Showing posts with label Sonia Gensler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sonia Gensler. Show all posts

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Guest Post: Sonia Gensler + Giveaway Stop

Please Welcome Sonia Gensler!


I am very excited to be able to host Sonia Gensler a second time here on Small Review! The first time we got to chat was during the Historical Fantasy Jubilee and now Sonia's back to tell us a little background for her new book The Dark Between. Based on how much I loved Sonia's debut The Revenant, I'm super excited to try her latest Gothic foray.  

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Much of the action of The Dark Between takes place within two Cambridge colleges: Summerfield (based on Newnham) and Trinity. The University of Cambridge is over eight hundred years old (see this timeline) and is made up of thirty-one independent colleges, each with its own property, financial holdings, and what some might call “personality.” The oldest college is Peterhouse, the largest and wealthiest is Trinity (which educated many of the founders of the Society for Psychical Research), the friendliest is Homerton, and the sportiest (and possibly snobbiest?) may well be St. John’s.

(Does this remind you of Hogwarts? Well, J.K. Rowling knew how the English tend to divide their more prestigious educational institutions into houses or colleges, and how a student’s affiliation with a particular house might suggest something about his or her social standing, personality, and aspirations.)

It took me a while to understand Cambridge and Oxford’s collegiate system, but my friend Harry, a graduate student at Corpus Christi College, explains it nicely in this quick video (notice lovely King’s College in the background):



Learn more about the personality and amenities of each Cambridge college here, or take this quiz (which will be maddening for most Americans) to see which Cambridge College might suit you best.

In my next post, I’ll talk more about Newnham College, the inspiration for Summerfield in The Dark Between.

About The Dark Between

At the turn of the twentieth century, Spiritualism and séances are all the rage—even in the scholarly town of Cambridge, England. While mediums dupe the grief-stricken, a group of local fringe scientists seeks to bridge the gap to the spirit world by investigating the dark corners of the human mind.
 
Each running from a shadowed past, Kate, Asher, and Elsie take refuge within the walls of Summerfield College. But their peace is soon shattered by the discovery of a dead body nearby. Is this the work of a flesh-and-blood villain, or is something otherworldly at play? This unlikely trio must illuminate what the scientists have not, and open a window to secrets taken to the grave—or risk joining the spirit world themselves.

The Dark Between, a supernatural romance about the powers that lie in the shadows of the mind, is perfect for fans of Sarah Rees Brennan, Alyxandra Harvey, and Libba Bray.

Author bio:

Sonia Gensler grew up in a small Tennessee town and spent her early adulthood collecting impractical degrees from various Midwestern universities. A former high school English teacher, she now writes full time in Oklahoma and spends summers in England.


Thank you so much for stopping by, Sonia!


Have you read The Dark Between? How about The Revenant?

Here for the giveaway?
My code word is: 

SUMMERFIELD


Each stop on the blog tour is also revealing a code word that can be used to enter a contest on Sonia's website for a DARK BETWEEN prize pack, including a finished copy of the book.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Author Interview: Sonia Gensler + Giveaway! (US/CA)

Please Welcome Sonia Gensler!



Sonia Gensler is a 2011 debut author of the riveting Gothic horror The Revenant. I reviewed The Revenant yesterday (I loved it!), but before you click away, please join in on the chat I had with Sonia about historical fantasy and The Revenant!  

 There are NO spoilers here!




Q:
How do you personally define historical fantasy?

A:
I’m afraid I don’t have a very elaborate definition – I’d just say it’s historical fiction with fantasy or paranormal elements. I like that the category is broad enough to allow for a variety of stories.

Q:
What drew you to historical fantasy?

A:
I’ve always been drawn to historical fiction, but sometimes I feel that straight historicals are overly preoccupied with period detail. In my mind, these details should never detract from the character development or story pacing. A paranormal or fantasy element signals to me that story is the main focus. (I still want the historical context to be accurately portrayed, of course!)

Q:
What are your historical fantasy must-reads? (*Note: I have added Goodreads links for the titles Sonia mentioned so you can easily add them to your TBR!)

A:
One of my very favorite authors when I was younger was Guy Gavriel Kay. His spin on historical fantasy was a little different for me – he chose a specific period in history and then used it as a model for an alternate world, usually one that contained magic and/or other fantasy elements. A Song for Arbonne and The Lions of Al-Rassan were favorites, but I also loved The Fionavar Tapestry, his Arthurian trilogy. Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Mists of Avalon, a novel that focused on the women of the Arthurian legends, literally changed my life. Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle trilogy is one of my favorite examples of YA historical fantasy, and Franny Billingsley’s Chime is a very recent favorite that I recommend highly.

Q:
How did The Revenant change from pre-to-post publication?

A:
The relationships deepened. The mystery grew more complicated. My favorite scene was cut. You know – the usual changes!

Q:
Why did you decide to call your ghost a revenant?

A:
The word has an old-fashioned, Gothic ring to it, which seemed to suit the historical setting. I also enjoyed playing with its multiple meanings.

Q:
Your book has many Gothic elements and often reminded me of Wuthering Heights. Why did you choose to set your story in America at a Cherokee girls’ school instead of the more common Gothic setting in England on the moors?

A:
Short answer – you can find Gothic anywhere and everywhere!

Longer answer: Gothic has much to do with dark secrets and shocking violence. America has a great deal of darkness in its past despite its relative youth as a nation. To me, the US government’s attempted annihilation of indigenous populations plays a huge part in America’s Gothic past. The Cherokee tribe rebounded from the Trail of Tears and worked hard to become an autonomous and prosperous nation, but some argue that their efforts resulted in the devaluing and/or loss of traditional customs and beliefs. I wanted to explore some of the darker implications of this trade-off in The Revenant through the snobbery and bullying at the Cherokee Female Seminary.


Q:
If you were to try to contact a revenant, what method of communication would you use: Ouija board, medium, necromancy, or something else?

A:
I’ve tried a Ouija board before – long ago – and it was an uncomfortable experience. For me there’s too much danger of the participants consciously or unconsciously influencing the movement of the planchette. These days I might choose a medium. I’m not certain they’re any more reliable, but at least it would be entertaining to watch an “expert” do all the work!

Q:
Is there a genre you could never see yourself writing? Why not?

A:
As much as I LOVE watching SciFi on film and TV, I could never imagine writing it. Sadly, I’m just not clever or patient enough to flesh out a futuristic world.

Q:
What's coming up next for you in terms of publication?

A:
I have a second book coming out with Knopf in 2013. It’s another Gothic mystery, but with a completely different setting, situation, and cast of characters than The Revenant. I'm very excited about it!


Thank you so much for stopping by, Sonia! I literally squeed out loud when I read that last answer. I loved The Revenant and I can't wait to read more Gothic goodness from Sonia Gensler!


Have any of you read The Revenant? What did you think about it? What do you think about Sonia's response regarding the historical fantasy genre? Have you read any of the books she recommended? 

And what about you, if you were to try to contact a revenant, what method of communication would you pick? I think I would be far too much of a scaredy cat to even try!



Sonia Gensler is generously providing a copy of The Revenant for giveaway!



Info for the giveaway:
  • As always, you do NOT have to be a follower
  • You must have a US/CA mailing address
  • You must be 13 years of age or older
  • One entry per person
  • Your address is not required, but including it will help with sending the book out to you sooner
  • I will contact the winner through email and the winner will have 24 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen 
  • This giveaway ends December 7th 



Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Book Review: The Revenant by Sonia Gensler

The Revenant by Sonia Gensler
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Received: Library
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page











Summary

From Goodreads:

When Willie arrives in Indian Territory, she knows only one thing: no one can find out who she really is. To escape a home she doesn't belong in anymore, she assumes the name of a former classmate and accepts a teaching job at the Cherokee Female Seminary.

Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.

Willie doesn't believe in ghosts, but when strange things start happening at the school, she isn't sure anymore. She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something. . .


Review

When being a judgy-pants is a BAD thing

I so let my cover (and title) judgments get the better of me with this book, much to my detriment. I took one look at that cover, and for whatever reason I thought, "Meh, I'll pass" and that's exactly what I did.

Then I attempted to read Die For Me and I was totally turned off by the concept of revenants as romantic leads and my inner Ms Judgy-pants felt fully justified in turning up her nose at Sonia Gensler's take on revenants.

But holy moly did I make a mistake!

A revenant of a different color

Sonia Gensler's revenants are nothing like Amy Plum's revenants. The revenant in Sonia's book is a ghost! If I had known that, then I never would have skipped over The Revenant.

The ghost is also much more like the traditional Gothic horror ghost. That is, the main character spends a lot of time alternatively terrified of and intrigued by the malignant spirit, but never swooning over it.

Even though I do love a good ghostly romance, I adored Sonia Gensler's spooky tale and I'm glad she didn't fall back onto the topic du jour paranormal romance-angle.

So, wait, what genre is this?

I would comfortably put it into the genre of historical Gothic horror (and historical fantasy), with the Gothic parts taking center stage. The mystery of the hauntings is the central focus and I thoroughly enjoyed following Willie as she slowly unraveled the secrets of the past.

I thought the mystery was particularly well done. One minute I was convinced I totally had the Big Bad pegged, but then the next minute a piece of information was introduced that made me think maybe I should trust that person and be fearful of another character instead. But then that was called into question too! I loved how Sonia Gensler kept me constantly on my toes and never knowing who I could believe.

The historical parts are present through the setting and the conflicts surrounding the Cherokee girls, but I don't think you need to be a history buff to enjoy The Revenant. Actually, the setting was a lot more like a boarding school book than a heavy historical.

I do love historical fiction though, so I was fascinated by the details surrounding the Cherokee girls (and I learned a lot that I hadn't known).

For the romantics, there is also a touch of romance, but because Sonia Gensler is a diabolical genius when it comes to red herrings, I never knew whether I should allow myself to swoon over Willie's romantic interests (yes, possibly two--but this is NOT a love triangle) or whether I should start screaming at Willie to run for her life. I loved it!

Willie, you are a liar (but I love you)

I clicked almost immediately with Willie, despite the fact that she probably wouldn't be someone I'd love if I was looking at things objectively. She is a liar and she is attempting to fill a position she is clearly unqualified to hold. Plus, she has some issues that could make her an unreliable narrator.

But I loved her anyway. I don't know if it was because she was brave and daring, or if it was because she tried so hard to improve her life, or because I could relate to her feelings, or if it was simply just because I liked her first person narrative voice, but Willie totally gets an invite to my sleepover party.

The ending (no spoilers)

I'm still conflicted about the ending. I don't mean the resolution of the story arc, because that was great. But after the big bang finale, there's a whole 'nother section that felt to me like a very long epilogue.

I love that Sonia Gensler gave this last final peek into Willie's life because it is in this section that Willie seems to really grow the most and come to terms with her situation.

But...I don't know, as much as it felt like the perfect resolution for Willie and as much as I loved the character depth it provided, it also felt like it didn't really belong in this book. At least not to the extent it was expanded to. I think I would have preferred if it had been shortened to an epilogue.

Bottom line

This was the kind of book where, halfway through, I was already planning on adding to my TBR everything else the author has ever written (except this is a debut, so instead I added Sonia Gensler to my "Authors to Watch" list). I clicked with the writing style, pacing (moderate, but tantalizly tense), and characters and now I cannot wait to see what Sonia Gensler writes next!

The Revenant is a standalone.


Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 


Do you have any questions about The Revenant that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Want to win a copy of The Revenant?
CLICK HERE TO ENTER! 

(Instructions and restrictions on form. US/CA only)



Looking for another book like this? 
You might like: 

Click on the covers to go to my reviews.







Want to know what Ruby is up to today? Check out our Historical Fantasy Jubilee full schedule of events and giveaways!

Have you entered to win our prize pack giveaways?

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