Fragile Spirits by Mary Lindsey – Review, Interview & Giveaway
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Description:
Paul has always known he was a Protector, fated to serve a Speaker who could hear the voices of spirits lingering after death and help those souls find peace.
Vivienne ignores the voices of the dead.
Paul has always followed the Protector’s rule book, preparing diligently for the day when he’d be matched with his Speaker and fulfill his destiny.
Vivienne never does what she’s told.
So when Paul is matched with Vivienne, they both find the pairing less than satisfactory. But a kidnapping, a malevolent spirit and power stronger than both of them may just prove that they are two halves of the same whole.
In a stunning story about the beauty of fate and the power of secrets, Mary Lindsey returns to the world of Shattered Souls with a breathtaking thrill-ride of a novel.
**Note from author: This book begins one month after Shattered Souls leaves off. Lenzi and Alden are featured in this book, but reading Shattered Souls is not a prerequisite
Review:
Fragile Spirits is the second book in the Souls series by Mary Lindsey. The story follows Paul Blackwell whose only life’s mission is to fulfill his dream of being a Protector. A Protector to a Speaker who can talk to spirits that are in the between where they need to be.
Paul has always followed the rules, has memorized everything he needs to know to be a good Protector one day. All of that is completely lost when he is finally paired with his Speaker, Vivienne Thibideaux.
Vivienne, does everything against the grain, against the rules, against society. She is the epitome of teenage rebellion and doing anything and everything not to fit in seems to be the life she has chosen. Until she meets her Protector…
The pairing is undesirable by both Protector and Speaker. But as time wears on and challenges present themselves, walls begin to fall. It is then that Vivienne realizes that she may just be able to trust this man sent to be her …the Protector. And that the more you allow someone into your world – the more they may actually want to be there.
I read this book as a stand alone – not having read the first in the series. I must say, I was captivated and absorbed within the first few pages. Reading and finishing this book in one day I found it fast moving and intricately detailed. I wanted to know everything about all of the characters, the Intercessor Council and the way of life for the Protectors and Speakers. Paul, to me, seemed like and intelligent, studious, goal-minded Protector – ready and willing to do what was needed to be done for his Speaker. Vivienne is an outspoken, rebel, with a bad attitude. But there are reasons for the way she is. I loved how the story is interwoven with the past and the present – giving you insight into how and why Vivienne is like she is. Paul’s back-story was heartbreaking and moving and within that story came love and understanding.
The sub-characters were wonderfully written – my favorite being – Race. Race is arrogant and sexy and he knows it. And he wears it quite well. He is the character you love to hate or is it hate to love? Hoping and looking forward to his story one day. Two things I can say in closing about Fragile Spirits – One, I went out and bought the first book in this series, Shattered Souls – because this authors writing and ability to pull you in is definitely something I want more of. And two, this is definitely a book I will love to and anxiously want to pass this book on to my daughter to read. There are wonderful and meaningful life lessons to be found inside these pages.
Reviewed by Erin
Copy provided by publisher
We would like to welcome Mary Lindsey to The Reading Cafe today. Mary is here to discuss her new release, Fragile Spirits, as well as to tell us what she has upcoming in 2014.
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
Hi Mary. Thank you for taking the time today, to answer some questions for our members at The Reading Café. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.
TRC: Would you please tell us something about yourself?
Mary: I live on the Texas Gulf Coast with my husband, three teens, and a menagerie of odd animals. I teach private acting lessons when I’m not writing.
TRC: Did you always have an interest in writing? When and how did you first start writing?
Mary: Like most kids, I composed stories, but I never wanted to be a writer. I was (and am) first and foremost a reader.
I majored in English with a focus on the classics. A majority of my writing in college was literary analysis; in law school, it was technical writing and briefs. I avoided creative writing like the plague. In high school, I went so far as to fake sick on days I would have to write a poem or story.
I started writing several years ago by accident. My daughter had just discovered teen literature and had burned through several popular series. She was lamenting the fact that most heroes in paranormal books were demons, vampires or some type of inherently evil creature fighting their wicked impulses. She asked me why the hero couldn’t be a “normal” guy who has some kind of special/magical power, but didn’t have evil impulses.
I told her that for her birthday, I’d write her a book like that. (To this day, I have no idea why I would offer such a crazy thing. I’d never written fiction and had no desire to do so).
True to my word, I gave her a chapter a day for a month. By then, I was hooked and writing was my favorite thing to do.
TRC: Fragile Spirits was released in January. How did you come up with the idea of this book? Is this a standalone book, or will this be a series?
Mary: Fragile Sprits is a companion book to Shattered Souls (2011). It takes place in the same world and features the same characters as the first book, but has a different hero and heroine.
The premise for Shattered Souls and Fragile Sprits came from my youngest daughter when she was a preteen. We got into a discussion (I use that term loosely) over something—I forget what now—that caused her to say, or rather screech, “I wish that for just one day, you could put your soul in my body to see what it’s like to be me!”
Um, no thanks. I’d been her age and going back did not appeal. However, I was intrigued by that scenario. Not trading bodies, but two souls in one body. Could you share memories? Did it hurt or feel claustrophobic? Maybe you experience the host person’s feelings, like a magic decoder ring to the heart.
“Hang on,” I told her, “That’s a great idea. I need to go write it down.” I left her mid-teen-angst eye roll and outlined the first book in the series, Shattered Souls, that afternoon.
Fragile Spirits is dedicated to her, appropriately.
TRC: Can you please give us a brief description of Fragile Spirits?
Mary: At heart, it is the story of two teens overcoming prejudice and pain from their past in order to achieve their potential. It’s an opposites attract love story centered around mediating for hindered spirits. I think my publisher summed it up beautifully on the jacket copy:
Paul has always known he was a Protector, fated to serve a Speaker who could hear the voices of spirits lingering after death and help those souls find peace.
Vivienne ignores the voices of the dead.
Paul has always followed the Protector’s rule book, preparing diligently for the day when he’d be matched with his Speaker and fulfill his destiny.
Vivienne never does what she’s told.
So when Paul is matched with Vivienne, they both find the pairing less than satisfactory. But a kidnapping, a malevolent spirit and a power stronger than both of them may just prove that they are two halves of the same whole.
TRC: You write mostly in the Young Adult genre. Have you thought about writing in other genres?
Mary: I also write adult romance, both contemporary and paranormal.
TRC: Can you please tell us what you working on now, and what you have upcoming in 2014?
Mary: I’m working on several projects, both YA and adult. I am working on a Robert Frost-based ghost story that I am loving. I also have several books scheduled for release in 2014 and 2015 under the pen name, Marissa Clarke. http://www.marissaclarke.com
TRC: What is your writing process? Do you like to outline your story before you start? Do you have a specific place you like to write? Is there a special time of day that works best for you?
Mary: I outline in full before I write. It cuts way down on the rewrites. I write anywhere at any time, but I am not a night person. By 11:00 pm, I’m worthless. The only things I need for this job are daylight, a computer, coffee, and quiet. I do not write to music.
TRC: Many authors have friends or family, that they bounce ideas and information back and forth. Do you have anyone you like to discuss your story with?
Mary: I have a few writer friends I bounce stories off of from time to time. Sophie Jordan (Firelight Series, Uninvited) has been a blessing in my writing life. Another resource is my agent, Ammi-Joan Paquette. My friend, Kari Olson and author friend, Leah Clifford (A Touch Mortal) were lifesavers with Fragile Spirits. Both of them did a one-day turnaround on the manuscript for me when I had a plot issue. Of course, my best resource for Fragile Spirits, once it was drafted, was the editorial team at Philomel/Penguin. Jill Santopolo is a wonder.
TRC: Would you like to add anything else?
Mary: I want to thank all the readers who have supported me since the release of my first book until now. You guys are what it is all about.
And thank you for inviting me on The Reading Cafe today.
LIGHTNING ROUND
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Dessert: Fudge
Favorite TV Show: BBC Sherlock
Favorite Actor & Actress (TV or Movies) Helena Bonham Carter (esp in Room With a View) Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Irons & John Malkovich
Last Book You Read: The Goldfinch
Favorite Fictional Character (not your own): Severus Snape
Milk or Dark Chocolate: Dark
Dog or Cat: Both, but right now, I have a darling Cairn Terrier named Annabel.
Thank you Mary for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you the best of luck with Fragile Spirits. Please keep us informed about your upcoming new releases, as we look forward to working with you again.
Mary and her Publisher, have graciously offered to give One member of The Reading Café a copy of her new release, Fragile Spirits.
1. Please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.
2. If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.
3. Giveaway open US only.
4. Contests runs from January 24 to January 27, 2014
