I am so excited to share with you today an awesome new release from Anna-Marie McLemore that has been getting all sorts of (absolutely well-deserved) hype. THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS is a beautiful, atmospheric book that completely captivated me from page one and I”m delighted to share all of the details with you here today, along with an exclusive interview with the author herself.
So, sit back, relax, and get to know Anna-Marie and THE WEIGHT FO FEATHERS. And when you’re done, be sure to enter the Giveaway to win a signed copy!
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About the Book:
The Night Circus meets Romeo and Juliet in this stunning young adult novel about two teens who fall in love despite the almost impossible odds against them.
The Palomas and the Corbeaus have long been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows-the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find.
Lace Paloma may be new to her family’s show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure magia negra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching one could mean death, and she’s been taught from birth to keep away. But when disaster strikes the small town where both families are performing, it’s a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace’s life. And his touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees.
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Miss Riki’s Review:
This book is so hauntingly beautiful, I almost don’t have words to describe it. The language is evocative and flowery without being dense or difficult to read, and I absolutely adored the description in this novel. McLemore is able to paint such a vivid and dynamic picture for the reader in so many ways, and I was immediately drawn into the world of the Corbeaus and the Palomas. I loved the Romeo & Juliet feel of this novel so, so much, with Cluck and Lace so deeply devoted to their own families. The family aspect of the book is so well done. As a reader I could really feel the revulsion between them in the beginning, and it amped up the conflict for the inevitable romance to follow. But, Romeo & Juliet references aside, the book ends on a much better note and didn’t disappoint this fan of young adult romance.
I think this novel will appeal to teens and adults alike, with many of the themes of the novel feeling very mature and realistic. The beautiful writing blew me away, and I can’t recommend this book enough as an example of a novel that immediately transports the reader to another time and place. It is haunting and atmospheric and just gorgeous in every way.
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Interview With Anna-Marie McLemore:
Describe yourself in five words.
I’m a girly, ocean-loving, queer, Christian Latina.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I competed as an Irish dancer. Curled hair, ten-pound embroidered dress, matching lipstick—the whole nine yards. (Thanks for taking me to all those competitions, Mom and Dad!)
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received in your writing career?
Don’t be afraid to write something that scares you, embarrasses you, or even confuses you. Revision is for reigning in. Drafting is for trying anything.
What is the most embarrassing thing you’ve looked up in the name of research – or what do you think the government has flagged you for?
When researching mermaid performers, I ended up on a conspiracy theory page about how the government has covered up the existence of finned men and women. So the government might have flagged me for that one. Personally, I think mermaids are real and that they’re just too quick to let anyone see them…
What is an unknown fact or fun trivia about THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS?
Lace knows how to card-count, and Cluck has had a lot practice talking his grandfather out of speeding tickets.
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GIVEAWAY:
About Anna-Marie McLemore:
Anna-Marie McLemore was born in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and grew up in a Mexican-American family. She attended University of Southern California on a Trustee Scholarship. A Lambda Literary Fellow, she has had work featured by the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West, CRATE Literary Magazine’s cratelit, Camera Obscura’s Bridge the Gap Series, and The Portland Review. The Weight of Feathers is her first novel.
I SO want to read this book! Thanks for the great interview and the giveaway.
This looks fabulous! Thanks for the chance to win a copy! My fave lit couple is Mal & Alina from Shadow and Bone.