K.C. Finn's newest fantasy novel, The Book of Shade, releases on December 20th, and I would be surprised if she could't buy a new car with the dough this one rakes in.  It is such a nerve-wracking ride, beautiful characters, and everything I've ever wanted in real life that I'll eat my hat if you don't enjoy it.

     "Lily Coltrane’s to-do list for starting university life is pretty simple:
1. Make friends
2. Meet a cute guy
3. Survive her first year in Modern History 
In the little English town of Piketon this seems more than achievable, so much so that Lily even joins The Illustrious Minds Literary Society, an extra-curricular club that promises a truly unique social experience. What Lily doesn’t bank on are the Society’s monthly visits to the mysterious Theatre Imaginique at the edge of town, a dark venue that houses the most obscure cavalcade of carnival performers she has ever laid eyes on..."  (full summary here)

Chloe doesn't have time for Disneyland, or your 'club'

     From the pages of the first chapter we're introduced to some of the main characters.  And from the beginning, on page one of chapter one, I could tell that the characters were gonna be hilarious.  Their backgrounds and their stories aren't made an issue until the character has to deal with them, which is great, since you aren't bombarded with troubling history to remember right away and you can deal with their issues the same time they do.  You're introduced to this mysterious book club/society, which bring with it it's own cast of annoying characters (because come on, who else is going to join a club for the free perks?  Douche bags, that's who). 

     As soon as this story takes off, you are introduced to the beautiful customs and ways of the 'shadeborn'.  From how they mourn their dead, to how they relax in the evening, to how their lives revolve around the stars and their date of birth.  It was so exciting for me to learn how much of a culture and how much of an institution the shadeborn had and were.

     There's a great back-and-forth style banter between the characters, which I always love.  I really enjoy sarcasm in characters, and authors who know how to use it.  The characters are all so fascinating, and the social hierarchy they live by is really something I've never seen before.  

     
     Throughout this entire novel, not once was I bored.  Even when there wasn't action, there was action.  An interesting mix of curiosity and anxiety made it difficult for me to restrain myself from skipping to the end to learn what happened.  And now that I have finished it, I'm tearing down Finn's door for the next bit of Lily and Novel's story.



What are the shadeborn?  

   You have to read the book to find out.  



     Alright guys, I'm tired of telling you how much you have to buy this.  Just recognize that you must.  It comes out December 20th, search it on Amazon, and Smashwords!

     Her Amazon author profile: http://goo.gl/fwRbxO

      The Book of Shade purchase link: http://goo.gl/lFnmtm

      Her Smashwords page: http://goo.gl/yyhpJV

    And follow her blog for interesting posts and new information on her books: http://theproverbialraven.blogspot.co.uk/