Tales from Lovecraft Middle School Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Library Lady winner of our Tales from Lovecraft Middle School Giveaway at From the Shadows.  Library Lady will receive all four Tales from Lovecraft Middle School books.

Thank you to all who entered!

Book Review: Substitute Creature (Lovecraft Middle School) by Charles Gilman

Today we're reviewing Substitute Creature by Charles Gilman.  This is the fourth book in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series.  Don't miss our Tales from Lovecraft Middle School Giveaway to win all four books!

Substitute Creature (Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #4) by Charles Gilman.

When a giant nor’easter dumps a blanket of snow on the village of Dunwich, Massachussetts, Robert Arthur and his friends find themselves marooned inside Lovecraft Middle School. The kids have no choice but to spend the night—while snacking on cafeteria food, sleeping on classroom floors, and facing off against a mysterious substitute teacher who may have a sinister secret. The latest adventure in the Lovecraft Middle School series features more adventures, more outrageous monsters, and another terrifying lenticular cover!

Release Date:  September 24, 2013

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Book Review:

The first thing I noticed about this book was its cover.  Don't judge, this cover is hard to miss.  Seriously, I opened the package and may have dropped the book in surprise.  I then made a concerted effort to avoid looking at the holographic cover, especially after dark.  It's creepy!

Substitute Creature is an easy, middle grade read with enough spooky, quirky elements to hold the interest of adult readers.  If you've read the original H.P. Lovecraft stories, then you'll have the added treat of recognizing the mentions of Old Ones--though these aren't your typical Lovecraftian horrors.  The Old Ones featured in Substitute Creature reminded me of Star Trek's tribbles, but with very big teeth (and I'm assuming they don't make that grating chirping sound).

In addition to the Old Ones, there's also an evil mastermind, Crawford Tillinghast, and the substitute creature, Miss Carcasse.  I don't want to give anything away, so you'll just have to read the book to learn more about these deliciously creepy characters!

Though there were was a brief dull point early on in the book, this is a quick, easy read that builds momentum as events spin out of control.  Bad things are happening at Lovecraft Middle School and our trio of adventurous students--Robert, Glenn, and Karina (along with Pip and Squeak, Robert's two-headed pet rat)--are back to save the day.

I enjoyed this book and though it's targeted at the middle grade audience, I believe Substitute Creature will appeal to both young and adult readers.  This is a fun, little adventure inside the walls of Lovecraft Middle School.

Recommended to reluctant readers, young readers, and fans of spooky, quirky stories.  Readers who enjoyed the Goosebumps books by R.L. Stine may enjoy this series.

Rating:  3.75 Shadows

Genre:  Middle Grade, Fantasy, Paranormal

Warnings:  Creepy holographic cover

Books in this series:  Professor Gargoyle, The Slither Sisters, Teacher's Pest.

Enter our Substitute Creature giveaway.

Have you read the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School?  Let us know in the comments!

Tales from Lovecraft Middle School Giveaway

It's Lovecraft Middle School week here at From the Shadows and we are having an AMAZING giveaway.  Read on for your chance to win!

***Lovecraft Middle School Giveaway***

We are giving away a set of all four Tales from Lovecraft Middle School books.  

That's right, ALL FOUR BOOKS!  

Professor Gargoyle (Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #1) by Charles Gilman.

Strange things are happening at Lovecraft Middle School. Rats are leaping from lockers. Students are disappearing. The school library is a labyrinth of secret corridors. And the science teacher is acting very, very peculiar. Robert Arthurt knew that seventh grade was going to be weird, but this is ridiculous!
With the help of some unlikely new friends, Robert discovers there's more to Lovecraft Middle School than meets the eye. Can he uncover the secrets of the school before it's too late?

The Slither Sisters (Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #1) by Charles Gilman.

Seventh-grader Robert Arthur has discovered that two of his classmates are actually sinister snake-women in disguise. Even worse, his new middle school is full of “gates” to a terrifying alternate dimension – a haunted mansion full of strange spirits and monstrous beasts.  For Robert to protect his teachers and classmates, he'll need to return to this haunted dimension with his best friends Glenn and Karina.   Can they uncover the secrets of Lovecraft Middle School before it's too late?

Teacher's Pest  (Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #1) by Charles Gilman.

DON'T BE FOOLED by his friendly smile, his perfect manners, or his shiny red apple. Student council president Howard Mergler is actually a sinister bug-monster in disguise—and he's summoning swarms of roaches, wasps, fleas, and head lice into the corridors of Lovecraft Middle School!  Twelve-year-old Robert Arthur is the only student who can stop him--but he'll need help from his best friends: the school bully, the school ghost, and an extremely courageous two-headed rat.

Substitute Creature (Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #1) by Charles Gilman.

When a giant nor’easter dumps a blanket of snow on the village of Dunwich, Massachussetts, Robert Arthur and his friends find themselves marooned inside Lovecraft Middle School. The kids have no choice but to spend the night—while snacking on cafeteria food, sleeping on classroom floors, and facing off against a mysterious substitute teacher who may have a sinister secret. The latest adventure in the Lovecraft Middle School series features more adventures, more outrageous monsters, and another terrifying lenticular cover!

Don't miss our review of Substitute Creature later this week!

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Paranormal Guest Author: Merrie Haskell (The Princess Curse)

Please welcome today's paranormal author Merrie Haskell!  Merrie is the author of The Princess Curse.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Merrie:  I started writing when I was seven years old; I distinctly remember folding a piece of ruled paper lengthwise and making that into a book, and illustrating the cover with markers. It was a book about a princess--I think it was called "The Story of a Princess," in fact. My mom saved it, so I should scan it in for posterity. In any case, it was a pretty dry and linear piece of work, but it did feature a dragon and a three-year engagement. I'm not sure where the dragon came from, but I was reading a lot of Laura Ingalls Wilder at the time, and I believe she had a three-year engagement.

I know I wrote lots of dribs and drabs of things after that, but didn't complete anything else until my 5th grade language arts teacher challenged me to do so. She was an amazing teacher, and pulled my mom aside at the class picnic to tell her to encourage me to write. Though my mom already was giving me the space I needed to be creative, plus the support to buy my first typewriter that year (which I paid for myself with dog-walking money).

It's interesting to me though--that I started writing when I was seven, but I waited nearly twenty years before I got serious about trying to get published. I think it took me until my late twenties to realize the world wasn't going to just offer me publishing contracts at whim based on my... fine taste in books? I don't know what I was thinking, honestly, but when I was younger I harbored fantasies of running into favorite author at some bookstore and having her mentor me and show me the way into publishing, which is... definitely a fantasy!

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Merrie:  I rarely have ideas for stories that don't include some science fiction or fantasy or paranormal element. I know that I like the way those otherworldly elements allow you to use allegory and metaphor without being obnoxious, boring, or preachy. Diana Peterfreund's RAMPANT springs immediately to mind--exploring virginity and what our culture thinks it means becomes significantly more intense and interesting if you throw unicorns into the mix.

My otherwise-supportive mother once asked me: "Why don't you write something real?" And of all the defenses that leaped to my lips, including the metaphor/intensification argument I just laid out, the one that won her over was: "I want to show people what's possible."

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Merrie:  I'd like to be able to time travel. Hands down! Given how much I like ordinary, physical travel, I can't see not loving the chance to vacation in the past... I've always thought that storytelling was in some ways a manifestation of my desire to travel in time. I'm not talking about writing, or not just writing, here; I love telling stories about my crazy past and kooky acquaintances, and painting a picture that, however briefly, takes me and my listener back into the moment. I spent a lot of time with my elderly grandparents when I was young, and always felt like 1925 was just a few steps sideways, not "50 years before I was born." They were also storytellers in that vein, so I'd say the inclination for time travel runs in the family.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Merrie:  I hope readers will enjoy THE PRINCESS CURSE--and I hope it's because of Reveka and Frumos. Reveka is ruthlessly pragmatic about the realities of her world, but unwilling to take no for an answer. I love people like that. Those are the people who can get things done in the world. She's also slightly obsessed with herbs, and I love writing and reading about nerds in love with their favorite subject. And as for Frumos--well, men of mystery are always intriguing!

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Merrie:  Tough question! I don't do much mental casting when I write, and when I do, it's usually "actor X when they were a kid" or "actor Y when they were alive." The biggest problem is, everyone in Hollywood is too pretty to be in my books. I think at one point, Reveka refers to herself as "not homely." So, as long as we agree movies are the book with everyone's prettiness tripled...

But there is an exception: I was actually picturing David Tennant (the 10th Doctor Who) while I was writing Frumos. Of course, he's too old to be Frumos, so possibly Callum Blue (Zod on SMALLVILLE), but he's *also* too old to be Frumos. But I think, based on those two references, you'd have a pretty good idea of who to cast, were you a casting agent.

Reveka is tough. The cover artist, Jason Chan, did a great job capturing the Reveka in my mind (she's based on a friend's daughter). Maybe Chloe Moretz, who is due to play Emily the Strange? Needs hair dye and contacts, but I think she could nail it. Jodelle Ferland? Willow Shields?

For Lacrimora and Otilia (two of the twelve dancing princesses and half-sisters), I have to say Emma Stone and Molly Quinn. With Bryce Dallas Howard as Maricara (the eldest sister) and Spencer Locke as the Princess Consort. And Dot Jones (Coach Beiste on GLEE) as Marjit. Oh, now I'm spending way too much time on this. Sorry!

The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell

Twelve princesses suffer from a puzzling (if silly) curse, and anyone who ends it will win a reward. Reveka, a sharp-witted and irreverent apprentice herbalist, wants that reward. But her investigations lead to deeper mysteries and a daunting choice—will she break the curse at the peril of her own soul?


Thank you Merrie for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Merrie Haskell and her books, please visit her website.

Paranormal Guest Author: Shawn Thomas Odyssey

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Shawn Thomas Odyssey!  Shawn is the author of The Wizard of Dark Street.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Shawn:  I had a fantastic English teacher my freshman and sophomore year in high school who I looked up to immensely. I remember he had written a novel, and I just thought that was the coolest thing, so I decided that I would write one, too. I finished writing it (I think I was doing my best imitation of Douglas Adams at the time) over the Christmas break my sophomore year and gave it to him to read. He was very kind to read the entire thing (at least he said he did), and then he told me I should read Tom Robbins because he thought I had a similar thing going on, with a sort of sci-fi bent. I didn’t know if that was good or bad. But he was very encouraging! Oh yeah, and he also told me to work on my spelling.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Shawn:  I’m pretty consistently drawn to elements of magic. I love the idea that there is more to the world than meets the eye…much, much more. I love the transformative powers of magic, its endless possibilities that cause us to step outside of our little box of how we think things work, and see that very often what we take as absolute reality is very often only the illusion of our own perception, our thinking mind. In THE WIZARD OF DARK STREET, the concepts of magic (or supernatural, or intuitive forces) vs. our logical and rational thinking come very prominently into to play for the main character, twelve year old Oona Crate.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Shawn:  I think it would be the power to let go of indecision and internal conflict with the snap of my fingers. To be one hundred percent present and alert, and to choose my mood and state of consciousness—any state, including the ones I don’t even know about yet—at will. That’s a bit out there, I know, and it might not even be supernatural, but it sounds cool to me. Then again, it would also be pretty nifty to be able to fly! How fantastic would that be?

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Shawn:  It has something in it for just about everyone (bet you never heard that one before). If you like books that have magic in it, and that are set in a fantastical Victorian setting, then there’s something for you. If you like classic whodunits and murder mysteries, then there’s something for you. If you like oddball characters, and quirky riddles, and off the wall adventures into unknown and unexpected places, there’s something for you. If you like a heroine who is searching for something more than the life she has been handed, who must learn to trust herself, despite her past mistakes and deep sense of loss, then there’s something for you. If you like talking ravens, then there is something for you. If you like bumbling police inspectors, tattoo faced boys, venomous girls, witches, wizards, and bizarre faerie servants, then there is something for you. And of course, if you like to laugh at the absurdity of an unpredictable world, then there is something for you.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Shawn:  Off the top of my head, for the role of Oona, I would have to say Maisie Williams, who is presently playing the role of Arya Stark in the HBO version of A Game of Thrones. She certainly looks the part!

The Wizard of Dark Street by Shawn Thomas Odyssey

Oona Crate was born to be the Wizard's apprentice, but she has another destiny in mind.

Despite possessing the rare gift of Natural Magic, Oona wants to be a detective. Eager for a case, she is determined to prove that logic can be just as powerful as wizardry. But when someone attacks her uncle--the Wizard of Dark Street--Oona is forced to delve even deeper into the world of magic.

Full of odd characters, evil henchmen, and a street where nothing is normal, The Wizard of Dark Street will have you guessing until the very end.


Thank you Shawn for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Shawn Thomas Odyssey and his books, please visit his website, blog, or the (very cool) official Wizard of Dark Street website (I highly recommend checking out the "video" tab for some extremely entertaining viewing!).

Book Review: The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #1) by Maryrose Wood.

Found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children: Alexander, age ten or thereabouts, keeps his siblings in line with gentle nips; Cassiopeia, perhaps four or five, has a bark that is (usually) worse than her bite; and Beowulf, age somewhere-in-the-middle, is alarmingly adept at chasing squirrels.

Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. Only fifteen years old and a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must help them overcome their canine tendencies.  But mysteries abound at Ashton Place: Who are these three wild creatures, and how did they come to live in the vast forests of the estate? Why does Old Timothy, the coachman, lurk around every corner? Will Penelope be able to teach the Incorrigibles table manners and socially useful phrases in time for Lady Constance's holiday ball? And what on earth is a schottische?

Review:

A fabulously fun middle-grade series.  The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling is the enchanting first book in The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series.  This book is a delightful middle-grade read.  Miss Penelope Lumley, fifteen year old graduate of Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, is thrust into her first position as governess at the manor house of the wealthy Ashton family.  The children who are put in young Penelope's care, however are not the progeny of Lord and Lady Ashton, but orphans that have been recently forced, at gunpoint, to leave their home in the woods on the Ashton estate grounds.  Fortunately for the children, Penelope has a large heart and an even larger desire to take her role as governess quite seriously.  Armed only with her wits and the anecdotes of her former school mistress Agatha Swanburne, Penelope faces the challenges and mysteries of the incorrigible children.  Maryrose Wood weaves a lighthearted tale that will appeal to young readers and readers who remain young at heart.

I highly recommend The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling to readers of Victorian mysteries and middle-grade fiction.  The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling may appeal to fans of The Agency series by Y.S. Lee.

Note: I read much of this book out loud to my corgi and she *loved* it!  Wood's lyrical prose and the howling dialogue of the incorrigible children make this a fun book to read to others.

Source: This book was purchased by E.J. for review.


The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling on Amazon.
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling on Goodreads.

Yes Annabelle: There are such things as Vampires

Looking for a paranormal young adult series for middle-grade readers?  My new middle-grade paranormal series, Raven's Gate Manor, will be making it's debut later this year!

The first book in the series, Yes Annabelle: There are such things as Vampires, is a fun-filled tale of mystery, family secrets, and things that go bump in the night.

Yes Annabelle:  There are such things as Vampires (Raven's Gate Manor, #1) by E.J. Stevens

Join young Annabelle on this middle-grade adventure as she begins to unlock the secrets of Raven's Gate Manor.

Yes Annabelle on Goodreads.

Book Review: Magicus Catonium

Magicus Catonium (Praesidis, book 1) by Udita Plaha.

In the introductory book of the Praesidis series, two fourteen year old girls start a journey to correct the damage done to Magicus Catonium. In the process, they develop abilities unknown to most and finally discover their true identities. Even under the protection of two young but capable wizards, their journey is marked with many battles, not all ending in victory. To really defeat their villain, the girls must learn to distinguish between enemies and friends while under the pressure of a world spiraling out of control. Follow the girls as they rise to their full potential and assume their roles as the next Praesidis of Magicus Catonium.

Ria and Anna are swept away to the magical land of Magicus Catonium...  Magicus Catonium is a fun YA/middle-grade story filled with magic and adventure.  Though the copy I received was in need of additional editing, I found the story highly enjoyable.  Ria and Anna are such good friends, and have lived together for so long, that most people mistake them for sisters.  They soon learn that they have more than just their friendship in common.  Ria and Anna share a past steeped in mystery.  As their origin as children of Magicus Catonium becomes known they are faced with a difficult decision.  Do they return home to the normal human world where they have spent much of their youth, and where their mother's still reside, or do they follow their destiny to defeat the evil Solan?  A fun adventure story that young readers will enjoy.

I recommend Magicus Catonium (Praesidis, book 1) to readers of young adult, middle grade, urban fantasy and especially to fans of coming of age tales and fantasy adventure.

Source: This book was provided by the author or publisher for honest review.


Magicus Catonium on Amazon.
Magicus Catonium on Goodreads.

Book Review: The Boneshaker

The Boneshaker by Kate Milford.

Strange things can happen at a crossroads, and the crossroads outside of Arcane, Missouri, is no exception.  Thirteen-year-old Natalie Minks knows all the odd, mysterious tales about her little town--she grew up hearing her mother tell them.  But even Natalie is not prepared for the strangeness that's unleashed when Dr. Jake Limberleg's Nostrum Fair and Technological Medicine Show rolls into Arcane with its bizarre tonics and elaborate, inexplicable machines.

Natalie loves machines.  She's fascinated by mechanical things of all sorts, from bicycles to motorcars, and especially automata like the little clockwork flyer her dad is helping her build.  So when Natalie finally gets a close look at the machines within the intricate maze of the medicine show, she knows in her gut that something about this caravan of healers is not right...and that Arcane is in grave danger.

A magical tale of secrets and wonder and the power of one's own confidence.  The Boneshaker by Kate Milford (not to be mistaken with Boneshaker by Cherie Priest) begins with Natalie Minks in her sleepy little town of Arcane, where her biggest concern is trying to master riding her new bicycle, a bizarre contraption that her father built for her.  Natalie's life, and the lives of Arcane's inhabitants, rapidly changes as a band of strangers, claiming to be Dr. Jake Limberleg's Nostrum Fair and Technological Medicine Show, visit their town when they loose the wagon wheel at a nearby crossroads.  "Strange things can happen at a crossroads; this much surely we have come to expect." (p. 359) The fate of the town may rest in the hands of one young girl, but will Natalie be able to stand up to true evil?  The Boneshaker abounds with creepy clockwork automatons and crossroads deals with the Devil.  An amazingly imaginative novel that will appeal to readers of all ages.

I recommend The Boneshaker to readers of young adult, middle grade, paranormal suspense, fantasy, historical fiction, and especially to fans of young adult adventure.  

Source: This book was provided by the author or publisher for honest review.

The Boneshaker on Amazon.
The Boneshaker on Goodreads.