae people. The problem is, Pyper doesn’t believe in Faeries. But when her brother is abducted, Pyper doesn’t have much choice. Can she really save a race she doesn’t believe exists? Can she rescue her brother? And can she accept her second chance at life?

The first thing that grabbed me about The Gifted is how swiftly the writing pulls you in and holds you. Each page is tight and creatively crafted. Pyper, a red haired green eyed fireball, has been forced to move states over and over because of the impact of her strange abilities. As the book opens we find her in a new shcool and once again, two girls have singled her out as a freak. She has a little bit of trouble controlling her temper, and those on the receiving end meet with paranormal circumstances. Watching all of this unfold is Kael, popular gorgeous classmate who doesn’t seem at all phased by Pyper’s blatant efforts to completely ignore his advances. He tries and eventually succeeds in winning a tiny bit of Pyper’s trust. Neither he nor the two mean girls are at all what they seem.

Pyper has always had her brother Baler to confide in and lean on, but as time wears on he seems to be slipping further and further away to his new group of friends. Little do either of them know just how influential and life changing their choice in peers will become. Brother and sister have yet to meet the battle they were meant to fight. Andreasen takes faerie lore and puts in a fantastical paranormal twist which will appeal to Young Adults. The Gifted is a clean read I would gladly let my children read and once you pick it up you’ll stay with the plot until the end. I loved the brother and sister loyalty portrayed as well as the kind love Kael shows. It’s endearing to see such genuinely nice YA characters.

Author Deborah Andreasen has kindly offered up one copy of her book to our readers at Fire and Ice. To enter to win simply click and fill out this form.

Elemental Fairy Art Giveaway

29 Jun, 2010 by in Samantha Nowak, Spells 22 comments



In search of fairies and water elements after reading “Spells” by Aprilynne Pike and “Paranormalcy” by Kiersten White I ran across Samantha Nowak!
I am a freelancing illustrator/artist with a love for the fantasy genre. Here you will find Limited and Open Edition prints of my fantasy pieces, as well as my Enchanted Names~ which are customizable fantasy prints. Great gifts for children, fantasy lovers, and people who love customized art.
Samantha was kind enough to donate two 8×10 matted prints of the fairy of your choice and a bookmark for each winner

To enter to win
(there are two winners): Leave your name and email address below
additional entries
+1 visit her Art Website http://samanthanowak.com/
+1 become a fan an facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Samantha-Nowak-Illustrations/317019143645?ref=nf
+2 follow us on twitter @FireIcePhotos and http://twitter.com/sn_illustration
+1 for each retweet @FireIcePhotos
+5 for a post on your blog or adding our button to your site
Contest ends July 29, 2010 and is open Internationally. Good Luck!

Book review- Spells by Aprilynne Pike

23 Jun, 2010 by in new YA fiction, Spells 3 comments

published: May 4th 2010 by Harper Teen
details: Hardcover, 359 pages
characters: Laurel Sewell, David Lawson, Tamani
isbn 0061668060
3.5 Stars

Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger–and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.
When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable?

WARNING: Review contains spoilers…

Okay, I have to say that I waited a few days to write this review to see if Spells would seep in and entrance me like WINGS did and I have to say, not so much. I love Tamani, really love him, and felt much like I did during Eclipse and New Moon of the Twilight series. Enough with David already! He is great as far as humans go but I was Team Tamani from the start. Now I will have to read book three so I can see him win somehow. I got to the second to last chapter and was shouting “what is she thinking?!!” Pick the fae!

What I liked:
  • tinkering of the fairies and learning about herbs at the academy
  • The festival and kiss with Tamani
  • Kae and her men in black. Some serious Troll butt kicking!
  • The World Tree and meeting Tamani’s family
  • Seeing the feelings revealed between David and Chelsea…go get her David! Leave Laurel to Tamani.
  • The high speed, big action ending. Gotta say I loved the end of the book, Aprilynne amped it up quite a few notches
  • Her mother’s store and apothecary business

What I would Change:

  • Spells was a little too slow moving for me
  • Too much poinitng out of the class structure in fairy land. It doesn’t seem to bother anyone but Laurel
  • The mention of gong to bed with David in her joking with Chelsea, it seemed totally out of place. Why do so many YA authors feel they have to slip in sex somewhere?
  • I’d love to see more action and less of Laurel’s teen aged complaining and rants on social status.

Overall though, I am a huge fairy fan and will read the whole series I am sure! I am hoping the love triangle resolves itself in a suitable way *coughs* and kudos to Aprilynne Pike for another interesting book. With that cliff hanger end I will HAVE to wait to see what happens…

Browse inside SPELLS at HarperCollins http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Spells-Aprilynne-Pike/?isbn=9780061668067
Get to know Aprilynne Pike at her website here: http://www.aprilynnepike.com/Spells/
See our Wings inspired shop on Etsy here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeatherZahnGardner?section_id=6655519

Mom’s Monday-How To Find Flower Fairies

22 Feb, 2010 by in pop up book 2 comments

published October 4th 2007 by Warne
details Hardcover, 14 pages
isbn 0723258902

“Children, the knowledge that I am passing to you is precious and must be carefully guarded…”

After centuries of being hidden from human sight, the Flower Fairies allowed Cicely Mary Barker a glimpse into their enchanted fairy world in Fairyopolis. Now you can continue the adventure with this spectacular new novelty book where every page unlocks the secrets behind the magical places the fairies call home. Five eye-popping spreads include intricate three-dimensional pop-up images of flowers and trees that magically open up to reveal the secret homes of the fairies. Lift-the- flaps, booklets, maps and other ephemera provide interactive fun on every page leading up to a stunning surprise on the final spread.
This book is a favorite at our home as are the others in Cicely Mary Barker’s Fairyopolis series. With holographic pictures, pop ups, hidden letters, glitter embellishments and raised graphics it is a multi sensory experience which leaves the reader feeling like they have stepped into the fairy realm. Her illustrations, handwritten notes and photographs are enchanting. It is a book that will not gather dust on your shelves and will remain a keepsake in our homes! Five stars.

Puck Seated on a Spider’s Thread

22 Feb, 2010 by in etsy 13 comments

Today’s giveaway is this amazing pendant “Puck Seated on a Spider’s Thread” by Etsy seller ThimbleNina

Welcome to Madam Nina’s Pirated Pendants
¨¨¨¨¨°º©†©º°¨¨¨¨¨°º©†©º°¨¨¨¨¨°º©†©º°¨¨¨¨¨°º©†©º°¨¨¨¨¨°º©†©º°¨¨¨¨¨°º©†©º°

These charming pendants are handmade in Texas by Madam Nina. All are 100% lead-free and come with a necklace and gift bag.

I can make custom pieces to fit your personality or gift giving needs. I have made pieces that featured family photos, pets, company logos, school mascots, movie and band posters, wedding invitations, birth announcements, burlesque photos, religious icons and event logos.

Don’t limit yourself to using these as pendants! they also make fantastic ornaments, wedding favors, ceiling fan pulls, rear-view mirror dangles…just about anything you can think of! I just don’t recommend larger pieces for key chains. They -are- made out of glass, after all.

Member of: Dachshund Team, Burlesque Beauties Team, Etsy Texas Crafters, Big Damned Crafters
¨¨¨¨¨°º©†©º°¨¨¨¨¨°º©†©º°¨¨¨¨¨°º©†©º°¨¨¨¨¨°º©†©º°¨¨¨¨¨°º©†©º°¨¨¨¨¨°º©†©º°

Madam Nina is a lifelong “artsy craftsy” person. She had the honor of serving as a costume coordinator for the Texas Renaissance Festival Performance Company for 5 years. She designed and built numerous historically accurate and theatrically inspired costumes.

She is now a full time sword selling pirate and Co-Owner of The Pirates Cove Sword shop in Plantersville, Tx. The shop is only open during the Texas Renaissance Festival in October and November.

To enter: Simply leave us your name and email address in the comments below!

Additional entries

+2 go to her shop and comment on your favorite item by pasting the link
+2 go to Etsy and heart her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThimbleNina
+2 visit her website and leave a comment www.madamnina.com
+3 tweet this contest-leave the link
+5 post it on your blog or facebook- leave the link
+5 add our button to your blog
+3 follow us on twitter @FireIcePhotos
+3 follow our blog
+3 become a fan of Fire and Ice on Facebook

Add your entries up and leave the total in your comment Contest ends March 21st and is open to International Entries. Good Luck!

Steampunk and Fairy Bookmark Giveaway

14 Feb, 2010 by in etsy, Meredith Dillman, steampunk 31 comments

Our Valentine’s Giveaway is from the incredibly talented Etsy shop of Meredith Dillman Fantasy and Fairy Art and Illustration

“I mean by a picture, a beautiful romantic dream of something that never was, never will be – in a better light than any light that ever shone – in a land that no-one can define or remember, only desire – and the forms divinely beautiful” – Edward Coley Burne-Jones

————————————————-

I am an artist from the frozen north. I would prefer the real world was always filled with autumn leaves and colorful flowers, but at least I can paint them with my watercolors instead:)

My artistic influences include Pre-Raphaelite paintings, Art Nouveau and Japanese comics. I love painting fairies, elves, medieval and Japanese themes. My art has been published role playing games, the book Watercolor Fairies, How to Draw and Paint Fairies, and 500 Fairy Motifs and recently was the cover artist from the fantasy novel Mercury Brightman: The First Sign ( http://www.thefirstsign.com/ )

Blog: http://meredithdillman.blogspot.com/

She is giving away a prize pack of two bookmarks and one postcard to our lucky winner! To enter leave your name and email address below:

Additional entries
+2 go to her shop and comment on your favorite item by pasting the link
+2 go to Etsy and heart her shop
+3 tweet this contest-leave the link
+5 post it on your blog or facebook- leave the link
+5 add our button to your blog
+3 follow us on twitter @FireIcePhotos
+3 follow our blog
+3 become a fan of Fire and Ice on Facebook
+2 add us as friends on Goodreads

Add your entries up and leave the total in your comment

Contest ends March 14th and is open to International Entries. Good Luck!

Contact Hope Contest

11 Feb, 2010 by in etsy, giveaway 20 comments

Since my 21 year old daughter passed away in December, I relish life a ton more than I used to
I am going to open two more Etsy shops soon, one for candy and sweets that will be named in honor of my daughter, and the other one a cell phone/purse/zipper pull charm shop. I’m a firm believer in pay it forward. Having taught that to my children their whole lives, Amy lived all of her short life like that. She relished each moment like it was the most precious yet. And I’m determined to do so more fully than ever. Fairies do indeed keep dancing. :o) I love all things fairy/faerie, elven, huge Lord of The Rings fan. I keep things ridiculously affordable because we could all use a break. So, look around, even if you’re just browsing for ideas for your own styles to create; I don’t mind. Just a single mom making jewelry for fun and helping kids with college. I love beads of all kinds. I don’t think I’ve met one yet I didn’t like. :o) It’s so much fun to look at them all and think, “Ooooooooo, what I can do with that.” Or, “How pretty that is.” Then the creative aspect is pretty cool too. Whatever comes out of my head and hands when I’m working with my beads is what I enjoy seeing in the end.

To enter to win an item of your choice
from her shop leave your name and email address below

Additional entries
+2 go to her shop and comment on your

favorite item by pasting the link
+2 go to Etsy and heart her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/contacthope
+3 tweet this contest-leave the link
+5 post this contest on your blog or facebook- leave the link
Add your entries up and leave the total in your comment

Contest ends March 10th and is open to International Entries. Good Luck!

Sprite Saturday Photo Giveaway

30 Jan, 2010 by in free stuff, photos, sprites 5 comments

K Pauli, another photographer on Flickr has graciously donated a photo of your choice for our February giveaways!


You can choose your favorite photo and she will mail you out a print from her

photostream:

Beth (nautilus shell studios) says:
“I look forward to seeing Kirsten’s new posts…she constantly pushes herself to try new things and follow new ideas. It has been so fun to watch her photography blossom! She has also been generous in sharing some beautiful vintage frames with her Flickr friends. Keep up the good work, Kirsten…you are an inspiration!”

View Kirsten’s website online at: http://www.see-here-now.com/

To enter to Win a Print up to 8×10 of your choice:

Simply leave your name and email address in the comments below

Additional Entries:

+2 go to her photostream and comment on your favorite

+3 follow us @FireIcephotos and tweet this contest on Twitter

+5 post this contest to your blog

+5 add our button to your blog

+1 for every retweet or sidebar…leave the links 🙂

Contest Ends Valentine’s Day February 14th, 2010.

One winner will receive a hand finished print of their choice!

Waiting on Wednesday "Spells"

27 Jan, 2010 by in Spells 3 comments

Summary From Aprilynne Pike’s website:
Spells, the sequel to Aprilynne Pike’s #1 New York Times best-selling debut, continues the story of a not-so-ordinary girl named Laurel.

“I can’t just storm in and proclaim my intentions. I cant ‘steal’ you away. I just have to wait and hope that, someday, you’ll ask,” Tamani said.

“And if I don’t?” Laurel said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Then I guess I’ll be waiting forever.”

Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger–and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.

When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable? Available from HarperTeen on May 4, 2010.

Praise for Spells

“Spells is brilliant and lovely. Aprilynne Pike’s talent just continues to bloom and I am almost afraid to see how awesome her next book will be.”

–Carrie Jones, author of the New York Times best-selling Need and Captivate

While we are waiting check out our Wings inspired jewelry in the Etsy store and watch these fun videos on Aprilynne’s first novel, Wings…

"Darklight" by Lesley Livingston

24 Jan, 2010 by in review, YA ficiton Leave a comment

published by HarperTeen
Released December 22nd 2009

Hardcover, 312 pages
4 stars

Summary from Goodreads “Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was Faerie royalty, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved New York City from a rampaging Faerie war band. When a terrifying encounter in Central Park sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful—but cut short. For they’ve been plunged into a game of Faerie deception and wavering allegiances in which the next move could topple a kingdom…or part them forever.

The fans who flocked to Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange will fall hard for Darklight, the soaringly romantic second book in the trilogy. Breathless high stakes and vividly magical characters make this a can’t-miss fantasy for readers of Melissa Marr and Holly Black.”

Summary from Harper Teen “

Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken. . . .

For seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow, faeries are just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery, whose steel-gray eyes mask an equally steely determination to protect her.

Sonny guards the Samhain Gate, which connects the mortal realm with the Faerie’s enchanted, dangerous Otherworld. Usually kept shut by order of icy King Auberon, the Gate stands open but once a year.

This year, as the time approaches when the Samhain Gate will swing wide and nightmarish Fae will fight their way into an unsuspecting human world, something different is happening . . . something wondrous and strange. And Kelley’s eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her but to the heritage that awaits her.

Now Kelley must navigate deadly Faerie treachery—and her growing feelings for Sonny—in this dazzling page-turner filled with luminous romance.

Wondrous Strange is a richly layered tale of love between faerie and mortal, betrayal between kings and queens, and magic . . . between author and reader.”

I just put this book down after tearing through it in 24 hours. What amazing ride. I loved Wondrous Strange, the prequel, but I must say Darklight blew me away.

Kelley is plagued by dark dreams as she is separated from her new found warrior love, Sonny. She begins to see in night visions, his dark side and the power of destruction and loyalty which lies within his heart. Meanwhile, Sonny, a Janus warrior for the fairy King, is stuck fighting alone for his life in the fairy realm.

As Kelly is left in the mortal world, she seeks the comfort and protection of Sonny’s friends left behind. Danger lurks for them and her in Central Park as they step knee deep into a danger. The story uncovers Kelly’s deep rooted royal power., royal secrets from four fairy realms, hidden pasts and plots for murder. Darklight will have you on the edge of your seat with all of the plot twists and rich imagery. It is a tale woven with all you could ever imagine. Leprechauns, fairies, sirens, wolves and mortals become wrapped up in a battle that puts both human and fae worlds at risk.

Visit Lesley Livingston’s website here: http://www.lesleylivingston.com/home.html