I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for POISON'S KISS by Breeana Shields! I loved this amazing historical fantasy book! I have an interview with Breeana to share with you today! And make sure to enter the awesome giveaway for a chance to win the book!!
Haven't heard of POISON'S KISS? Check it out!
Title: POISON'S KISS
Author: Breeana Shields
Pub.
Date: January 10,
2017
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 304
Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook
A teenage assassin kills with a single kiss until she is ordered to kill the one boy she loves. This commercial YA fantasy is romantic and addictive like-- a poison kiss-- and will thrill fans of Sarah J. Maas and Victoria Aveyard.
Marinda has kissed dozens of boys. They all die afterward. It s a miserable life, but being a visha kanya a poison maiden is what she was created to do. Marinda serves the Raja by dispatching his enemies with only her lips as a weapon.
Until now, the men she was ordered to kiss have been strangers, enemies of the kingdom. Then she receives orders to kiss Deven, a boy she knows too well to be convinced he needs to die. She begins to question who she s really working for. And that is a thread that, once pulled, will unravel more than she can afford to lose.
This rich, surprising, and accessible debut is based in Indian folklore and delivers a story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Now on to the interview!
Thanks so much for having me!
For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about POISON’S KISS and the characters?
Sure! POISON’S KISS is about a girl named Marinda who can kill a man with a single kiss. She’s working as an assassin for her kingdom, but when she receives orders to kill someone she knows—someone she’s sure doesn’t deserve to die—she starts to question everything about her life.
Is this a standalone or a series? And if it’s a series do you have a title for book 2 yet? And if it’s a standalone what are you working on next?
POISON’S KISS is the first in a duology. The second book is due out in early 2018 and will be called POISON’S CAGE.
Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?
I don’t ever base characters off people I know—at least not consciously—but my writing is still informed by my real life. I have a little brother (he’s over 6 feet tall now and would probably take great exception to being called “little”) who is ten years younger than I am, and I spent a lot of time taking care of him when he was small. So, I definitely think my love for him helped shape Marinda’s love for Mani.
What is your favorite passage/scene from POISON’S KISS?
This is so hard to answer without spoilers! Let me just say that there are two scenes between Marinda and Kadru that are both favorites. I love the two of them together.
Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
I don’t really have any least favorite characters—I loved writing them all— but the easiest and most fun character to write was definitely Kadru. Whenever I put her into a scene she took over and the writing became effortless.
Who is your ultimate Book Boyfriend?
Will it be completely cliché if I say Mr. Darcy? Because it’s Mr. Darcy.
What inspired you to write YA?
I love this age group—readers firmly in that gray area between leaving childhood and becoming a full-fledged adult. As a teenager, you make so many choices about which paths you want to take and who you want to become that affect the rest of your life. It’s a time of both fear and breathless wonder. Also, YA tends to be more plot-focused and faster-paced than a lot of adult fiction. (I think that’s one reason so many adults love reading it). And as a writer who loves a great story as much as I love pretty words, YA is a perfect fit.
Lightening Round Questions
I’m reading THE FORGETTING by Sharon Cameron. It’s great so far!
What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?
I desperately want to say Ravenclaw, but every time I take the test, I get sorted into Hufflepuff.
Twitter or Facebook?
Twitter
Favorite Superhero?
Anne Shirley. (And I’ll fight anyone who claims she’s not a superhero!)
Favorite TV show?
Jane the Virgin
Sweet or Salty?
Salty. Though it’s a bonus if it can be both---salted caramel was invented for people like me.
Any Phobias?
Snakes. Don’t laugh when you see my book cover.
Song you can’t get enough of right now?
NOT A ONE by the Young Wild.
2017 Movie you’re most looking forward to?
I can’t wait to see Beauty and the Beast.
Thanks so much Breeana for answering my
questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read POISON’S KISS!
Hi Breeana! First, I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books! Thanks
for stopping by to answer my questions! I loved POISON’S KISS and I can’t wait
for everyone to read it!
Thanks so much for having me!
For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about POISON’S KISS and the characters?
Sure! POISON’S KISS is about a girl named Marinda who can kill a man with a single kiss. She’s working as an assassin for her kingdom, but when she receives orders to kill someone she knows—someone she’s sure doesn’t deserve to die—she starts to question everything about her life.
Is this a standalone or a series? And if it’s a series do you have a title for book 2 yet? And if it’s a standalone what are you working on next?
POISON’S KISS is the first in a duology. The second book is due out in early 2018 and will be called POISON’S CAGE.
Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?
I don’t ever base characters off people I know—at least not consciously—but my writing is still informed by my real life. I have a little brother (he’s over 6 feet tall now and would probably take great exception to being called “little”) who is ten years younger than I am, and I spent a lot of time taking care of him when he was small. So, I definitely think my love for him helped shape Marinda’s love for Mani.
What is your favorite passage/scene from POISON’S KISS?
This is so hard to answer without spoilers! Let me just say that there are two scenes between Marinda and Kadru that are both favorites. I love the two of them together.
Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
I don’t really have any least favorite characters—I loved writing them all— but the easiest and most fun character to write was definitely Kadru. Whenever I put her into a scene she took over and the writing became effortless.
Who is your ultimate Book Boyfriend?
Will it be completely cliché if I say Mr. Darcy? Because it’s Mr. Darcy.
What inspired you to write YA?
I love this age group—readers firmly in that gray area between leaving childhood and becoming a full-fledged adult. As a teenager, you make so many choices about which paths you want to take and who you want to become that affect the rest of your life. It’s a time of both fear and breathless wonder. Also, YA tends to be more plot-focused and faster-paced than a lot of adult fiction. (I think that’s one reason so many adults love reading it). And as a writer who loves a great story as much as I love pretty words, YA is a perfect fit.
Lightening Round Questions
What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your
TBR that you’re dying to read?
I’m reading THE FORGETTING by Sharon Cameron. It’s great so far!
What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?
I desperately want to say Ravenclaw, but every time I take the test, I get sorted into Hufflepuff.
Twitter or Facebook?
Favorite Superhero?
Anne Shirley. (And I’ll fight anyone who claims she’s not a superhero!)
Favorite TV show?
Jane the Virgin
Sweet or Salty?
Salty. Though it’s a bonus if it can be both---salted caramel was invented for people like me.
Any Phobias?
Snakes. Don’t laugh when you see my book cover.
Song you can’t get enough of right now?
NOT A ONE by the Young Wild.
2017 Movie you’re most looking forward to?
I can’t wait to see Beauty and the Beast.
About Breeana:
Breeana Shields graduated
from Brigham Young University with a BA in English.
Her debut young adult
fantasy, POISON’S KISS, will be released from Random House in 2017 with a
sequel to follow in 2018.
When she’s not writing about
herself in the third person, Breeana loves reading, traveling, and spending
time with her husband, her three children and an extremely spoiled miniature
poodle.
Giveaway Details:
3 winners
will receive a signed finished copy of POISON’S KISS, US Only.
Tour Schedule:
Week
One:
1/2/2017- Literary Meanderings - Interview
1/3/2017- Fiction Fare- Review
1/4/2017- It Starts at Midnight- Excerpt
1/5/2017- One Night
Book Stand- Review
1/6/2017- Brooke- Reports- Interview
Week
Two:
1/9/2017- Curling
Up With A Good Book- Review
1/10/2017- Brittany's Book Rambles- Guest
Post
1/11/2017- Parajunkee- Review
1/12/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview
1/13/2017- IceyBooks- Quote
Candy
Sounds fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI love the concept of this book and the cover is fantastic!
ReplyDelete