COVER REVEAL - Romanov by Nadine Brandes

IT'S FINALLY THE DAY - I've been waiting since last Realm Makers (read: almost 4 months) for this and it's finally time! Who wants to see the incredible cover of the incredible Romanov by the incredible Nadine Brandes??

As per usual ... I'm going to make you scroll  ... a lot

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 But I will also throw random info at you as you scroll! Let's go, y'all. 

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(it should surprise no one that I have way too much fun with cover reveals) 

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1. Romanov releases MAY 7, 2019

(yes,a full 224 days away. Shall we steal a time-turner and make it come a little faster?)

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2. Nadine posted a YouTube video all about finishing Romanov, which you can find here! 

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3. Romanov is a YA historical fantasy Anastasia retelling

(which means....I don't know how all these Marvel GIFs play into this post) 

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 But there's always reason for Marvel GIFs 

(so I really don't care ;D) 

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There's also always reason for Harry Potter GIFs. 

(because he's the chosen one) 

(but not today!) 

(today, ROMANOV IS THE CHOSEN ONE)

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And now we're getting off track 

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4. Romanov is a standalone! 

(which means no cliffhangers out to kill us, yay!) 

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5. Romanov's color scheme reminds me just a teeny bit of Claire Legrand's Furyborn 

(oooh, was that a spoiler as to what the cover looks like??) 

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6. The tagline for Romanov is amazing - "Not even royal blood can stop bullets"

(I think we're going to need two heapings of help to recover from the epicness of this book)

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7. Romanov is available for pre-order! 

 (and it would be beyond cool if you snagged a copy!)

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(how are you doing with all the scrolling so far? ;D)

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You know what ... should I just show you the cover? 

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 Okay then ...

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 Lo and behold ... 

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ROMANOV

From the author of Fawkes comes a magical take on the story of Anastasia Romanov.

The history books say I died.

They don’t know the half of it.

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them . . . and he’s hunted Romanov before.

Nastya’s only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya’s never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn’t frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her . . .

That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other.

- Connect with Nadine Brandes - 

Facebook - Twitter - Instagram - Goodreads - YouTube

- Pre-order Romanov - 

- Goodreads - Amazon -

I CAN'T STOP SCREAMING. Nadine showed me this cover at Realm Makers (and you better believe I had a LARGE inward-scream moment when she leaned in and whispered "do you want to see the cover?") and I am BEYOND ECSTATIC that it is now out in the world! And doesn't it sound like a stunning book? I have a feeling I'm going to love this one even more than I loved Fawkes!

And to summarize everything I said during aaaallll that scrolling (in case you skipped it, like I would have ;D) - Romanov is a standalone YA historical fantasy Anastasia retelling that releases on May 7th, 2019! If I survive the wait, it'll be a miracle ;D. Y'all can click THIS LINK to find all the other links that Nadine has to all the Romanov-things ;).

Also, Romanov is available for pre-order!! So what are you waiting for? Run over to Amazon and snag a copy! Scream about it on Twitter! Post a pic of the cover on Instagram! Add it on Goodreads! LET US MAKE THE INTERNETS EXPLODE WITH OUR WILD LEVELS OF EXCITEMENT.

Meanwhile, I'm off to find a time-turner to speed up this epic book's release date. Who's with me?

~ Savannah Grace 

what do you think of the cover?

who's going to pre-order Romanov? (*raises hand*)

Silmaril Awards 2018 - Most Faithful Friend Award Presentation

And....it's finally time! You guys TOTALLY blew the voting round out of the water (there were over two hundred votes!), and now it's time to reveal who you picked as the winner of this year's Most Faithful Friend award - but I won't be the one presenting it! Just like last year (when I hosted the Strangest Character Award), I'll be handing over the presentation of the award to one of the most faithful friends in all of literature, Sam Gamgee. I'm only here to chronicle the going-ons ;).

Let's travel to the Green Dragon to see the presentation, shall we?

      The Green Dragon was very full that night.

      There were almost more people there than the Dragon had ever seen, except for at the celebration of the end of Sauron, with all the races of Middle Earth gathered together for the ceremony. Shouts rang out as cups were passed around, and one could barely hear one's own thoughts, much less anyone else's voice. 

      Samwise Gamgee sat at a table near the back, with a pint of the Dragon's best ale in front of him, looking around nervously. "Well, there's nothing for it, Sam," he muttered to himself, looking at his still-full mug. "You did it last year - and the year before that - you can do it again."

      Drawing in a deep breath, Sam stood up and shoved his way through to the front of the Green Dragon. "Excuse me, excuse me," he said to the hobbits sitting at the front-most table. "Would you mind if I borrow this table for a mo?"

       "Not at all, my good hobbit!" Shouted one of them, while another looked towards the serving counter and shouted, "it comes in pints?"

      "Much obliged," Sam said, already a little out of breath. Tucking his green cloak into his belt, Sam climbed up onto the table and faced the rowdy crowd. Everyone quieted once they saw him, and Sam cleared his throat.

      "Um...hullo, friends from Middle Earth and afar." He cleared his throat again, and gave a nervous laugh. "As you can see, as I'm bein' here, they've asked me to present the Most Faithful Friend award again. Can't say as to why, as Mister Frodo is the Most Faithful Friend, bless his soul, but I'll do what's asked of me, mind you."

      "Hear, hear!" a hobbit from the back shouts, draining his pint.

      Sam's face flushed, and he shifted on the table. "Well, nothing for it, Sam," he whispered to himself again. Then he took a deep breath. "I should probably get on to announcing the winner now, otherwise I'm bound to muddle something up, I'd wager. Let's see, where did I leave that scroll..." After a moment of rummaging in his pockets, Sam found the tiny scroll, bound with a golden ribbon and seal.

      All of the Green Dragon seemed to be holding its breath as Sam pulled out the scroll, which was emitting its own glow. As soon as Sam held it up, the seal melted away and the scroll unrolled in his hand as if it had a will of it's own. "Now there's something Samwise Gamgee, make no mistake," Sam whispered to himself.

      Not daring to touch the floating scroll, Sam leaned close to the paper to make out the sprawling letters. "The nominees for this year's Most Faithful Friend awards are the followin'

      "Bree from The Horse and His Boy" "Hwin from The Horse and His Boy" Sam got a little misty here, and had to wipe a tear from his eye. "Ah, glad to see that people think a horse can be a faithful friend. I still remember old Bill..." He gulped, and then continued.

      "Rose Red from The Lunar Chronicles, and Iko from The Lunar Chronicles - I think I remember those two from last year, I do - and Little John from Robin Hood. Now I don't know the most of these folk personally, but they must be a fine bunch if they was nominated for this here award."

       There was a polite smattering of applause, and Sam cleared his throat before reading the large print at the bottom of the scroll.

      "And this year's winner of the Most Faithful Friend award is - Little John from Robin Hood!"
     
      Whoops rang out around the Green Dragon as a very tall man, who'd been sitting near the back, stood up, looking a little sheepish as he walked up to Sam. "I wasn't lookin' for no award, my good Hobbit," he said, "was only doing my best to help Robin Hood, I was."

      "And a very good friend that makes you, old chap!" Shouted another from the back, who had a feather in his green cap and his feet up on the table, raising his mug of ale into the air.

      The bartender brought an ornately carved box to Sam, who opened it to pulled out a shining green-and-gold award. "Well, Little John, here's your lifetime Silmaril award for bein' a Faithful Friend. You've earned it, I'd wager, seein' as you won the people's votes by a landslide."

 
    Samwise hung the Silmaril award around Little John's neck, and the Green Dragon burst into applause. A few of the Merry Men leapt onto the tables and start dancing, and many of the Hobbits joined in. "Hurrah for Little John of Nottingham!" 

      "And that 'ud be the end of this year's  Most Faithful Friend Silmaril award presentation," shouted Sam, from where he was still standing on the table. "Thank you all for coming! An' for those who keep askin' - yes, it does comes in pints. 

      Have a fine evening, good folk of Middle Earth and the beyond!"

A fine end to the Most Faithful Friend award, I must say ;). I hope you all had fun with that! Nearly half of the other Silmaril Award winners have already been announced, and the rest are quickly coming - here's the full schedule, if you want to see them all...

Monday, Sept. 17 – Least Competent Henchman
Tuesday, Sept. 18 – Most Mischievous Imp
Wednesday, Sept. 19 – Strangest Character 
Thursday, Sept. 20 – Most Loyal Friend 
Friday, Sept. 21 – Silver Tongue
Monday, Sept. 24 – Wisest Counselor
Tuesday, Sept. 25 – Most Nefarious Villain
Wednesday, Sept. 26 – Most Epic Hero
Thursday, Sept. 27 – Most Epic Heroine
Friday 28, Sept. – Most Magnificent Dragon

Thank you all for making the Silmaril Awards so successful this year, I had so much fun! I can't wait to do it all again in 2019, it'll be blast. But until then - keep being epic! <3 

~ Savannah Grace

i hope you all enjoyed this year's Most Faithful Friend award!

did anyone guess that Little John would win?

SIlmaril Awards 2018 - Voting Round

The nominations round is officially closed, and it's time for the voting round of the Silmaril Awards! Who's ready?

The top five faithful friends are ... 

- Hwin from The Horse and His Boy - 

Hwin is the fearless and steadfast steed of Aravis in the chronicles of Narnia, who never leaves her girl when she's in need. Together, Hwin and Aravis escape from Tashbaan, and then they venture to Narnia together. Hwin, though sometimes shy, is very loyal, and never leaves a friend behind.

"He didn't say anything about shorter," answered Shasta. "He only said better, because you got to a river this way. If the oasis is due North of Tashbaan, then I'm afraid this may be longer." 
"Well I can't go on without a snack," said Bree. "Take my bridle off, Shasta." 
"P-please," said Hwin, very shyly. "I feel just like Bree that I can't go on. But when horses have humans (with spurs and things) on their backs, aren't they often made to go on when they're feeling like this? and then they find that they can. I m-mean - oughtn't we to be able to do even more, now that we're free? It's all for Narnia." 

- The Horse and his Boy by C.S. Lewis

- Iko from The Lunar Chronicles - 

Iko is Cinder's android companion in the Lunar Chronicles series. But unlike the usual androids, Iko is quite human and is one of Cinder's best friends. When danger strikes, Iko is always there to protect the people she loves. And though she knows how to treat a serious situation, she's always ready to have a good time.

Cinder laughed. "Wow. That's a great color on you." 
"Do you think?" Iko wheeled her way into the room and paused before Cinder's desk, trying to catch her reflection in the netscreen. "I was imagining going to the ball and dancing with the prince."
Cinder rubbed her jaw with one hand and mindlessly tapped the table with the other. "Funny. I've found myself imagining the exact thing lately."
"I knew you liked him. You pretend to be immune to his charms, but I could see the way you looked at him in the marketplace." Iko rubbed at the lipstick, smearing it across her blank white chin. 
"Yeah, well." Cinder pinched her metal fingers with the pliers' nose. "We all have our weaknesses." 
"I know," said Iko. "Mine is shoes."

- Cinder by Marissa Meyer  

- Rose Red from The Tales of Goldstone Wood - 

Rose Red is a shy girl who, when given the choice, would rather stay by herself in the forest she lives in than socialize. She keeps her face covered out of fear, but when it comes to her friends, she is fiercely loyal and willing to face her fears to protect them.

She may have been nothing but an odd child, but somehow this offer comforted Leo more than he would have admitted. He responded with a curt nod and started on his way. 
"You'll come back, won't you?" the girl called after him. 
He looked about and saw her standing small again in that manner of hers, huddling into herself as though she could huddle away into nothing. 
He shrugged. "I'll come back."
"What's your name?" 
"I'm Leo." 
"Do you want to know my name?" 
"I suppose." 
"I'm called Rose Red," she said. Then she was gone, vanished into the rocks and the woods. 

- Veiled Rose by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

- Little John from Robin Hood - 

Little John, partner in crime of the hero Robin Hood, is a gentle giant. He may appear to be big and gruff, but in actuality, he is one of the kindest souls in Nottingham. He is loyal, brave, and always up for Robin Hood's crazy adventures. Friendly, cheerful, and skilled with a bow, not-so-little John is a loyal friend to the end.

- Bree from The Horse and His Boy - 

Bree is the war-horse that befriends the boy Shasta in the Chronicles of Narnia, and helps him escape from his life of slavery. Though Bree sometimes finds it hard to face his own trials, he presses on for the sake of his friends and Shasta as they made their way to Narnia.

The Horse had lifted its head. Shasta stroked its smooth-as-satin nose and said, "I wish you could talk, old fellow." 
And then for a second he though he was dreaming, for quite distinctly, though in a low voice, the Horse said, "But I can." 
Shasta stared into its great eyes and his own grew almost as big, with astonishment. 
"How ever did you learn to talk?" 
"Hush! Not so loud," replied the Horse. "Where I come from, nearly all the animals talk." 
"Where is that?" asked Shasta. 
"Narnia," replied the Horse. 

- The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

And there are the five characters that have climbed their way into the voting round! I was blown away by how many characters y'all nominated for this award (almost a hundred!), and now you're able to vote for your favorite of these five. You can use the voting form below to vote for all ten categories in the Silmaril Awards. (you can check out the blogs listed in the graphic to see descriptions for the other categories) The voting round only goes until the 14th, so vote quickly! ;)

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTES!

I'm excited to see who you pick as your winner! Keep being epic, my friends <3. 

~ Savannah Grace 

which of these characters is your favorite?

Silmaril Awards 2018 - Most Faithful Friend Nominations

Time to herald in a post with trumpets and fanfare - THE SILMARIL AWARDS ARE HERE!

It's the third annual Silmaril Awards! 

   If you were around for the last two years of the Silmaril Awards (previously known as the Silmarillion Awards), you're probably already escaping down to the comments to start nominating left and right. But for those of you who are new to the Silmaril Awards (hello and hello!) here's how this shindig works:

   The Silmaril Awards are an event put on by Jenelle Schmidt and DJ Edwardson to celebrate our favorite fantasy characters by having all of you guys nominate (and second, third, fourth, etc.) the best fantasy characters in literature to win one of ten Silmaril Awards. And, seeing as this is an event for fantasy characters, the characters presenting the awards at the end will be the some of the best characters of all time - characters from the Hobbit and Lord Of The Rings. So I'm while afraid no Tolkien characters can be nominated (and authors can't nominate their own characters), everyone else (so long as they're a fantasy characters) is fair game! And be sure to include the title of the book the character you nominate is from, so that everyone knows.

   Y'all have a few days (the exact schedule for the Silmaril Awards is at the bottom of this post) to nominate (and second, third, fourth, fifth, etc. - there's no limit to how many times a character can be seconded, and you can second as many as you'd like!) the best fantasy characters, and then the five that got seconded the most will move on to the voting round. And make sure to check out the grand-new Silmaril Awards website!

OKAY, with all that out of the way ...

This year I'm hosting the Most Faithful Friend award! Inigo and Reepicheep are the previous winners of this award, and I'm incredibly curious to see who y'all choose as this year's winner. So go thee forth to the comments section and nominate away!

Participating Blogs in the Third Annual Silmaril Awards

Wisest Counselor Award - Deborah @ The Road of a Writer 

Silver Tongue Award - DJ @ DJ Edwardson 

Most Epic Hero Award - E.E. Rawls @  E.E. Rawls Writes

Strangest Character Award - Zac @ Zachary Totah 

Most Epic Heroine - Madeline @ Short and Snappy

Most Mischievous Imp - Abbey @ Regarding Reading and Writing 

Most Magnificent Dragon - Tracey @ Adventure Awaits 

Most Loyal Friend - Savannah @ Inspiring Writes (you are here!) 

Least Competent Henchman - Jenelle @ Jenelle Schmidt

Most Nefarious Villain - Kyle @ KyleRobertShultz

~ Savannah Grace

what are you waiting for? go! nominate!