Contemporary Authors

Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes

Gratton, Tessa

May 7, 2018 by admin

WORK TITLE: The Queens of Innis Lear
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://tessagratton.com
CITY:
STATE: KS
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American

RESEARCHER NOTES:

From Amazon.com:

About the Author

Tessa Gratton has wanted to be a paleontologist or a wizard since she was seven. Alas, she turned out too impatient to hunt dinosaurs, but is still searching for someone to teach her magic. After traveling the world with her military family, she acquired a BA (and the important parts of an MA) in Gender Studies, then settled down in Kansas to tell stories about monsters, magic, and teenagers. She’s the author of the Blood Journals Series and the Gods of New Asgard Series. Visit her at tessagratton.com, @tessagratton, tessagratton.tumblr.com.

Anthologies:

The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories (Fiction – Young Adult) Paperback – January 1, 2014
by Maggie Stiefvater (Author), Tessa Gratton (Author), & Brenna Yovanoff
Age Range: 12 – 18 years
Grade Level: 7 – 12
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (January 1, 2014)
“These experimental, unedited short stories showcase the many faces of horror―goth, faerie, ghostly, grotesque, lyrical, vengeful, and nasty-cool. Some clusters of tales are responses to a subject prompt like ‘King Arthur’ or ‘puddles’; others are one-offs. Creatures such as vampires, dragons, and zombies are joined by original creations such as butterflies in temporary human form. The stories all tend toward the traditional structure of a surprise ending. The pieces were first published online by the three authors as an exercise in creativity and criticism, and the presentation here is innovative, incorporating critique comments, hand-written marginalia describing the writer’s process, doodles, short essays, and diagrams. The stories themselves are strong, but the apparatus can get in the way; the self-congratulatory tone of the comments wears thin, and some of the process notes (‘I suck at inventing new slang’) add little to the reader’s understanding or pleasure.”

=====

The Anatomy of Curiosity Paperback – March 1, 2018
by Maggie Stiefvater (Author), Tessa Gratton (Author), & Brenna Yovanoff
Paperback: 286 pages
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab; Reprint edition (March 1, 2018)

“As they did in The Curiosities (2012), critique partners Stiefvater, Gratton, and Yovanoff reunite to produce a short-story collection that is as much about the writing process as it is about the final creation. Each author contributes one short story and an introduction that indicates her approach and priorities when crafting a story. For Stiefvater, character is key. Her story ‘Ladylike’ follows painfully shy Petra, who learns poise from an elegant old lady who may also be a monster; margin notes detail how Stiefvater conceived of the characters and carefully worked to shape them. Gratton’s ‘Desert Canticle,’ about a young soldier who disarms beautiful, magical IEDs in a fantastical desert, epitomizes her focus on world building as she indicates how even the smallest details create a fuller backdrop for a story. And it’s all about the idea for Yovanoff, whose ‘Drowning Variations’ offers less a coherent story and more a series of vignettes that all circle back around to drowning, demonstrating the evolution and impact of a single concept. For these authors’ many fans, the true-to-form stories will deliver and delight. For budding writers, the insight into the creation and editing processes is even more valuable. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Each of these authors draws a crowd on her own; together they are unstoppable.”―Booklist

LC control no.: n 2010051029
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/n2010051029
HEADING: Gratton, Tessa
000 01130cz a2200205n 450
001 8368952
005 20171003095716.0
008 100805n| azannaabn |n aaa
010 __ |a n 2010051029
035 __ |a (OCoLC)oca08583999
040 __ |a DLC |b eng |e rda |c DLC |d IArlh |d DLC
053 _0 |a PS3607.R3775
100 1_ |a Gratton, Tessa
374 __ |a Author
375 __ |a female
377 __ |a eng
670 __ |a Gratton, Tessa. Blood magic, 2011: |b ECIP t.p. (Tessa Gratton)
670 __ |a Gratton, Tessa. The lost sun, 2013: |b title page (Tessa Gratton) flap page 4 of dust jacket (Tessa Gratton; while in school she studied Old English; author of the novels Blood magic and The blood keeper; lives in Kansas)
670 __ |a Queens of Innis Lear, 2018: |b ECIP t.p. (Tessa Gratton) data view (Author of the Blood Journals duology, Gods of New Asgard series, and two books on writing fantasy for teen writers. She currently works for Serial Box Publishing as a lead writer on Tremontaine. She’s lived all over the world before returning to her prairie roots in Kansas with her wife. The Queens of Innis Lear is her debut adult fantasy novel)
953 __ |a xc05

Posted in 416 | Comments Off on Gratton, Tessa

PERSONAL

Married.

EDUCATION:

University of Kansas, graduated, 2003.

ADDRESS

  • Agent - Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary Agency, 2225 E. Bayshore Rd., Ste. 200, Palo Alto, CA 94303.
  • Home - KS.

CAREER

Writer. Madcap Retreats, associate director.

WRITINGS

  • "GODS OF NEW ASGARD" SERIES (ALSO KNOWN AS "THE UNITED STATES OF ASGARD")
  • The Lost Sun (originally published as Volume 1 of "The United States of Asgard" series), Random House Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2013 , published as revised edition self-published (), 2015
  • The Strange Maid (originally published as Volume 2 of "The United States of Asgard" series), Random House Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2014 , published as revised edition self-published (), 2015
  • Weight of Stars: Three Gods of New Asgard Novellas (contains "Gold Runner," "Lady Berserk," and "Glory's Teeth"), self-published 2014
  • The Apple Throne, self-published 2015
  • OTHER
  • Blood Magic (Volume 1 of "The Blood Journals"), Random House (New York, NY), 2011
  • The Blood Keeper (Volume 2 of "The Blood Journals"), Random House (New York, NY), 2012
  • Queens of Innis Lear, Tom Doherty Associates (New York, NY), 2018
  • Strange Grace, Margaret K. McElderry Books (New York, NY), 2018

Lead writer for the serial Tremontaine, Serial Box Publishing. Work represented in numerous anthologies, including The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories, Carolrhoda Books (Minneapolis, MN), 2014; and The Anatomy of Curiosity, Carolrhoda Lab (Minneapolis, MN), 2018. Contributor of stories to the website The Merry Sisters of Fate.

SIDELIGHTS

Tessa Gratton was raised in a military family, which offered the benefit of worldwide travel. As an adult, however, she settled in the American heartland. From her home in Kansas, she writes of myths, monsters, magic, and the dark side of fantasy. Until recently, Gratton’s fiction was intended for teenage readers, but teenagers grow into adults. After five full-length novels and several shorter pieces, she published her first adult fantasy in 2018. When Gratton is not writing, she is encouraging others to write, through the workshops offered by Madcap Retreats or posts at the Merry Sisters of Fate website. She has also coauthored anthologies for aspiring teen writers, complete with critiques, hand-written comments, and mentoring advice.

The Blood Journals

Blood Magic introduces Missouri teen Silla Kennicot on the verge of a dangerous discovery. She is still reeling from the apparent murder-suicide of her parents when she receives a mysterious package: a book of spells in her father’s handwriting signed by “the Deacon.” The common ingredient in each spell is blood, and Silla cannot resist the temptation to experiment with her own bodily fluid. Early success inspires her to share the spells with a new schoolmate, Nicholas, who might not be as new to magic as he is to school. When they become the target of a malicious stranger who wants the book and its magic, Silla and Nicholas must figure out which of their neighbors knows about their secret and will do anything to acquire it. Novel Novice reviewer Sara Gundell described the novel as “a dark, violent and passionate blood bath … complete with spells, necromancy, possession and a dizzying romance.”

The Blood Keeper features the newest family Deacon, teenager Mab Prowd, as she challenges the curse beneath her rose garden. Readers also meet high school athlete Will Sanger as he seeks relief from chronic nightmares and family pressures. When Mab accidentally looses the evil spirit of the rose garden, the two teens meet. They must break the ancient curse together with the aid of herbs and potions and the ubiquitous blood rituals. Their alternating narratives reveal a growing attraction for one another, but their mission connects them to an ancient love affair that ended in jealousy, betrayal, and death. Their own lives are in danger. Booklist contributor Cindy Welch observed: “Long sentences and rich imagery make this a novel to linger over,” but a Kirkus Reviews contributor noted that “this isn’t a tale for thinking; it’s all about feeling,” likening The Blood Keeper to “a nightmare of steadily building desire, obsession, sacrifice and violence.”

"Gods of New Asgard" Series

These independent novels graft elements of Norse mythology and pagan ritual onto a contemporary American cultural base. Itinerant Lokiskin roam the countryside, and trolls frequent the mountains. The gods amuse themselves, walking openly among their human game-pieces. Each novel stands alone, with a loosely connected story arc. The first two volumes were published under the series title “The United States of Asgard.”

In The Lost Sun Baldur, the sun god, has disappeared, and the annual ritual of the seasons has tumbled into disorder. Two teenagers set out to find him and return him to his father Odin for a reward: the novice prophetess Astrid Glyn and Soren Bearskin (later renamed Soren Bearstar), who is desperate to shed his inherited berserker trait. Their quest must be conducted in secrecy, lest Baldur’s unknown kidnapper thwart their mission. The road trip leads to other discoveries, including a romantic attraction that both young people must resist. Elizabeth Kahn observed in School Library Journal: “Many sacrifices have to be made … to deliver Baldur safely to his home.” “When gods other than Baldur finally appear,” a Kirkus Reviews contributor hinted, “things get interesting.”

The Strange Maid predates the events of The Lost Sun, when a little girl climbs a magic tree in a secret orchard. There she meets Odin, who renames her Signy Valborn and promises to make her a Valkyrie if she can solve a special riddle. Years later, she meets Ned Unferth, who can lead her to the troll with the answer to the riddle. With the additional aid of Soren Bearstar, she takes the heart of the troll and realizes her destiny. Signy “has become a beautiful, confident, and competent leader,” commented Kevin Beach in Voice of Youth Advocates. A Kirkus Review contributor found The Strange Maid to be overly complicated but still “more entertaining and engaging than its predecessor.” School Library Journal contributor Elizabeth Kahn recommended it to “readers looking for a sophisticated fantasy that shows a raw, rowdy, and rough side of life.”

The Apple Throne reveals that Astrid Glyn has returned as Idun the Young, protector of the orchard of the apples of immortality. Only Soren Bearstar still remembers her, and when he fails to make his quarterly visit, she makes a dangerous choice. Astrid risks her immortality to flee the orchard and find him. Her departure puts the whole world at risk, if ancient creatures can use it to escape their underworld prison.

The Queens of Innis Lear

The Queens of Innis Lear is, as might be expected, the story of Shakespeare’s mad king and his three devious daughters, but there the comparison ends. With the death of his wife Dalat, the king has committed the fate of the island to the magic of the stars, while banning the earth magic that nourishes the environment and its life-giving crops. His daughters are drawn into conflict when Lear demands they prove their devotion to him and, thus, their worthiness to inherit his crown. Despite their hatred for Lear and their suspicion that he murdered their mother, the older two comply. Gaela is the rightful heir. Middle daughter Regan supports her sister’s ambitious intentions for the land. Elia’s heart is in the stars, but when she refuses to play a role in her father’s manipulations, he disinherits her. She is left alone to save the land from her sisters’ greed and restore the balance of earth and sky.

Critics offered generous praise for Gratton’s reinvention of the classic story. Jenni Frencham commented in School Library Journal: “Readers will savor this lyrical tale.” At the FanSided website, reviewer Cheryl Wassenaar observed that “Gratton’s book turns a tragedy of one into a tragedy of many in an often beautifully-written way.” Maggie Reagan explained in Booklist: “The true accomplishment here is the characterization: Lear and his men slip quietly into the backdrop, … while the women–the difficult, complex, astroundingly realized women–claim center stage.” A Publishers Weekly commentator mentioned that “Gratton’s emphasis on the voices of the women … reshapes the familiar elements of the Lear tragedy into something fresh.” Others pointed to the liberal inclusion of characters of color, including Lear’s wife Dalat and their three biracial daughters. A Kirkus Reviews contributor suggested that “Gratton achieves the rare feat of a Shakespeare adaptation that earns the right to exist, but [at nearly 600 pages] it’s possible to have too much of a good thing.” Daniel Mallory Ortberg mused in his New York Times Online  review that, despite “a somewhat ponderous prologue, seven different points of view, and a flashback every other chapter,” The Queens of Innis Lear “is always thoroughly engaging.” According to Wassenaar: “It’s really some stellar world-building all around.”

BIOCRIT

PERIODICALS

  • Booklist, August 1, 2012, Cindy Welch, review of The Blood Keeper, p. 68; June 1, 2013, Charli Osborne, review of The Lost Sun, p. 91; February 1, 2018, Maggie Reagan, review of The Queens of Innis Lear, p. 38.

  • Horn Book, July-August, 2013, Lauren Adams, review of The Lost Sun, p. 128.

  • Horn Book Guide, spring, 2013, Megan Lynn Isaac, review of The Blood Keeper, p. 98; fall, 2013, Lauren Adams, review of The Lost Sun, p. 112; fall, 2014, Jenn Matters, review of The Strange Maid, p. 109.

  • Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2012, review of The Blood Keeper; May 1, 2013, review of The Lost Sun; April 1, 2014, review of The Strange Maid; February 15, 2018, review of The Queens of Innis Lear.

  • Publishers Weekly, April 29, 2013, review of The Lost Sun, p. 133; January 29, 2018, review of The Queens of Innis Lear, p. 174.

  • School Library Journal, October, 2012, Suzanne Gordon, review of The Blood Keeper, p. 134; August, 2013, Elizabeth Kahn, review of The Lost Sun, p. 111; October, 2013, Amanda Raklovits, review of The Lost Sun, p. 54; May, 2014, Elizabeth Kahn, review of The Strange Maid, p. 131; May, 2018, Jenni Frencham, review of The Queens of Innis Lear, p. 108.

  • Voice of Youth Advocates, June, 2011, Dotsy Harland, review of Blood Magic, p. 183; October, 2012, Heather Pittman, review of The Blood Keeper, p. 378; August, 2014, Kevin Beach, review of The Strange Maid, p. 81.

ONLINE

  • Fansided, https://culturess.com/ (March 22, 2018), Cheryl Wassenaar review of The Queens of Innis Lear.

  • Fantasy Guide, http://fantasyguide.stormthecastle.com/ (June 29, 2018), review of “Gods of New Asgard Series.”

  • Merry Sisters of Fate, https://merryfates.com/ (June 29, 2018), author profile.

  • Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice, https://mvlteenvoice.com/ (August 29, 2013), review of The Lost Sun.

  • New York Times Online, https://www.nytimes.com/ (April 19, 2018), Daniel Mallory Ortberg, review of The Queens of Innis Lear.

  • Novel Novice, https://novelnovice.com/ (August 23, 2011), Sara Gundell, review of Blood Magic.

  • Tessa Gratton Website, http://tessagratton.com (June 29, 2018).

  • The Lost Sun ( originally published as Volume 1 of "The United States of Asgard" series) Random House Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2013
  • The Strange Maid ( originally published as Volume 2 of "The United States of Asgard" series) Random House Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2014
  • The Apple Throne self-published 2015
  • Blood Magic ( Volume 1 of "The Blood Journals") Random House (New York, NY), 2011
  • The Blood Keeper ( Volume 2 of "The Blood Journals") Random House (New York, NY), 2012
  • Queens of Innis Lear Tom Doherty Associates (New York, NY), 2018
  • Strange Grace Margaret K. McElderry Books (New York, NY), 2018
1. Strange grace https://lccn.loc.gov/2017038908 Gratton, Tessa, author. Strange grace / Tessa Gratton. First edition. New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, [2018] pages cm PZ7.G77215 Stg 2018 ISBN: 9781534402089 (hardcover)9781534402096 (trade pbk.)9781534402102 (eBook) 2. Queens of Innis Lear https://lccn.loc.gov/2017039670 Gratton, Tessa, author. Queens of Innis Lear / Tessa Gratton. First edition. New York : Tom Doherty Associates Book, 2018. pages ; cm PS3607.R3775 Q44 2018 ISBN: 9780765392466 (hardcover : acid-free paper) 3. The apple throne https://lccn.loc.gov/2014015099 Gratton, Tessa. The apple throne / Tessa Gratton. First edition. New York : Random House, 2015. pages cm PZ7.G77215 App 2015 ISBN: 9780307977564 (hardcover)9780307977571 (lib. bdg.) 4. The strange maid https://lccn.loc.gov/2013039568 Gratton, Tessa. The strange maid / Tessa Gratton. First edition. New York : Random House, [2014] 404 pages ; 22 cm. PZ7.G77215 Str 2014 ISBN: 9780307977519 (trade)9780307977526 (lib. bdg.) 5. The lost sun https://lccn.loc.gov/2012027695 Gratton, Tessa. The lost sun / Tessa Gratton. 1st ed. New York : Random House, c2013. 352 p. ; 22 cm. PZ7.G77215 Lo 2013 ISBN: 9780307977465 (trade)9780307977472 (lib bdg.)9780307977489 (ebk)9780307977496 (pbk) 6. The blood keeper https://lccn.loc.gov/2011049532 Gratton, Tessa. The blood keeper / Tessa Gratton. 1st ed. New York : Random House, c2012. 422 p. ; 22 cm. PZ7.G77215 Blk 2012 ISBN: 9780375967344 (lib. bdg.)9780375867347 (hardback)9780375897696 (ebk) 7. Blood magic https://lccn.loc.gov/2010024997 Gratton, Tessa. Blood magic / Tessa Gratton. 1st ed. New York : Random House, c2011. 408 p. ; 22 cm. PZ7.G77215 Blo 2011 ISBN: 9780375867330 (trade)9780375967337 (lib bdg.)9780375897689 (ebk.)9780375864865 (pbk)
  • Weight of Stars: Three Gods of New Asgard Novllas - 2014 CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, https://smile.amazon.com/Weight-Stars-Three-Asgard-Novllas/dp/1518739113/ref=sr_1_11_twi_pap_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1526854558&sr=8-11&keywords=Gratton%2C+Tessa
  • Tessa Gratton - http://tessagratton.com/tessa/about.html

    Tessa Gratton is the Associate Director of Madcap Retreats and the author of the Blood Journals Series and Gods of New Asgard Series, co-author of YA writing books The Curiosities and The Anatomy of Curiosity, as well as dozens of short stories available in anthologies and on merryfates.com. Though she’s lived all over the world, she’s finally returned to her prairie roots in Kansas with her wife. Her current projects include Tremontaine at Serial Box Publishing, YA Fantasy Strange Grace coming in 2018, and her adult fantasy debut, The Queens of Innis Lear, from Tor March 27, 2018. Visit her at tessagratton.com

    Praise for Tessa and her Work

    "With razor-sharp prose and bone-deep emotions, Tessa Gratton doesn't just tell a story. She invites readers into another world—one we hate to leave when the last page is turned." —Saundra Mitchell, author of Mistwalker and The Vespertine
    The Strange Maid

    "This infinitely exciting tale's twist and turns highlight the characters' missions as they decide which identity to choose: hero, martyr, or villain. Readers looking for a sophisticated fantasy that shows a raw, rowdy, and rough side of life will be utterly satisfied." —School Library Journal

    "The Strange Maid is a gorgeously written tale of the beauty of death, the pain of love, and having the courage to face our darkest selves. An utterly compelling book!" —Robin LaFevers, Bestselling author of His Fair Assassin series
    The Lost Sun

    "Strong writing and an inventive recasting of mythological characters combine to create an evocative, romantic adventure. " —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

    "A moving and original romance." --Publishers Weekly
    The Blood Keeper

    "The power of this narrative lies in the gorgeous prose, lush with a gothic sensibility, ripe with sensual images of horrific beauty. . . . It's all about feeling: Passion, heartbreak, yearning and dread bleed from every page." —Kirkus Reviews

    "The writing is lyrical and dark, deftly evoking both tragedy and beauty. The characters are well drawn and sympathetic. The plot is nicely paced, moving along with a perfect balance of suspense, excitement, and introspection. Will and Mab grow a great deal on their journey together, as they explore the nature of responsibility and sacrifice. This book will be eagerly anticipated by fans of the first novel and is a must for any collection that serves readers of paranormal fiction." —VOYA
    Blood Magic

    "Listen to me: You want to read this book." —Robin McKinley, Newberry Medal winner
    Contact
    Email Tessa at:

    tessa.gratton@gmail.com

    Follow Tessa:

    Twitter
    Tumblr
    Instagram

  • Teen Reads - https://www.teenreads.com/authors/tessa-gratton

    Biography
    Tessa Gratton

    Born in Okinawa, Japan, while her Dad was on duty with the US Navy, Tessa moved around throughout her childhood and traveled even more. She’s lived in Japan, California, Kansas and England, and visited 4 continents.

    After graduating from the University of Kansas in 2003 with a degree in Gender Studies, she went on to graduate school for a Master’s in the same. Halfway through, she ditched the program in favor of the blood, violence and drama of Anglo-Saxon and Germanic epic poetry and to focus on her writing. Tessa doesn’t have a graduate degree, but she did translate her own version of Beowulf!

    Despite having traveled all over the world, she settled in Kansas where the sunsets are all in Technicolor, with her partner, two cats, and a mutant mutt named Grendel.

    Tessa Gratton

    Website: tessagratton.com/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/tessagratton

    Books by Tessa Gratton
    The Anatomy of Curiosity
    by Brenna Yovanoff , Tessa Gratton, and Maggie Stiefvater - Anthology, Fiction, Young Adult 13+
    In an unassuming corner of Brooklyn, a young woman learns to be ladylike, to love context and to speak her mind from a very curious sort of tutor. In a faraway land convulsed by war, a young soldier hears the desert's curious hum as he disarms bombs with the person he doesn't know how to love. In a place so shriveled by drought that any drowning is a curiosity, a young writer tries again and again to tread water beneath the surface of a vast and unusual sea. Three new stories from 3 acclaimed young adult authors working at the height of their powers. Curious?
    The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories
    by Brenna Yovanoff , Tessa Gratton, and Maggie Stiefvater - Anthology, Fantasy, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Youth Fiction

    A vampire locked in a cage in the basement, for good luck; bad guys, clever girls and the various reasons why the guys have to stop breathing; a world where fires never go out (with references to vanilla ice cream). These are but a few of the curiosities collected in this volume of short stories by three acclaimed practitioners of paranormal fiction.
    The Lost Sun
    by Tessa Gratton - Young Adult 14+

    Fans of Neil Gaiman's AMERICAN GODS and Holly Black's THE CURSE WORKERS will embrace this richly drawn, Norse-mythology-infused alternate world: the United States of Asgard.
    Blood Magic: The Blood Journals #1
    by Tessa Gratton - Young Adult 14+

The Queens of Innis Lear
Publishers Weekly.
265.5 (Jan. 29, 2018): p174+. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Queens of Innis Lear
Tessa Gratton. Tor, $25.99 (576p) ISBN 978-0-7653-9246-6
Gratton's enthralling debut fantasy novel reinvents King Lear as the tale of a king's three daughters: Gaela, martial and ambitious; Regan, as desperate for a child as she is devoted to her elder sister; and Elia, a star priest and her father's favorite. When Lear declares that he will divide the island of Innis Lear between Regan and Gaela and strips Elia of her title and dowry, the court is thrown into chaos. Elia must contend with her greedy sisters, consider her suitors--a nobleman's bastard son, a nearby king who has his own plans for the island--and find a way to unite the island and undo her father's disasters before it's too late. Shakespeare aficionados will recognize the spine of the plot, including Lear's terrible choices and the rivalry between the legitimate and illegitimate sons of nobility. Gratton sets her version of this story in an island kingdom where reverence for earth magic has recently been supplanted by star prophecy, which provides yet another thread of tension among the characters. Also, Lear's wife was a dark- skinned princess from a foreign land, and the three daughters take after her in varying degrees. <> (including Elia's maidservant, Aefa) and the depth and dimensionality of their stories is what truly <> with a suitably tragic yet satisfying ending. Agent: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary. (Mar.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Queens of Innis Lear." Publishers Weekly, 29 Jan. 2018, p. 174+. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A526116543/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=2dfa1606. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A526116543
1 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM
2 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gratton, Tessa: THE QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR
Kirkus Reviews.
(Feb. 15, 2018): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Gratton, Tessa THE QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR Tor (Adult Fiction) $25.99 3, 23 ISBN: 978-0-7653-9246-6
Three very different sisters vie for their father's crown in this fantasy inspired by King Lear.
It's a setup familiar to anyone who knows their Shakespeare: An aging king gathers his three daughters and asks them each to describe their love for him and prove they are deserving of inheriting his crown. The two eldest, here called Gaela and Regan, are happy to comply. The youngest, and his favorite--here called Elia--refuses and is disinherited. As the king descends into madness, Gaela and Regan, along with their respective husbands, scheme to ensure that the crown passes to the person they've agreed should have it: Gaela, with Regan beside her. But Elia, who lacks her sisters' bloodthirsty ambition, fears she may have to take a stand to save her home before her sisters tear it apart. Gratton, making her adult debut, stays true to much of the play while building past it to create an inventive universe full of ancient magic and prophetic stars. Her writing is atmospheric, staying just shy of florid. The racial diversity is a welcome sight in the genre, as is an epic tale full of such dynamic women. And yet, as the page count pushes past 500, it's hard not to feel that the action drags. Scenes of political intrigue become repetitious, and the final plot points feel mired in lyrical imagery by the time they finally arrive.
<>
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Gratton, Tessa: THE QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2018. Book Review
Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A527248240/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=36f760b6. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A527248240
3 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
The Queens of Innis Lear
Maggie Reagan
Booklist.
114.11 (Feb. 1, 2018): p38+. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
* The Queens of Innis Lear. By Tessa Gratton. Mar. 2018. 544p. Tor, $25.99 (9780765392466); e-book (9780765392480).
On the island nation of Innis Lear, magic falters under the rule of a half-mad king obsessed with star prophecy. Neighboring kingdoms eye the island and its weak ruler. But the three daughters of King Lear have plans of their own. The eldest, warlike Gaela, means to be sovereign, and she allies herself with her manipulative sister Regan, who remembers the island's forgotten earth magic. Elia, the youngest, a star-priest and their father's favorite, has no interest in ruling, but she resists her sisters' harmful ambition and hatred for their father. Meanwhile, the enigmatic Ban, a bastard and Elia's childhood love, vows to show Elia how little a father's love is worth. A storm is coming to Innis Lear, and those who survive will be unalterably changed. Gratton's first novel for adults is a force to be reckoned with: she expands the world of Shakespeare's King Lear and crafts a narrative that, despite its scope, never loses control. The basic plot remains, but <> more catalyst than character, <> A darkly rendered epic of old magic, hard hearts, and complicated choices.--Maggie Reagan
YA: Shakespeare adaptations are popular in YA literature, and Gratton has made a career as a YA fantasy writer; her first offering for adults will appeal to much of her existing fan base. MR.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Reagan, Maggie. "The Queens of Innis Lear." Booklist, 1 Feb. 2018, p. 38+. Book Review Index
Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A527771876/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=0c51b7a8. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A527771876
4 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

5 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gratton, Tessa: THE LOST SUN
Kirkus Reviews.
(May 1, 2013): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2013 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Gratton, Tessa THE LOST SUN Random House (Children's Fiction) $17.99 6, 25 ISBN: 978-0-307-97746-5
When the god Baldur the Beautiful vanishes, can two teens rescue him and win their hearts' desires? In a country very like a modern America populated by Norse-descended followers of Odin and his pantheon, 17-year-old Soren struggles against his berserker heritage and the disgrace of his father's having lost control in a shopping mall. At his school, Sanctus Sigurd, he meets seethkona Astrid Glyn, a prophetess who's sure her world-famous mother's not dead. The two set off across the United States of Asgard in hopes of finding Baldur, who did not rise from his ashes as he does at the end of each winter, and thereby winning a boon from Odin Alfather. Finding Baldur turns out to be the easiest part of their quest; the duo must find a way to return him to the gods without drawing attention to themselves, as no one knows who orchestrated the god's disappearance, and the rest of the country wants him back too. Gratton's series opener is a wordy, languid adventure dotted with slightly twisted retellings of Norse myths. The breathless internal conflicts and easily overcome external conflicts never quite ignite. It's chock-a-block with cornball plays on American cultural and place names made slightly Norse-y. <>; maybe future installments will begin there. (Fantasy. 12 & up)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Gratton, Tessa: THE LOST SUN." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2013. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A328141773/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=5f01a633. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A328141773
6 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gratton, Tessa: THE BLOOD KEEPER
Kirkus Reviews.
(June 15, 2012): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2012 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Gratton, Tessa THE BLOOD KEEPER Random House (Children's Fiction) $17.99 8, 28 ISBN: 978-0-375-86734-7
Blood and roses, love and death, past and present, the mundane and the magical; all intertwine in this dark fantasy, a stand-alone companion to the well-received Blood Magic (2011). Will Sanger, high school soccer star, only wanted to free himself from his recurrent nightmares. Mab Prowd, neophyte guardian of the blood magic, only wanted to understand the curse buried beneath her rose garden. But when their choices bind their fates together, an old love story and a long- concealed crime begin to creep into the present. As Will is forced to confront his family's recent tragedy and the demands of their expectations, Mab is called upon to devise rituals and seize powers well beyond her training. Their alternating perspectives interweave to form a nightmare of steadily building desire, obsession, sacrifice and violence. The power of this narrative lies in the gorgeous prose, lush with a gothic sensibility, ripe with sensual images of horrific beauty. The characters, while vividly drawn, are more poetic archetypes than real people, and the instant attraction between Mab and Will depends more on destiny than convincing chemistry. The workings of the blood magic make for spectacular unforgettable set pieces, but they rely upon the surreal logic of dreams rather than any rational system. But <>: Passion, heartbreak, yearning and dread bleed from every page. A perfect book for those who loved Wuthering Heights and are looking for an essentially American gothic. (Horror. 14 & up)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Gratton, Tessa: THE BLOOD KEEPER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2012. Book Review Index
Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A292825659/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=9b284959. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A292825659
7 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gratton, Tessa: THE STRANGE MAID
Kirkus Reviews.
(Apr. 1, 2014): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2014 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Gratton, Tessa THE STRANGE MAID Random House (Children's Fiction) $17.99 6, 10 ISBN: 978-0-307-97751-9
Can Signy solve the riddle that stands between her and her rightful place among the Valkyrie? Ten years ago, when she was 7, Signy's parents died in an accident. In her grief, during a visit to the New World Tree, she climbed the Tree and met Odin Alfather; he renamed her Signy Valborn, handing her her destiny: to become the next Valkyrie of the Tree, one of nine Valkyries who help run the United States of Asgard. The day after her 15th birthday, a riddle appeared on the trunk of the New World Tree; since she couldn't solve it, Signy set out to find her answer. Two years of sometimes-homeless living later, she's still looking-until she meets Ned Unferth, who says he can provide her the answer. He says that "The Valkyrie of the Tree will prove herself with a stone heart" means she must kill a troll and take its heart, which becomes stone in daylight. She trusts the truth rune she sees in his eye, and they set off to train and find a troll. Gratton's follow-up to The Lost Sun (2013) is <>, but the tale's padded with so many complications it's easy to put down. There's such a surfeit of navel-gazing that Signy should be able to map her own spinal column. Fans of the first book and lovers of Norse legend may enjoy, but there's better for fantasy-adventure lovers. (Fantasy. 14-17)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Gratton, Tessa: THE STRANGE MAID." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Apr. 2014. Book Review Index
Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A363187582/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=31b9bfb9. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A363187582
8 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gratton, Tessa. The Blood Keeper:
The Blood Journals
Heather Pittman
Voice of Youth Advocates.
35.4 (Oct. 2012): p378. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2012 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
[4Q] * [4P] * [S]
Gratton, Tessa. The Blood Keeper: The Blood Journals. Random House, 2012.432p. $17.99. 978-0-375-86734-7.
Mab Prowd's blood magic is an essential part of her. Her new leadership role as deacon, however, is proving difficult to grow into. She is now responsible for the magical upkeep of acres of land and for the well-being of her extensive magical family, all while still grieving the loss of her beloved mentor, the former deacon. Will Sanger, a typical high school student, has suffered recent traumas that have made him question his previously well-ordered existence. When Will and Mab meet, they are unexpectedly bound together by the evil of an old curse and must fight for both their freedom and to find their places in the world.
This is a companion novel to the excellent Blood Magic (Random House, 2011/VOYA June 2011). Mab and Will are new, but characters from the first volume of the series do play a part in this story. Mab and Will narrate in alternating chapters, each speaking with a believable, interesting voice. This is a paranormal story, full of magic and curses, but it is also a coming-of- age tale. The writing is lyrical and dark, deftly evoking both tragedy and beauty. The characters are well drawn and sympathetic. The plot is nicely paced, moving along with a perfect balance of suspense, excitement, and introspection. Will and Mab grow a great deal on their journey together, as they explore the nature of responsibility and sacrifice. This book will be eagerly anticipated by fans of the first novel and is a must for any collection that serves readers of paranormal fiction.--Heather Pittman.
Pittman, Heather
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Pittman, Heather. "Gratton, Tessa. The Blood Keeper: The Blood Journals." Voice of Youth
Advocates, Oct. 2012, p. 378. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc /A305082377/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=de74d2e1. Accessed 20 May 2018.
9 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gale Document Number: GALE|A305082377
10 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gratton, Tessa. The Strange Maid:
The United States of Asgard, Book 2
Kevin Beach
Voice of Youth Advocates.
37.3 (Aug. 2014): p81. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2014 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
3Q * 2P * M * J * S
Gratton, Tessa. The Strange Maid: The United States of Asgard, Book 2. Random House, 2014. 416p. $17.99. 978-0-30797751-9.
This is the second title in Gratton's series TheUnited States of Asgard. The first entry, The Lost Sun (Random House, 2013) deals with a different group of characters and is not a prerequisite for reading this title. The series presumes that the pantheon of Norse Gods are real and actively participate with governments in the modern world, holding public office and regularly communicating with the masses. The protagonist in this outing is a teen named Signy who is destined to become a Valkyrie, one of nine who rule Asgard. She must first solve a riddle given to her by Odin. Two years of struggling to solve the riddle have left her destitute and disillusioned. She then she meets a young wanderer named Ned Unferth. Is he the character from Beowulf or just a namesake? Her renewed quest to conquer the riddle takes her into troll territory, where she makes a multitude of warrior friends, finds a lover, and reacquaints herself with estranged family members. Using her capability to read rune markings in people's eyes, by the end of the book she <> who has survived a series of tests and surprises.
There is a lot of attention to detail and backstory here, which sometimes bogs down the reader. This fantasy world is well imagined, and the Nordic mash-up of place names is clever. Recommend this title to those who want to stick with the series or who particularly love Viking mythology and related tales.--Kevin Beach.
Beach, Kevin
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Beach, Kevin. "Gratton, Tessa. The Strange Maid: The United States of Asgard, Book 2." Voice
of Youth Advocates, Aug. 2014, p. 81. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com /apps/doc/A378680588/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=47641b6d. Accessed 20 May 2018.
11 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gale Document Number: GALE|A378680588
12 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
The Lost Sun [United States of
Asgard]
Lauren Adams
The Horn Book Magazine.
89.4 (July-August 2013): p128+. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2013 The Horn Book, Inc.. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
Full Text:
The Lost Sun [United States of Asgard] by Tessa Gratton Middle School, High School Random 353 pp. 6/13 978-0-307-97746-5 $17.99 Library ed. 978-0-307-97747-2 $20.99 g e-book ed. 978-0-307-97748-9 $10.99
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
In this fantasy series opener set in an alternate United States, the beloved sun god Baldur has mysteriously disappeared, and young warrior Soren Bearskin and prophetess Astrid Glyn slip away from school to find him. As the country grieves for Baldur, Astrid and Soren make their road-trip quest through an iconic American landscape made strange with caravans of gypsy-like Lokiskin, troll-haunted mountains, and volcano goblins. Narrator Soren battles his growing feelings for Astrid for fear of waking the raging beserker fever lurking inside him, a curse inherited from (and which claimed the life of) his father. Aided by Astrid's visions, they find Baldur, weakened and amnesiac, and set out to reunite him with his father, Odin, as well as restore his memory and immortality. Soren and Astrid are joined by Vider Lokisdottir, a slight but fierce young woman troubled by her own demons. While dedicated to Baldur's safe return, the three young guides are also following their own threads of fate, leading them inexorably to a moment of both great revelation and formidable choice. Gratton's world is an unexpected blending of the contemporary United States with ancient gods and traditions: disputes are settled by honorable yet bloody sword fights, popular pagan rituals are televised, and Norse gods rule alongside Congress and the president. The climactic final chapters set the scene for further adventure and (somewhat tediously overheated) romance ahead. LAUREN ADAMS
g indicates that the book was read in galley or page proof. The publisher's price is the suggested retail price and does not indicate a possible discount to libraries. Grade levels are only suggestions; the individual child is the real criterion.
13 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Adams, Lauren
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Adams, Lauren. "The Lost Sun [United States of Asgard]." The Horn Book Magazine, July-Aug.
2013, p. 128+. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A338324439 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=cc3a7ec0. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A338324439
14 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
The Lost Sun
Charli Osborne
Booklist.
109.19-20 (June 1, 2013): p91+. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2013 American Library Association http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
The Lost Sun. By Tessa Gratton. June 2013.368p. Random, $17.99 (9780307977465); lib. ed., $20.99 (9780307977472); e-book, $10.99 (9780307977489). Gr. 7-12.
Soren, doomed from the start by his berserker lineage, is falling in love with Astrid, whose own lineage carries the dark power of a seer. When Baldur, the god of light, disappears, the world is thrown into chaos. Compelled to find him, Astrid and Soren instead discover a mortal man with no memory, and in an apple orchard that holds the keys of immortality, they are torn between their love for each other and the balance of the entire world. Gratton sets up an alternate universe where Norse gods are juxtaposed with typical American life in this first novel in a new series. Clever word alterations are just familiar enough, and Soren's first-person point of view and single-minded determination to win Odin Alfather's reward for returning his beloved son gives the quest to rescue Baldur a frantic immediacy. While Astrid dreams of apples and Soren battles the berserker rage inside, they forge new alliances and a bond of friendship that puts them squarely in the path of a cat-and-mouse game played by gods.
Osborne, Charli
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Osborne, Charli. "The Lost Sun." Booklist, 1 June 2013, p. 91+. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A335921745/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=3a20b706. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A335921745
15 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
The Lost Sun
Publishers Weekly.
260.17 (Apr. 29, 2013): p133+. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2013 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Lost Sun
Tessa Gratton. Random, $17.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0407-97746-5
The what-if premise of Gratton's (Blood Magic) first book in the United States of Asgard series has the gods of Norse myth thriving in 21st-century America, not as divinities so much as celebrities: the gods walk openly among humankind, hosting charity events and resurrecting on national television. It may sound like the setup for a spoof, but it isn't--Gratton's 17-year-old protagonists are dead serious in their goals. Soren, a destined berserker whose father was a mass killer, wants freedom from his violent heritage; Astrid, a seer, seeks her dead mother, whom Astrid believes is alive. The teens join forces in a road-trip quest a la American Gods when Baldur the Beautiful fails to rise from the dead on schedule, prompting Odin Alfather to offer a boon to any who bring word of Baldur's whereabouts. Soren is occasionally too noble, Astrid too gnomically lovely, and with so many portents flying around, things can get, well, portentous. But on the whole Gratton avoids the risk of parody to pull off a moving and original romance. Ages 12-up. Agent: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (June)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Lost Sun." Publishers Weekly, 29 Apr. 2013, p. 133+. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A328528195/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=d95b5cf9. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A328528195
16 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
The Blood Keeper
Cindy Welch
Booklist.
108.22 (Aug. 1, 2012): p68. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2012 American Library Association http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
The Blood Keeper. By Tessa Gratton. Aug. 2012. 432p. Random, $17.99 (9780375867347); lib. ed., $20.99 (9780375967344); e-book, $10.99 (9780375897696). Gr. 8-11.
When 17-year-old Mab inherits responsibility for the magic-rich acreage known in the family as "the blood land," she becomes Deacon and is challenged to protect those she loves from a dark curse woven out of jealousy and desperation. This is a companion novel rather than a sequel to Gratton's Blood Magic (2011), and it only has a few characters in common with the first book. Mab and her love interest, Will, narrate the contemporary tale, which is intertwined with an older story of murder in the form of a confession from Mab's Granny Lyn. <> rather than rush through. Blood from a finger prick or skin slash is used as a source of power for spells and rituals, but these acts are portrayed as the realistic price of magic, instead of being sensationalized. Try this with fans of Ursula K. Le Guin or Mice Hoffman.--Cindy Welch
Welch, Cindy
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Welch, Cindy. "The Blood Keeper." Booklist, 1 Aug. 2012, p. 68. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A299886360/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=95599f85. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A299886360
17 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gratton, Tessa. Blood Magic: The
Blood Journals
Dotsy Harland
Voice of Youth Advocates.
34.2 (June 2011): p183+. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2011 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
4Q * 4P * J * S Gratton, Tessa. Blood Magic: The Blood Journals. Random House, 2011. 416p. $17.99.978-0-375-86733-0. PLB $20.99.978-0-375-96733-7.
Silla Kennicot has been emotionally numb since she discovered her parents' bodies after a suspected case of murder/suicide. She and her beloved older brother, Reese, still live in the rural Missouri farmhouse where the tragedy occurred, and their bohemian grandmother, Judy, has moved in to take care of them as they put their lives back together. But everything changes when Silla receives by mail a mysterious book of magic spells with a brief note signed by someone named "The Deacon" The spells are in her father's handwriting, and each lists blood as an ingredient. When Silla tries a spell entitled "regeneration," bringing a dead leaf back to life using her own blood, her enthusiasm soars. She convinces Reese to join her in learning the spells, and she also shares her discovery with Nicholas, a new boy at school who knows more about magic than he first lets on. But horrifying tragedy strikes when the teens are targeted by Josephine Daffy, a powerful, murderous witch who has stayed alive for one hundred and twenty years by consuming a powder made from corpses' bones.
Told in alternating first person by Silla, Nicholas and Josephine, Blood Magic is offbeat, poignant, and deliciously disturbing. Gratton's bold prose attacks the senses with stunning imagery and impressively strong characters. Filled with unexpected twists, gut-wrenching suspense, and the uncovering of old family secrets, this novel is appropriate for mature readers who enjoy horror with plenty of gore and a touch of romance to spice up the plot.--Dotsy Harland.
Harland, Dotsy
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Harland, Dotsy. "Gratton, Tessa. Blood Magic: The Blood Journals." Voice of Youth Advocates,
June 2011, p. 183+. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc /A259296324/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=0a426819. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A259296324
18 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

19 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
GRATTON, Tessa. The Queens of
Innis Lear
Jenni Frencham
School Library Journal.
64.5 (May 2018): p108+. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
GRATTON, Tessa. The Queens of Innis Lear. 544p. Tor. Mar. 2018. Tr $25.99. ISBN 9780765392466.
In this epic fantasy retelling of Shakespeare's King Lear, the king of Innis Lear is obsessed with prophesies, but this fixation has stolen much of the magic from the land. The prosperity of the people disappears soon after. Now the king must name his successor. Gaela, the oldest, is the rightful heir to Innis Lear. Regan, the second child, is a manipulator and also seeks the crown. Elia, the youngest, is a priest of star magic and the king's secret favorite. Thus, the three sisters vie for the same crown. At more than 500 pages, this book has plenty of room for complex character development; even villains are given sympathetic qualities. <> Intricate world-building and descriptions of various types of magic add to the measured pace. Though teens need not have read King Lear to enjoy the novel, those with some familiarity with the play will get the most out of this read. VERDICT Give to fans of Kendare Blake's Three Dark Crowns, J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," or George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones.--Jenni Frencham, formerly at Columbus Public Library, WI
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Frencham, Jenni. "GRATTON, Tessa. The Queens of Innis Lear." School Library Journal, May
2018, p. 108+. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A536988088 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=aa70ee7a. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A536988088
20 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

21 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gratton, Tessa. The Strange Maid
Elizabeth Kahn
School Library Journal.
60.5 (May 2014): p131. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2014 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
GRATTON, Tessa. The Strange Maid. 416p. (The United States of Asgard: Bk. 2). Random. Jun. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780307977519; lib. ed. $20.99. ISBN 9780307977526; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780307977533. LC 2013039568.
Gr 8 Up--In this prequel to The Lost Sun (Random, 2013), Gratton brings readers back to a world that comingles Norse mythology, vengeful gods, and technology in a landscape that resembles the United States. Teens are introduced to a new character, Signy Valborn. She was in training to be the Valkyrie of the Tree but left her apprenticeship in shame because she is unable to solve the riddle. She sets off on a journey to find herself and meets Ned the Spiritless, who is a poet and a warrior. Through Ned's stories, she learns her destiny is to fight the troll mother, and the two head north to spend the winter training. Fans of the previous book are brought full circle, when Baldur, the god of the sun, does not rise from the dead, which was the focus of the first installment. Ned is taken by the troll mother, and Signy continues her journey alone until she meets Soren Bearskin, also a character from the previous entry, who is instrumental in finding Baldur and returning him to Odin, the lead deity. Eventually, the heroine is aided by Ned and Soren in her quest to reap the stone heart and become a true Valkyrie. It is not necessary to read the first book before diving into this one, but it would help in the understanding of the violent fantasy world that the author has meticulously created. This infinitely exciting tale's twist and turns highlight the characters' missions as they decide which identity to choose: hero, martyr, or villain.<>will be utterly satisfied. For fans of Robin LaFevers's "His Fair Assassins" series (Houghton Harcourt) and Sarah J. Maas's "Throne of Glass" books (Bloomsbury).--Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Jefferson, LA
Kahn, Elizabeth
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Kahn, Elizabeth. "Gratton, Tessa. The Strange Maid." School Library Journal, May 2014, p. 131.
Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A367298926 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=fa25dd5a. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A367298926
22 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

23 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gratton, Tessa: The Blood Keeper
Megan Lynn Isaac
The Horn Book Guide.
24.1 (Spring 2013): p98+. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2013 The Horn Book, Inc. http://www.hornbookguide.com
Full Text:
Gratton, Tessa The Blood Keeper
423 pp. Random ISBN 978-0-375-86734-7 $17.99 LE ISBN 978-0-375-96734-4 $20.99
(3) Mab, a young witch stepping forward to sustain family traditions, and Will, a boy resisting familial pressure to go into the military, develop an unexpected relationship as they fight together to break an old curse forged in both betrayal and love. Gratton's mesh of contemporary reality and magic brewed in herbal teas and blood tattoos is simultaneously odd, gory, original, and interesting.
Isaac, Megan Lynn
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Isaac, Megan Lynn. "Gratton, Tessa: The Blood Keeper." The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2013, p.
98+. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A327726799 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=05442552. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A327726799
24 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gratton, Tessa. The Blood Keeper
Suzanne Gordon
School Library Journal.
58.10 (Oct. 2012): p134. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2012 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
GRATTON, Tessa. The Blood Keeper. 422p. Random. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86734-7; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96734-4; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89769-6.
Gr 9 Up--This somewhat ponderous companion to Blood Magic (Random, 2011) only glancingly involves the romantic couple of the first book, but it shares the same blood-sacrifice-without- vampires witchcraft, this time on the Kansas prairie land protected by its leader. Mab, daughter of the villain in the first book, is assuming her duties as Deacon, magical head of the blood witch family, after the death of Arthur, her mentor and surrogate father, who raised her as his "little queen." When Mab creates a magical creature imbued with the hostile spirit of a rose garden she was meant to destroy, the animated mud-man crashes into Will and his two dogs, bringing the two teens into a romance and a battle to win Will's health and freedom from the evil curse that has befallen him. Combed among the strands of a boy-girl dual-point-of-view story is yet a third: the account of Evelyn, a woman who sought blood magic sanctuary and eventually love with Arthur several decades before. Eventually, the significant link between the two women's stories comes into focus. Meanwhile, all manner of romanticized bloodletting, essential to the working of this magic, seems to glorify self-inflicted wounds. That said, the world could still be a rich one for patient readers of supernatural romance who prefer witches who must use blood and the earth, not wands, to work spells, more Wicca than Hogwarts. Characterization mostly works, but the narrative drags a bit until the last quarter. Its bloody spell may still bind readers old and new.-- Suzanne Gordon, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA
Gordon, Suzanne
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Gordon, Suzanne. "Gratton, Tessa. The Blood Keeper." School Library Journal, Oct. 2012, p.
134. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A304171634 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=baeffc42. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A304171634
25 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gratton, Tessa. The Lost Sun
Elizabeth Kahn
School Library Journal.
59.8 (Aug. 2013): p111. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2013 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
GRATTON, Tessa. The Lost Sun. Bk. 1. 352p. (The United States of Asgard Series). Random. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0307-97746-5; lib. ed. $20.99. ISBN 9780-307-97747-2; ebook $9.99. ISBN 9780-307-97748-9. LC 2012027695.
Gr 8 Up--Soren Bearskin and Astrid Glyn meet for the first time at a boarding school in an alternative America with places called Nebrasge and Colorada. Soren is a berserker who wants to resist his destiny to be a fighter. Astrid is a seethkona, a seer, whose famous mother has recently died. Everyone in the country is watching the television when the god of light, Baldur, does not rise from the dead for his yearly renewal. Astrid decides to seek him out, and she enlists Soren for the mission. They find him, and the journey to return him to his father without being followed is where most of the action takes place. The protagonists learn that the gods are manipulating the annual ritual to suit their needs. Soren and Astrid become romantically attached, and<< many sacrifices have to be made>> for them<< to deliver Baldur safely to his home>>. The mix of contemporary living and technology with mythology and fantasy is jarring at first, but readers will quickly get a hang for the unusual names and attributes of the characters. Hand this to fantasy lovers who might be ready to branch out of their comfort zone.--Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Jefferson, LA
Kahn, Elizabeth
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Kahn, Elizabeth. "Gratton, Tessa. The Lost Sun." School Library Journal, Aug. 2013, p. 111.
Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A339017364 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=a2f9f635. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A339017364
26 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gratton, Tessa: The Lost Sun
Lauren Adams
The Horn Book Guide.
24.2 (Fall 2013): p112. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2013 The Horn Book, Inc. http://www.hornbookguide.com
Full Text:
Gratton, Tessa The Lost Sun
353 pp. Random ISBN 978-0-307-97746-5 $17.99 LE ISBN 978-0-307-97747-2 $20.99
(4) United States of Asgard series. In an alternate United States, beloved sun god Baldur has mysteriously disappeared. Young warrior Soren Bearskin and prophetess Astrid Glyn slip away to find him, their road-trip quest through an iconic American landscape made strange with caravans of gypsy-like Lokiskin, troll-haunted mountains, and volcano goblins. The climactic final chapters set the scene for further adventure and (somewhat tediously overheated) romance ahead. Review 7/13.
Adams, Lauren
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Adams, Lauren. "Gratton, Tessa: The Lost Sun." The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2013, p. 112. Book
Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A346628899/GPS?u=schlager& sid=GPS&xid=a0ee3f4c. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A346628899
27 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
Gratton, Tessa: The Strange Maid
Jenn Matters
The Horn Book Guide.
25.2 (Fall 2014): p109. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2014 The Horn Book, Inc. http://www.hornbookguide.com
Full Text:
Gratton, Tessa The Strange Maid
405 pp. Random ISBN 978-0-307-97751-9 $17.99 EBOOK ISBN 978-0-307-97753-3
(3) United States of Asgard series. In this series installment, Signy Valborn is a lost Valkyrie. Accompanied by Ned Unferth, the spiritless troll hunter, and Soren Bearstar, the berserker who forsook his god, Signy quests to answer the riddle Odin posed to her. Gratton wraps readers in a believable alternate world where Valkyries sit next to the Senate, and modern technology coexists with prayer trees to Norse gods.
Matters, Jenn
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Matters, Jenn. "Gratton, Tessa: The Strange Maid." The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2014, p. 109.
Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A385996281 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=64fd5641. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A385996281
28 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
The Lost Sun: United States of
Asgard, Book 1
Amanda Raklovits
School Library Journal.
59.10 (Oct. 2013): p54. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2013 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
The Lost Sun: United States of Asgard, Book 1. By Tessa Gratton. 8 CDs, 9:56 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2013. ISBN 978-0-8041-2173-6. $50.
Gr 7 Up--In an alternate United States where Norse gods role alongside the civilian government, 17-year-old Soren Bearskin fights against the berserker rage inherited from his father. Most students at his school give him a wide berth until Astrid Glyn, the daughter of a famous prophetess and a seer herself, arrives and the two are immediately drawn to each other. The country is thrown into chaos when Baldur the Beautiful, the god of light, disappears. Astrid is certain she can find him with Soren's help. If they can return the god to his father, Odin, they'll both receive a boon and Soren can finally have his wish granted--to be rid of the berserker frenzy boiling inside him. Their quest leads to new allies and a deeper understanding of themselves and their fates. Robbie Daymond is well cast to perform the first title (Random, 2013) in Gratton's new series. His youthful voice engages listener's in Soren's story and the world he inhabits where seers are routinely sought to answers questions about one's fate and disputes are settled by intense individual battles. Daymond succeeds in navigating the teenager's emotional straggle, deepening and roughening his voice when the berserker rage escapes. He gives supporting characters distinct voices, and strikes a lighter pitch and occasionally a melodic cadence that is well suited for Astrid's dialogue. For fans of fantasy with a healthy dose of romance.--Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL
Raklovits, Amanda
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Raklovits, Amanda. "The Lost Sun: United States of Asgard, Book 1." School Library Journal,
Oct. 2013, p. 54. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A344498596 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=a6854653. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A344498596
29 of 29 5/20/18, 5:10 PM

"The Queens of Innis Lear." Publishers Weekly, 29 Jan. 2018, p. 174+. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A526116543/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=2dfa1606. Accessed 20 May 2018. "Gratton, Tessa: THE QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2018. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A527248240/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=36f760b6. Accessed 20 May 2018. Reagan, Maggie. "The Queens of Innis Lear." Booklist, 1 Feb. 2018, p. 38+. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A527771876/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=0c51b7a8. Accessed 20 May 2018. "Gratton, Tessa: THE LOST SUN." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2013. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A328141773/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=5f01a633. Accessed 20 May 2018. "Gratton, Tessa: THE BLOOD KEEPER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2012. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A292825659/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=9b284959. Accessed 20 May 2018. "Gratton, Tessa: THE STRANGE MAID." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Apr. 2014. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A363187582/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=31b9bfb9. Accessed 20 May 2018. Pittman, Heather. "Gratton, Tessa. The Blood Keeper: The Blood Journals." Voice of Youth Advocates, Oct. 2012, p. 378. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A305082377/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=de74d2e1. Accessed 20 May 2018. Beach, Kevin. "Gratton, Tessa. The Strange Maid: The United States of Asgard, Book 2." Voice of Youth Advocates, Aug. 2014, p. 81. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A378680588/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=47641b6d. Accessed 20 May 2018. Adams, Lauren. "The Lost Sun [United States of Asgard]." The Horn Book Magazine, July-Aug. 2013, p. 128+. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A338324439/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=cc3a7ec0. Accessed 20 May 2018. Osborne, Charli. "The Lost Sun." Booklist, 1 June 2013, p. 91+. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A335921745/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=3a20b706. Accessed 20 May 2018. "The Lost Sun." Publishers Weekly, 29 Apr. 2013, p. 133+. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A328528195/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=d95b5cf9. Accessed 20 May 2018. Welch, Cindy. "The Blood Keeper." Booklist, 1 Aug. 2012, p. 68. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A299886360/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=95599f85. Accessed 20 May 2018. Harland, Dotsy. "Gratton, Tessa. Blood Magic: The Blood Journals." Voice of Youth Advocates, June 2011, p. 183+. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A259296324/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=0a426819. Accessed 20 May 2018. Frencham, Jenni. "GRATTON, Tessa. The Queens of Innis Lear." School Library Journal, May 2018, p. 108+. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A536988088/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=aa70ee7a. Accessed 20 May 2018. Kahn, Elizabeth. "Gratton, Tessa. The Strange Maid." School Library Journal, May 2014, p. 131. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A367298926/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=fa25dd5a. Accessed 20 May 2018. Isaac, Megan Lynn. "Gratton, Tessa: The Blood Keeper." The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2013, p. 98+. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A327726799/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=05442552. Accessed 20 May 2018. Gordon, Suzanne. "Gratton, Tessa. The Blood Keeper." School Library Journal, Oct. 2012, p. 134. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A304171634/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=baeffc42. Accessed 20 May 2018. Kahn, Elizabeth. "Gratton, Tessa. The Lost Sun." School Library Journal, Aug. 2013, p. 111. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A339017364/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=a2f9f635. Accessed 20 May 2018. Adams, Lauren. "Gratton, Tessa: The Lost Sun." The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2013, p. 112. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A346628899/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=a0ee3f4c. Accessed 20 May 2018. Matters, Jenn. "Gratton, Tessa: The Strange Maid." The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2014, p. 109. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A385996281/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=64fd5641. Accessed 20 May 2018. Raklovits, Amanda. "The Lost Sun: United States of Asgard, Book 1." School Library Journal, Oct. 2013, p. 54. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A344498596/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=a6854653. Accessed 20 May 2018.

Blog template built for Bootstrap by @mdo

Back to top