Back in 2009 I was serving on the Cybils sci fi/fantasy panel, and Norilana Books generously sent us copies of their two nominated books--A Posse of Princesses, and A Stranger to Command, by Sherwood Smith. I'd never read any Sherwood Smith, and I enjoyed both these books immensely. Here's my review of the former--it's a great light read.
But I liked A Stranger to Command even more. And I realize, to my very great shame, that I never reviewed it!!!It's a prequel to Crown Duel, featuring young Vidanric Renselaeus, sent as a boy to a foreign military school. There he undergoes an incredibly strict, but exhilarating, education in the arts of war--with a bit of magic and lots of intrigue thrown in. And there he is shaped into the fiercely intelligent leader we meet in Crown Duel. It is wonderful character-driven fantasy set in a school (yay for fantasy schools!) and I enjoyed it lots.
The woman behind Norilana Books is caught in a nightmarish situation right now (which I learned of via Chachic), and has put out a plea for folks to help out by buying her books. And to thank her for sending me two books that I treasure, not just in their own right but because they introduced me to Sherwood Smith, I'm giving away a copy of one of the books she sent me. Not my own copy, of course--I like them too much to give away! Instead, I will buy a new copy of either Stranger or Posse (their choice) for a lucky winner.
Just leave a comment to enter! I'll close this at midnight next Tuesday, April 26. I don't usually do any extra entry things, but this time it's different--it's to help a great independent publisher. So I'll give an extra entry to anyone who posts about Norilana Books! (just let me know when you do--it doesn't have to be in your first comment). Thanks to the magic of the Book Depository, this is open internationally.
Don't enter me in the giveaway as I already have both books but yay you for doing this. :) Stranger and Posse are the only Norilana books that I've read and I'm trying to decide what to get now to help out Vera. I'll probably end up getting an ebook because Amazon shipping to the Philippines is really expensive.
ReplyDeleteIf you liked Stranger, you'll probably love the Inda series too. They're not YA but the series is set several hundred years before Stranger and starts with Inda studying in the same school that Vidanric went to.
Yep--I asked for the Inda books the next Christmas, and enjoyed them lots! I want to try the Wren books next...
ReplyDeleteCool! Thanks for hosting this. I <3 Viadanric in Crown Duel, thanks to Chachic's recommendation :)
ReplyDeleteI would like to have a copy of these books.. Include me please. Thanks..
ReplyDeleteI loved the Crown Duel duet and also really enjoyed A Posse of Princesses. I didn't realize that Vidanric's story was out there as well. So count me in for a chance at A Stranger to Command, please.
ReplyDeleteI read the first Wren book (and enjoyed it) just before we moved to our present house, and wouldn't you know, this library doesn't have any of that series.
I just ordered Ms. Smith's newest book, Coronets and Steel, from Amazon. (Wringing hands in anticipation.)
What an awesome way to help out this publisher. I too read my first Sherwood Smith earlier this year and loved it. Thanks for spreading the word about this one.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Include me please ΓΌ
ReplyDeleteI adore Sherwood Smith, and I REALLY hope that she continues to write, because her old fans still love her. Charlotte, you must read the Wren books.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love Sherwood Smith! I hadn't watched closely enough to realize she had a new one out, though. Put me in the drawing!
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly for your support!
ReplyDeleteNorilana (and Vera!) is the publisher of Sword and Sorceress XXV, which features one of my short stories, "Impossible Quests." Plus I'm a major fan of Stranger and Posse, which I already own and heartily recommend, along with all the rest of Sherwood Smith's books. I'm so sorry to hear what Vera is going through!
ReplyDeleteWow, there's a prequel to Crown Duel??? Awesomeness. Perhaps, if I don't win one, I'll just go out and buy me a copy.
ReplyDeleteCrown Duel was one of those books my friends and I obsessed over as young teens... I feel very nostalgic toward my copy of it now as a result. =) I never got a chance to read Stranger to Command, though I've kept up with Sherwood Smith's blog and heard a lot about it. Please enter my name in the drawing! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCount me in, please!
ReplyDeleteI've been curious about Posse of Princesses ever since you first reviewed it.
ReplyDeleteI'm very interested in both these books! Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeletemearley1979 at gmail dot com
What a positive, supportive thing to do, Charlotte. I'd love to share either of these with our 5th grade fantasy lovers. Many thanks, Mary Ann
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I had never heard of the author or the publishing house until I read your post.
ReplyDeleteI hope Norilana manages to keep going because the more publishers there are the more books for us to choose from.
Thanks for the giveaway and for opening it to worldwide entries.
Carol T
buddytho{at} gmail DOT com
I would love to be entered in the drawing. I adore Crown Duel and I've always meant to read A Stranger to Command but haven't yet. Thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this! Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletek_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk
I haven't read anything by Sherwood Smith for years - I'd be happy with either. And if I don't win, it's off to the library to check out some of the more recent stuff.
ReplyDelete