Giveaway: "Order of Darkness: Changeling" By: Phillipa Gregory

Order of Darkness

Book One: Changeling

By: Phillipa Gregory

Dark myths, medieval secrets, intrigue, and romance populate the pages of this first in a four-book teen series from the #1 bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl.

The year is 1453 and all signs point to it being the end of the world. Accused of heresy and expelled from his monastery, handsome seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is recruited by a mysterious stranger to record the end of times across Europe. Commanded by sealed orders, Luca is sent to map the fears of Christendom and travel to the very frontier of good and evil.

Seventeen-year-old Isolde, a Lady Abbess, is trapped in a nunnery to prevent her from claiming her rich inheritance. As the nuns in her care are driven mad by strange visions, walking in their sleep, and showing bleeding wounds, Luca is sent to investigate and driven to accuse her.

Forced to face the greatest fears of the dark ages—witchcraft, werewolves, madness—Luca and Isolde embark on a search for truth, their own destinies, and even love as they take the unknown ways to the real historical figure who defends the boundaries of Christendom and holds the secrets of the Order of Darkness.

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About the Author

Philippa Gregory is the author of several internationally bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen, and is a recognized authority on women’s history. She lives in the north of England with her family and welcomes visitors to her website, PhilippaGregory.com. Order of Darkness: Changeling is her first novel written for teens.

Find out more: http://www.philippagregory.com

My Thoughts
     I am a Young Adult & Adult Services Librarian in my real life and I make it no secret that I'm always on the lookout for great YA fiction. Today's teens seem to want something different, they want stories about their characters going on a journey. Throughout the Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss had both a physical and metaphorical journey to find herself and save her world. As I was reading Changeling I couldn't help but think about journeys and where we find ourselves at the end of the day.
     I think the synopsis does a wonderful job of describing the story, so I'm going to focus on the characters and the world Ms. Gregory has created. As I was reading, I felt myself becoming immersed in the world of the 1400's. I enjoyed how the characters seemed to blossom as the book advanced. Isolde and Luca both seemed to grow and change, which appealed to me and I can see appealing to teens. Set in an interesting setting, the unusual time period works perfectly for the novel and the characteristics of the characters.
     Philippa Gregory has a distinct voice in historical fiction which I love. Whenever I read her, I can almost always tell its her just by the tone in her writing. Her tone is prevalent within Changeling, which is a plus for both teens and adults reading this new series. I know several readers who are hesitant when authors change genres, almost as if they were jumping ship, but that isn't at all the case here.
     All in all, I can see the Order of Darkness becoming a huge series in both Young Adult and Adult fiction. I enjoyed the adventure but I think what I'm most excited about is the sequel, Stormbringers, coming out June 2013. When I finished with Changeling, I couldn't wait to see what comes next. Crossing my fingers for a movie adaptation, be sure to check out Changeling for adventure, a bit of mystery and the beginning of a wonderful new series.

Book Details

Publisher: Simon Pulse

# of Pages: 256

Date of Publication: May 24, 2012

ISBN: 9781442453449

Source: Publisher 

Giveaway

Would you like a chance to read Changeling for yourself? Simon Pulse is giving away TWO paperback copies to lucky commenters! Comment away until February 4th where two people will be chosen at random to win :) Be sure to leave your e-mail and say thanks to Simon Pulse!