Double Take

Noticed this today!

On the left is the US hardcover edition of Saundra Mitchell's The Vespertine which came out last March from Harcourt Children's.

On the right is the Australian paperback edition of The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter which released in April 2011 from Harlequin Teen.

I would love to see the process by which book covers are designed and made. Especially in this case since these 2 released so close to each other. Don't you think people would check to see if an image had already been used elsewhere? Do you think this model knew her picture would be on the cover of not 1 but 2 books? Is it even an actual picture or was it computer generated?


I personally though the cut off head was a little strange on The Vespertine cover when I first saw it but after seeing the complete image, I don't know that I like it any better.


What do you guys think?

Book Review: The Springsweet (The Vespertine #2) by Saundra Mitchell - spoiler free!

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: April 2012
Publisher: Harcourt
Pages: 275
Series: second in a trilogy
Acquisition: gifted an ARC by a friend

Summary:
Goodreads Link

My thoughts:
I was swept away and loved every minute of it! Saundra Mitchell has such a way about her when she's crafting a story. You don't even realize what she's doing - drawing you in further and further until her characters are as near and dear to you as your oldest friends.

After reading book 1, The Vespertine, I had high hopes for The Springsweet. I was worried about how much I could enjoy reading about Zora, who we first meet in book 1. I didn't love her has a supporting character so...a whole book about her? I wasn't so sure.

I had nothing to be afraid of because not only did I grow to love Zora, I fell in love all over again with the world Saundra has created in this series. Technically, I do believe The Springsweet is a companion novel, rather then a straight out sequel? I guess you could read it without having read The Vespertine but I think your experience would be slightly off and not nearly as fulfilling. I see this book as book 2 in the series and I'm hoping book 3, due out next year, will bring the entire story together in a fantastic way!

Final verdict:
Historical and magical with just the right amounts of romance and mystery, The Springsweet is a book that is a must read for fans of Saundra and The Vespertine. If you haven't picked up this series yet, I recommend to do. Rich and inviting, I could very much feel myself walking side by side with Zora as she discovers her powers.

Can't wait for book 3!

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Books in The Vespertine Series:
#1 The Vespertine
#2 The Springsweet
#3 Aetherborne (2013)

Linkage Love:
Author's website
IndieBound

Cover Love: The Springsweet (The Vespertine #2) by Saundra Mitchell

Have you read The Vespertine? I loved it! 

Saundra recently shared the cover for book 2, The Springsweet

Due to release April 2012

Goodreads link

What do you guys think?

Loving the dresses in this series :)

Book Review: The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: March 7, 2011
Pages: 293
Series: 1st in a series
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
A truly fascinating and magical story! Historical fiction with a touch of the paranormal - blending together perfectly!

Plain and simple, I loved this book. I was swept up in the story from page one and I was sad when it was over. I wanted more!  I couldn't stop thinking about it long after I had read the last page.

It's hard for me to do this book justice. I was so completely pulled into the story and into the world Amelia lived in. 1889 is a hard time period for my mind to visualize but Saundra painted such a perfect picture of not only the setting but of the characters. I never felt lost in this world - even when things turned upside down a bit.

Somewhat sad, but not without hope. Very easily a book that could stand on it's own but it is a part of a series so I am VERY excited and interested to see what come next for Amelia.

Also, I know this a strange thing to like about a book but there was romance (not always my favorite) BUT with NO LOVE TRIANGLES! Or squares or parallelograms or dodecahedron nonsense. Very realistic actions by very likable and realistic people (even with those tasty paranormal elements ;)

I highly recommend The Vespertine to paranormal / historic fiction / romance young adult book fans!

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Books in the Series:
The Vespertine
The Springsweet (2012)

Linkage Love:
Houghton Mifflin
Author's Website
Goodreads