Hidden World Blog Tour: Lichgates by S.M. Boyce! Long live high fantasy!

Welcome to the Hidden World Book Tour, courtesy of Sarcasm and Lemons, S.M. Boyce, and the great new novel Lichgates, first in the Grimoire trilogy! Check out a few words from the author of this fabulous novel and then dive into the review. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway, and stay tuned to blog.smboyce.com for more tour stops!

	TITLE: Lichgates AUTHOR: S.M. Boyce PAGES: 362 FORMAT: Kindle ISBN: 978-1466336940 BUY IT: Amazon RATING: 5/5 [in the genre] or 8/10 [all books I’ve ever read] FOR: Fans of YA, clever and unique high fantasy, romance, solid characters, and epic plots.

The Grimoire turns its own pages and can answer any question asked of it, and Kara Magari is its next target. Kara has no idea what she's getting herself into when she stumbles across the old book while hiking a hidden trail. Once she opens it, she's thrown into Ourea: a beautiful world full of terrifying things that want the Grimoire's secrets. Everyone in this new world is trying to find her, and most want to control the new-found power the book bestows upon her. Even if Kara does escape, Ourea will only drag her back. Braeden Drakonin grew up in Ourea, and all he’s ever known of life is lying. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. He has one question to ask the book—one question that can fix everything in his broken world—and he’s not letting Kara out of his sight until he gets an answer. There’s no going back now.

I decided to read Lichgates because the wonderful S.M. Boyce, one of my first Twitter friends, asked if I wanted to be a part of this blog tour. “Lichgates?” I said to myself. “Sounds pretty cool.” I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of this. Boyce is a bright, friendly person and her book is a stupendous new step for YA high fantasy (which you may recall, I was mourning the death of ten or so blog posts back). Newsflash: YA high fantasy is alive and well, and it’s all right here in Lichgates. From the first chapter, I knew this was a keeper. Boyce throws you right into the action without any slow buildup, letting you figure out background details as you go along. Kara, her main character, is a realistic, bright girl with a kind heart and a good brain--but she’s far from perfect, so don’t go worrying about Mary Sue’s. Braeden is the perfect romantic foil. He has a good heart and good intentions, but he can’t quite let go of his own agenda. And guess what!? NO insta-romance! That’s right, folks. These characters meet each other and do not immediately fall in love. I almost did a jig of joy at my computer.

But you want an original high fantasy world, you say? Look no further! Boyce has created one of the most original fantasy worlds I’ve ever read. I’d be so bold as to say that the originality of her world could be put up there with my hero, Diana Wynne Jones. As soon as you dive into Ourea, you know this isn’t any medieval European knock-off. With Bloods who can psychically control their whole kingdom’s bloodline, soul stealers, shape-shifting muses, charcoal-skinned smoky Stelians, cobblestones that make faces, and dog-horses that walk through walls--it's not your average Tolkien knockoff. I admit a surge of jealousy as I got deeper into Ourea and realized how well-crafted it was!

And the plot? Don’t worry. Boyce keeps you on your toes. Sure, I could nitpick about a few slow bits or a few strange names here and there, but what’s the point? When it comes down to it, Boyce knows how to keep a reader enthralled. Right from the start she pulls you in, and never lets go. Something is always going on, and every time Kara’s life gets too quiet, something else happens to complicate it. Murder, court intrigue, magic, soul stealing, war--take your pick. Kara is such a sympathetic character that you must keep reading, just to know that she’s okay in the end.

So my advice? Pick up a copy of Lichgates and clear your calendar, because you won’t want to put it down. Lovely author, great plot, realistic characters, unique world--YA high fantasy is back, my friends, with a book and a bang.

Also see the sidebar for the giant Rafflecopter and enter to win!