Blog Tour- BRIGHT WE BURN by Kiersten White An Interview & A Giveaway!

Hey everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for BRIGHT WE BURN by Kiersten White! 

I have an interview with Kiersten to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway below!

Haven't heard of BRIGHT WE BURN? Check it out!

Title: BRIGHT WE BURN

Author: Kiersten White

Pub. Date: July 10, 2018

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 416

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, B&N, iBooks, TBD

Haunted by the sacrifices he made in Constantinople, Radu is called back to the new capital. Mehmed is building an empire, becoming the sultan his people need. But Mehmed has a secret: as emperor, he is more powerful than ever . . . and desperately lonely. Does this mean Radu can finally have more with Mehmed . . . and would he even want it? 

Lada's rule of absolute justice has created a Wallachia free of crime. But Lada won't rest until everyone knows that her country's borders are inviolable. Determined to send a message of defiance, she has the bodies of Mehmed's peace envoy delivered to him, leaving Radu and Mehmed with no choice. If Lada is allowed to continue, only death will prosper. They must go to war against the girl prince. 

But Mehmed knows that he loves her. He understands her. She must lose to him so he can keep her safe. Radu alone fears that they are underestimating his sister's indomitable will. Only by destroying everything that came before--including her relationships--can Lada truly build the country she wants. 

Claim the throne. Demand the crown. Rule the world.

Now on to the interview!

Hi Kiersten! First I want to say welcome back to Two Chicks on Books! BRIGHT WE BURN was absolutely fantastic and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! And am so happy that you could stop by for a visit!

Thanks for having me!

For the readers: can you tell us a little bit recap of the events leading up to BRIGHT WE BURN and the characters?

While Radu ended up finding a home amidst their Ottoman captors, Lada never abandoned her love of Wallachia and her desire to return and rule it. Binding them both are their complicated feelings for Mehmed, their only childhood friend, now the Sultan and conqueror of Constantinople. With Lada struggling to solidify control of Wallachia and Radu reeling from the repercussions of his actions as a spy behind the walls of Constantinople, they navigate increasingly impossible choices as they face just how far they’re willing to go to reshape the world around themselves.

What are you working on now?

I really miss Lada and Radu, but it’s been fun to live in new worlds after spending so much time in the 15^th century! I have a Frankenstein retelling, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, coming out September 25^th, a Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff series starting with Slayer, out January 8^th, and a new secret trilogy coming fall 2019! So, basically what I’m saying is I haven’t been working at all, just lounging by the pool and sleeping a lot.

Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?

I really loved writing Nazira and Nicolae. They were two side characters who each demanded more time on page and I never minded giving it to them. But also I loved writing anyone who challenged Lada. And of course I adore my brutal, vicious, relentlessly ambitious Lada and my tender, yearning, and searching Radu. I traveled so many years and pages with all these characters that I actually don’t have a least favorite!

What is your favorite passage/scene in BRIGHT WE BURN?

The very last line gets me every time. It was so satisfying for me as a writer, and I hope it’s satisfying for the readers who have come on this journey with me.

What kind of research did you have to do for this leg of the series?

With Bright We Burn, I did a tremendous amount of research on the Ottoman attack against Wallachia and the events around it. The creepiest research I had to do, though, focused on the transportation, storage, and display of a tremendous number of…

Well. You’ll see.

Who is your ultimate book boyfriend?

I prefer polyamory when it comes to fictional crushes.

What inspired you to write YA?

It was the type of writing I had the most fun reading, so naturally I gravitated to it for writing. I also really adore readers who love YA. Teens and adults alike have so much joy in reading, and are willing to read so widely!

Lightning Round Questions

What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

I just finished Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor, and it was stunningly good. Of course. I also can’t wait for Alex London’s Black Wings Beating to come out so I can shove it in everyone’s faces. It’s fun and fresh and contains really fraught, twisted sibling dynamics, so, right up my ally!

What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?

As an eleven-year-old, Ravenclaw. As an adult, Slytherin.

Twitter or Facebook?

Twitter.

Favorite Superhero?

Teenage girls.

Favorite TV show?

Aggretsuko.

Sweet or Salty?

You’d never know it by reading my books, but sweet.

Any Phobias?

Mold and raw meat.

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

Snow Patrol just released their first album in seven years, and I’m loving Life on Earth.

Summer Movie you’re most looking forward to?

Honestly, I was most excited for the new season of Queer Eye!

Thanks so much Kiersten for answering my questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read BRIGHT WE BURN!

About Kiersten:

Kiersten White is the NYT bestselling author of the Paranormalcy trilogy, the Mind Games series, Illusions of Fate, The Chaos of Stars, In the Shadows with artist Jim Di Bartolo, and the upcoming historical reimagining, And I Darken. She has one tall husband and three small children and lives near the ocean, where her life is perfectly normal. Visit her at www.kierstenwhite.com.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 Winners will receive a finished copy of BRIGHT WE BURN, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/25/2018- Here's to Happy Endings- Review- Books 1 & 2

6/26/2018- Pandora's Books- Excerpt

6/27/2018- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

6/28/2018- Jena Brown Writes- Review

6/29/2018- The Hermit Librarian- Interview

Week Two:

7/2/2018- The Desert Bibliophile- Review

7/3/2018- PaperTrailYA- Review

7/4/2018- Wonder Struck- Review

7/5/2018- The Pages In-Between- Review

7/6/2018- Beware Of The Reader- Review

Week Three:

7/9/2018- Lisa Loves Literature- Review

7/10/2018- Omg Books and More Books- Review

7/11/2018- Rhythmicbooktrovert- Review

7/12/2018- Wishful Endings- Review

7/13/2018- A Dream Within A Dream- Review

Week Four:

7/16/2018- The Clever Reader- Review

7/17/2018- Under the Book Cover- Review

7/18/2018- mall3tg1rl- Review

7/19/2018- The Book Nut- Review

7/20/2018- lori's Little House of Reviews- Review

Grab the first two books in the series!

Blog Tour- NOW I RISE by Kiersten White An Interview & Giveaway!

Hey everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for NOW I RISE by Kiersten White! I freaking loved this amazing series!

I have an interview with Kiersten to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway below!

Haven't heard of NOW I RISE? Check it out!

Title: NOW I RISE

Author: Kiersten White

Pub. Date: Jume 27, 2017

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 496

Find it: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, TBD, Audible,  Goodreads

Lada Dracul has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself. After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her blood-strewn path. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside with her men, accompanied by her childhood friend Bogdan, terrorizing the land. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed brings little comfort to her thorny heart. There’s no time to wonder whether he still thinks about her, even loves her. She left him before he could leave her.

What Lada needs is her younger brother Radu’s subtlety and skill. But Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople—and it’s no diplomatic mission. Mehmed wants control of the city, and Radu has earned an unwanted place as a double-crossing spy behind enemy lines. Radu longs for his sister’s fierce confidence—but for the first time in his life, he rejects her unexpected plea for help. Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, he knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself—but if he fails in Constantinople, will Mehmed ever forgive him?

As nations fall around them, the Dracul siblings must decide: what will they sacrifice to fulfill their destinies? Empires will topple, thrones will be won . . . and souls will be lost. 

Now on to the interview!

Hi Kiersten! First I want to say welcome back to Two Chicks on Books! NOW I RISE was absolutely fantastic and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! And am so happy that you could stop by for a visit!

Thank you so much! I’m so happy to be back.

For the readers: can you tell us a little recap of AND I DARKEN and what we can expect in NOW I RISE?

And I Darken followed the travails of the Dracul siblings, Lada and Radu. Traded by their father for leverage, they were raised as political prisoners in the Ottoman courts. Radu, kind and thoughtful and desperate for love, surprisingly flourished. Lada, vicious and ruthlessly ambitious, struggled against the restrictions of both their captivity and her gender. But they both found a lifeline in Mehmed, the brilliant third son of the sultan. When Mehmed was thrust onto the throne, Lada and Radu used their separate skills to help him evade assassins and solidify power. They both also developed feelings deeper than friendship for him. At the end of book one, they are faced with a choice: Remain under the protection of Mehmed and help him, or go on to the throne of their long-lost home. Radu chose to stay. Lada chose to leave. Book two will trace their separate journeys as Lada realizes having power is not as simple as claiming it, and Radu’s loyalty to his faith and his friend are pushed to their limits when he goes behind the walls of Constantinople as spy and saboteur during the greatest siege of their time.

So do you have a title for book 3 yet?

Yes! It’s brilliant! I can’t tell you! I’m so sorry! I have also seen the cover, and, as much as I absolutely adore books one and two, it’s my favorite.

I know you took a trip to Romania for research did you come across any 

particularly interesting lore from the area?

There was one church we visited in the countryside that was seven or eight hundred years old. Carved on one wall was the face of God. And on the other, the Green Man, an old pagan deity. I loved that they were totally cool putting them both in a Christian church—covering all their bases! The Green Man lore is really fascinating to look into, and hopefully I’ll write a book one day where I can explore this duality and melding of beliefs.

It was also amazing to visit Vlad Dracul’s historical sites. We didn’t do it on purpose, but we ended up at every significant one, and getting a real sense for where he walked ended up being invaluable a few years later when I started And I Darken!

Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?

It’s a tie between Nazira, Radu’s sort-of wife, and Nicolae, Lada’s comic relief and semi-conscience. They both functioned in the role of loving their respective friends but also being honest with them. My least favorite character to write was Matthias Corvinus. Not because he is awful, but because he has such a fascinating and rich history himself, and I had to cut almost all of it to fit him into my fictional tale. I still feel bad about it—he deserves his own trilogy!

What is your favorite passage/scene in NOW I RISE?

When [spoiler] finally makes it through [spoiler] and takes [spoiler spoiler spoiler], and the sense of triumph and relief, but also how much is left to come that [spoiler spoiler spoiler SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER]. That, or the scene where Nicolae admits he sold Lada to an old man in the mountains in exchange for a goat.

Who is your ultimate book boyfriend?

Cricket Bell from LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins. (I’m totally an Isla, but I love Cricket best.)

What inspired you to write YA?

It was the age range I had the most fun reading, and therefore the one I wanted to tell stories in.

Lightning Round Questions

What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

I am dying to read so many things! I’ve been under deadline and thus not reading. But Laini Taylor, Nic Stone, and Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner are all taunting me from my TBR pile.

Team DC or Team Marvel?

Marvel generally, but Wonder Woman always.

Team Iron Man, Team Cap, Team Thor, Team Black Widow, or another Marvel 

Character?

Nebula!

Favorite Place to travel?

Romania.

Favorite TV show?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Peaky Blinders, and Brooklyn 99. (And and and…I like TV a LOT.)

Sweet or Salty?

I’m a massive sugar fiend.

Any Phobias?

Mold and raw meat.

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

Hozier’s entire album.

Summer/Fall Movie you’re most looking forward to?

Atomic Blonde looks amazing!

Thanks so much Kiersten for answering my questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read NOW I RISE!

About Kiersten:

Kiersten White is the NYT bestselling author of the Paranormalcy trilogy, the Mind Games series, Illusions of Fate, The Chaos of Stars, In the Shadows with artist Jim Di Bartolo, and the upcoming historical reimagining, And I Darken. She has one tall husband and three small children and lives near the ocean, where her life is perfectly normal. Visit her at www.kierstenwhite.com.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 Winners will receive a finished copy of NOW I RISE, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/19/2017- Bookfever- Excerpt

6/20/2017- Lisa Loves Literature- Review

6/21/2017- Adventures of a Book Junkie- Interview

6/22/2017- Fiktshun- Review

6/23/2017- Carina's Books- Review

Week Two:

6/26/2017- Dazzled by Books- Review

6/27/2017- Books and Things- Review

6/28/2017- Rattle the Stars- Review

6/29/2017- YABC- Review

6/30/2017- Once Upon A Twilight- Review

Week Three:

7/3/2017-Two Chicks on Books- Interview

7/4/2017- Seeing Double In Neverland- Review

7/5/2017- Fiction Fare- Review

7/6/2017- YA and Wine- Review

7/7/2017- Little Red's Reviews- Review

Make sure to grab book 1!

Top 10 of 2016 Day 2- Best Book Covers!

Welcome to day 2! Today’s topic is Best Book Covers of 2016 (MUST be a book released in 2016. Would be best if it's a book you've READ in 2016, but it's not required)! I've read all of the books in my list and loved them all!

And make sure to stop by my co-hosts sites Fiktshun, Tales of a Ravenous Reader, and Dark Faerie Tales for their lists! Oh and make sure to sign up with the linky to share your lists! And don’t forget to enter the giveaway today! You'll have to check out my co-hosts blogs to see who is hosting it!

I read and loved all the books on this list. I'm not going to go into why I love these covers I'm just going to let their beauty speak for themselves!

1. A MILLION WORLDS WITH YOU by Claudia Gray. 

2. BLACK MOON by Romina Russell.

3. THE FORGETTING by Sharon Cameron.

4. A SHADOW BRIGHT AND BURNING by Jessica Cluess.

5. THE ARCHITECT OF SONG by A.G. Howard.

6. AND I DARKEN by Kiersten White.

7. THE STAR TOUCHED QUEEN by Roshani Chokshi.

8. THE REQUIEM RED by Brynn Chapman.

9. BLACKHEARTS by Nicole Castroman.

10. REVENGE AND THE WILD by Michelle Modesto.

Did any of my favorites make your list? Fill out the linky and let me know! And good luck with the giveaway!

And remember to stop by my co-hosts sites for their lists!