Flesh And Fire - Blog Tour October 26, 2009 and Giveaway!

Flesh and Fire - Laura Anne Gilman

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Pocket (October 13, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439101418

Synopsis

From acclaimed bestselling author Laura Anne Gilman comes a unique and enthralling new story of fantasy and adventure, wine and magic, danger and hope....

Once, all power in the Vin Lands was held by the prince-mages, who alone could craft spellwines, and selfishly used them to increase their own wealth and influence. But their abuse of power caused a demigod to break the Vine, shattering the power of the mages. Now, fourteen centuries later, it is the humble Vinearts who hold the secret of crafting spells from wines, the source of magic, and they are prohibited from holding power.

But now rumors come of a new darkness rising in the vineyards. Strange, terrifying creatures, sudden plagues, and mysterious disappearances threaten the land. Only one Vineart senses the danger, and he has only one weapon to use against it: a young slave. His name is Jerzy, and his origins are unknown, even to him. Yet his uncanny sense of the Vinearts' craft offers a hint of greater magics within — magics that his Master, the Vineart Malech, must cultivate and grow. But time is running out. If Malech cannot teach his new apprentice the secrets of the spellwines, and if Jerzy cannot master his own untapped powers, the Vin Lands shall surely be destroyed.

In Flesh and Fire, first in a spellbinding new trilogy, Laura Anne Gilman conjures a story as powerful as magic itself, as intoxicating as the finest of wines, and as timeless as the greatest legends ever told.

My Thoughts:

The story tells of a master teaching his apprentice the fine art of Vineart, magic that comes with the use of wine. Then subtle disturbing instances begin to happen across the land far enough apart that most don't even realize what is happening. A battle brewing between good and something so sinister that no one really knows what they are in store for. Such a unique world of magic and wines. I'm not a wine drinker but I will never look at a bottle of wine the same again.

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I thought I would. I will say it took me a long time to get through the book and I'm not sure if it was the world so unlike anything I have read or it just wasn't holding my interest. I can't really decide. I liked the book but I hated that I kept getting distracted while reading it.

It being book 1 of a trilogy the story didn't wrap itself up in the end, instead I'm guessing book 2 will pick up right where it left off. I think I would have liked to had some resolution at the end. I might give book 2 a chance to see how the story plays itself out.

Participating Blogs:

All About {N}: http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/
Beth’s Book Review Blog: http://bethsbookreviewblog.blogspot.com/
Drey’s Library: http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
Revenge of the Book Nerds: http://booknerdextraordinaire.blogspot.com/
The Neverending Shelf: http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com/
Layers of Thought: http://www.layersofthought.net/
Fantasy Freak: http://fantastyfreak.blogspot.com/
Undercover Book Lover: http://www.eclecticbooklover.com/
Carol’s Notebook: http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/
Starting Fresh: http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
Pick of the Literate: http://bookrevues.blogspot.com/
My Friend Amy: http://www.myfriendamysblog.com
Cheryl’s Book Nook: http://cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com/
Opinionated? Me?: http://readingwatchingliving.blogspot.com/
Readaholic: http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
One Person’s Journey Through A World of Books: http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/
My Life In Not So Many Words: www.ziarias.blogspot.com
Geek Girl Reviews: www.geekgirlreviews.com
Sci-Fi Guy: www.scifiguy.ca
Wendy's Minding Spot: http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/
Found Not Lost: http://jmomfinds.amoores.com/
Brizmus Blogs Books: http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com/
25 Hour Books: http://25hourbooks.wordpress.com/
Temple Library Reviews: http://templelibraryreviews.blogspot.com/

Due to a mailing issue I ended up with two copies of this book! Sarah has graciously given me permission to host a giveaway for the second book.

US & Canada only

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Contest ends November 5, 2009 6pm PST.

(I received this book from Pocket Books for Blog Tour/Review purposes)