Character Spotlight: Ilina & Crystal + 5 Reasons to Read As She Ascends (+ Giveaway)

I'm thrilled to be one of the ladies kicking off the blog tour today for As She Ascends, the upcoming  sequel to last year's Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows.  The series revolves around Mira Minkoba, a young girl known as the Hopebearer who is a symbol of the peace agreement between the seven islands of the Fallen Isles. When she discovers a dangerous secret that challenges the safety of her home and all that she believes in and comes forward with this knowledge, she's betrayed by those she serves and thrown into the deadliest prison in the Fallen Isles. The books focus on both Mira's personal journey as she discovers her own strength, as well as her determination to do the right thing, and I absolutely adored them both!

One of my favorite things about this series is the friendship between Mira and Ilina, a young lady whose parents work at the dragon reserve on their island. The two of them care deeply for one another, and their loyalty and love for each other (no matter what the circumstances) is unquestionable. They do their best to take care of one another in a number of ways, whether it's physically doing things or just being there when times get tough. The two girls also share a mutual passion for dragons, and even each have a drakontos raptus that they care for. But they also care deeply about each other, with unquestionable love and loyalty no matter what the situation.

On the blog today, you'll get to know a little more about Crystal, who is Ilina's silver drakontos raptus! Here are a few fun facts about her (and I think she and Ilina and I would be best buds). To learn more about Mira and her drakontos raptus Lala, you should hop on over to The YA Book Traveler!

If you'd like to get to know more about Ilina and Crystal, as well as Mira and Lala, you'll definitely have to check out the books too. (In fact, did you know that the Kindle edition of Before She Ignite is currently on sale for $1.99? Not sure how long that'll last, but get on it!)  But if you need a more reasons to check out As She Ascends, I've got five for you below.

1. There are more dragons. A lot more dragons.

One of the initial reasons I was so excited for this series? The promise of dragons, because I love me some dragons. There were quite a few dragons introduced in the first book (including Crystal, Lala and Lex, who are my favorites), but readers will definitely see more dragons in this sequel - both familiar and new.

2. There's a lot more action as Mira and company race against danger and high stakes.

Because the first novel centers on Mira's journey as she navigates life in the Pit and figuring out what she needs to do, it's more internalized and heavily reliant on Mira's reflections and conversations. This second novel definitely picks up the pace, as Mira and company are thrown into one high intensity situation after another after another. It's exciting, it makes the pages of this novel fly by and it certainly kept me on the edge of my seat.

3. There is a chance to see more of the world of the Fallen Isles.

I've always found the Fallen Isles to be a fascinating set of islands, particularly since each island has their own signature characteristics and cultural beliefs. We hear about them already in book one, but the world is expanded in this sequel. Readers will learn more about some of the other islands - whether through an actual visit during the course of the novel or through other characters and their recounted experiences.

4. There's plenty more character development, and not just for Mira.

Mira has definitely changed since the beginning of Before She Ignites, and she's forced to really come to terms with those changes and wrestle with her choices in the second novel. Even though she might not always be entirely sure how to get something done, she knows what she wants to do and demonstrates her resolve throughout the story. But it's not just Mira that readers get to know better and see grow in this sequel! There's also a lot more of Mira's friends - Hristo and Ilina, Gerel & Chenda, as well as a lot more of Aaru and his history.

5. There are a lot of interesting themes.
I'm fond of reading young adult novels that inspire me to think, and As She Ascends is no exception. Jodi Meadows explores a few different things with her story - basic human rights, the variety of choices an individual can make when faced with a problem, the gray areas of morality, power and how it can be used (or misused), just to name a few. I always think it's interesting when a novel manages to reflect themes that are relatable in a real life sense, and it's one of my favorite things about this sequel!

I hope I've convinced you to check out this sequel (or the series)! More information about the book, the author, the preorder campaign, blog tour and the fun giveaway can be found below.

As She Ascends by Jodi Meadows
Series: Fallen Isles #2
Previous Book in Series: Before She Ignites
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: September 11, 2018
Buy the Book: One More Page Books – order a signed copy here!; Indiebound; Barnes & Noble; Amazon

MIRA, THE HOPEBEARER

Mira Minkoba is on the run with her friends after a fiery escape from the Pit, where she’d been imprisoned for defending the dragons she loves. And she wants answers. Where have all the dragons been taken? Why are powerful noorestones being shipped to the mainland? And did the treaty she’s been defending her whole life truly sell out the Fallen Isles to their enemies?

MIRA, THE DRAGONHEARTED

As her connection to the dragons—and their power—grows stronger, so does Mira’s fear that she might lose control and hurt someone she loves. But the only way to find the truth is to go home again, to Damina, to face the people who betrayed her and the parents she’s not sure she can trust.Home, where she must rise above her fears. Or be consumed.The second page-turning novel in Jodi Meadows’ Fallen Isles trilogy scorches with mysterious magic and riveting romance as one girl kindles a spark into a flame.

What you get:
* A signed As She Ascends bookplate!
* As She Ascends dragon stickers!
* As She Ascends bookmark!
* As She Ascends dragon card!

And if you order a book from One More Page, then you get all of the above plus:
* Exclusive Fallen Isles tapestry card
* Access to behind-the-scenes goodies
* A signed, personalized, and stamped edition

Note: The tapestry card and access to the behind-the-scenes content will come with your book when it arrives. One More Page doesn’t typically ship internationally arrangements have been made with them to do it this time! Thing to note: they’re having trouble getting the site to calculate international shipping, so email them and they will be happy to help you! info@onemorepagebooks.com

How you get it:
* Preorder As She Ascends
* Take a photo of the receipt or forward the receipt to unicornwarlord@gmail.com
* Make sure to include your address at the top of the email — and write it out exactly as it needs to be on an envelope.
* If you order multiple books, then you get multiples of all the things! Just be sure to point it out at the top of your email.
* This is first come, first serve.
* Yes, this is international.
* Yes, ebooks and physical books count.

Where to preorder: One More Page | Harper Collins | IndieBound | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | Books-a-Million | Chapters | Kobo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jodi Meadows wants to be a ferret when she grows up and she has no self-control when it comes to yarn, ink, or outer space. Still, she manages to write books. She is the author of the Incarnate Trilogy, The Orphan Queen duology, and The Fallen Isles trilogy (Katherine Tegen Books), and a coauthor of My Lady Jane (Harper Teen). Find her online - Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

And now, it's time for the giveaway information! One lucky winner will receive an As She Ascends prize pack (with details listed below). This is a US only giveaway, and you can enter via the form!

As She Ascends Prize Pack!
* handmade knitted dragon mitts by Jodi Meadows

* signed paperback of Before She Ignites

* Mira and Lala magnetic bookmarks + Hopebearer Candle by Cornerfolds Candles

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