Welcome to the blog tour for The Infinite by Lori M. Lee! Today you get to learn all about the Gates of Thread and Stone series, and win some swag!
About The Infinite:
The Infinite by Lori M. Lee
Book Two of the Gates of Thread and Stone series
Publisher: Skyscape
Publication Date: March 10, 2015
Summary (from Goodreads):
The walls of Ninurta keep its citizens safe.
Kai always believed the only danger to the city came from within. Now, with a rebel force threatening the fragile government, the walls have become more of a prison than ever.
To make matters worse, as Avan explores his new identity as an Infinite, Kai struggles to remind him what it means to be human. And she fears her brother, Reev, is involved with the rebels. With the two people she cares about most on opposite sides of a brewing war, Kai will do whatever it takes to bring peace. But she’s lost her power to manipulate the threads of time, and she learns that a civil war might be the beginning of something far worse that will crumble not only Ninurta’s walls but also the entire city.
In this thrilling sequel to Gates of Thread and Stone, Kai must decide how much of her humanity she’s willing to lose to protect the only family she’s ever known.
About Gates of Thread and Stone:
Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee
Book One of the Gates of Thread and Stone series
Publisher: Skyscape
Publication Date: August 5, 2014
Summary (from Goodreads):
In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.
In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.
Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository
Praise for Gates of Thread and Stone:
“Lori M. Lee excels in building a world of intrigue, oppression, and magic amidst a Labyrinth setting as twisted and winding as the secrets hidden inside her characters’ hearts. Fans of strong heroines who don’t need a boy to hold their hands, action-packed fighting scenes, and whispers of steampunk and mythology, will find themselves wishing they, too, could manipulate the threads of time, if only to stay inside the story a little longer.”
A.G. Howard, New York Times bestselling author of the SPLINTERED series
“A fast-paced, heart-wrenching whirl of a story full of magic, immortals, and a romance that will leave readers gasping for more. I adored the tough, scrappy narrator and fell in love with the boy chasing after her heart. Lori M. Lee introduces us to a fantasy world unlike any other and gives us the first taste of an epic love story in the making. I can’t wait for more!”
Mindee Arnett, THE NIGHTMARE AFFAIR series and AVALON series
“Inventive, romantic, and gripping. I was hooked from the first page!”
Amy Tintera, REBOOT and REBEL
“A thrilling adventure in a vivid world, GATES OF THREAD AND STONE is the kind of book you want to read both fast and slow: fast to find out what happens next and slow to savor the journey. I couldn't put it down.”
Sarah Beth Durst
“Lee has woven a captivating fantasy that will thread its way into your heart and pull you into a world of magic and intrigue.”
Christina Farley, GILDED and SILVERN
Lori M. Lee on... Writing a Sequel vs. Writing a First Novel
What were the primary differences in writing a sequel versus writing the first novel in the series?
Writing the first book in a series, especially a fantasy, requires a ton of world building alongside the character and story arc, and so you’d think it was more difficult. But I often feel like I’m discovering the world for the first time as I’m writing about it. In that way, it feels more natural where I want to place information or what I want to reveal to readers. Also, readers have no expectations yet about who the characters are and what the world might bring, which gives me more freedom to develop them in whatever way feels right.
Sequels are a curious beast. I’d never written a sequel before, and the prospect was daunting. In the first book, I’d established the rules of the world and the characters’ personalities. Now, I had to push them even further, to reveal even more about the world and who these characters could be. On the one hand, this is a great thing. I get to tell even more of their story—to broaden the world in which they live, to enrich it with more history, to give the characters more chances to evolve. I love being able to share with readers more of what’s in my head—it’s thrilling and humbling but also terrifying. The pressure to deliver on something even better than the first book can be debilitating. I love my characters and my world, and I know my readers do, too, and there’s that fear of letting myself and my readers down.
However, now that it’s done, I know one thing for certain: I can write a sequel, and I’m proud of it. And that single truth is enough to push past the fear for the next time I have to do it.
About the Author:
The Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository
Praise for Gates of Thread and Stone:
“Lori M. Lee excels in building a world of intrigue, oppression, and magic amidst a Labyrinth setting as twisted and winding as the secrets hidden inside her characters’ hearts. Fans of strong heroines who don’t need a boy to hold their hands, action-packed fighting scenes, and whispers of steampunk and mythology, will find themselves wishing they, too, could manipulate the threads of time, if only to stay inside the story a little longer.”
A.G. Howard, New York Times bestselling author of the SPLINTERED series
“A fast-paced, heart-wrenching whirl of a story full of magic, immortals, and a romance that will leave readers gasping for more. I adored the tough, scrappy narrator and fell in love with the boy chasing after her heart. Lori M. Lee introduces us to a fantasy world unlike any other and gives us the first taste of an epic love story in the making. I can’t wait for more!”
Mindee Arnett, THE NIGHTMARE AFFAIR series and AVALON series
“Inventive, romantic, and gripping. I was hooked from the first page!”
Amy Tintera, REBOOT and REBEL
“A thrilling adventure in a vivid world, GATES OF THREAD AND STONE is the kind of book you want to read both fast and slow: fast to find out what happens next and slow to savor the journey. I couldn't put it down.”
Sarah Beth Durst
“Lee has woven a captivating fantasy that will thread its way into your heart and pull you into a world of magic and intrigue.”
Christina Farley, GILDED and SILVERN
Lori M. Lee on... Writing a Sequel vs. Writing a First Novel
What were the primary differences in writing a sequel versus writing the first novel in the series?
Writing the first book in a series, especially a fantasy, requires a ton of world building alongside the character and story arc, and so you’d think it was more difficult. But I often feel like I’m discovering the world for the first time as I’m writing about it. In that way, it feels more natural where I want to place information or what I want to reveal to readers. Also, readers have no expectations yet about who the characters are and what the world might bring, which gives me more freedom to develop them in whatever way feels right.
Sequels are a curious beast. I’d never written a sequel before, and the prospect was daunting. In the first book, I’d established the rules of the world and the characters’ personalities. Now, I had to push them even further, to reveal even more about the world and who these characters could be. On the one hand, this is a great thing. I get to tell even more of their story—to broaden the world in which they live, to enrich it with more history, to give the characters more chances to evolve. I love being able to share with readers more of what’s in my head—it’s thrilling and humbling but also terrifying. The pressure to deliver on something even better than the first book can be debilitating. I love my characters and my world, and I know my readers do, too, and there’s that fear of letting myself and my readers down.
However, now that it’s done, I know one thing for certain: I can write a sequel, and I’m proud of it. And that single truth is enough to push past the fear for the next time I have to do it.
About the Author:
Lori is the author of young adult fantasy novels Gates of Thread and Stone and The Infinite. She has a borderline obsessive fascination with unicorns, is fond of talking in capslock, and loves to write about magic, manipulation, and family. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, kids, and a friendly pitbull.
The Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I have the first book but still didn't read it yet and the second is coming soon, thanks for sharing I will try and read the first book soon :D
ReplyDeleteI adore these books! I love the Grays. I have always been fascinated by mechanical animals and the Grays are the ultimate. Kai's character is plucky and loyal, and I love her. And Avan... he is my favorite, strong and caring. I like the story because it is like Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Dystopia all rolled into one. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved book one and I'm now reading book two and really looking forward about discovering more of the world outside Ninurta! =D
ReplyDeleteGreat tour post Alyssa :D I do think Lori is all kinds of awesome. <3 Thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteOoh! This sounds so good!! I haven't started THE INFINITE yet, since I'm reading a critique partner's book first, but I'm dying to start it since I loved GATES OF THREAD AND STONE! Can't wait to dive in!
ReplyDelete