Month of Guests 2013: Joss Stirling

The lovely Joss Stirling is here again with an awesome post!  Enjoy! :D

Top Ten Villains In Books And Films

One of the parts of writing that I find the most fun and the most challenging is creating good villains.  I'm learning all the time, trying to refine the mindset of the evil side so that it doesn't seem too cliched (very easy to fall into the he's just evil because he is evil trap).  I started with the Kellys in Finding Sky but felt a little dissatisfied with the complexity of their motives - I wanted to push that further.  The Seer in Stealing Phoenix was my answer - a dysfunctional man with terrible powers.  You are supposed to see both his strengths and weaknesses.  I can't say who the baddie is in Seeking Crystal as that is a plot twist, but those of you who have read it can see I'm going further still.

So here are my top ten villains - ones that have taught me lessons in how to tackle the dark side!

10. Wickham from Pride and Prejudice - ooo, so clever and so horrible.  Austen doesn't push him too far to the dark side so it is plausible that he ends up married into the family to be a continual cloud of the Darcy and Elizabeth horizon in the post book world.

9. Darth Vader (original series IV to VI) - the villain of my childhood.  Big black cloak, mental powers, and that voice!

8. Fagin from Oliver Twist both in book and film versions.  He is a fabulous combination of tiny glimpses of kindness and greater greed and calculation.

7. Moriarty in Sherlock (the BBC version) - I really enjoyed this updated take on a villain, particularly the episode with the final showdown.  Helped by great acting from Andrew Scott of course.

6. The White Witch from The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe - another terror from my childhood reading: strong, beautiful and ruthless.  Also very well played in the recent film version by Tilda Swinton.

5. Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter - the best of the villains as she thinks she is so good.  I find her far more interesting than Voldemort.

4. Frankenstein's creature - he doesn't really qualify in some ways as he is so pitiable but as he is also a child killer he made the top ten.  A fantastic creation that has inspired me on numerous occasions in my writing.  I suppose he shows that the best villains are ones whom we also understand.  He shares this place with Caliban from The Tempest.

3. Shylock from The Merchant of Venice.  I studied this at school and the character has never left me - a real challenge to our assumptions of who is good and who is bad in the play.

2. Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde.  A great lesson in the perils of over-reaching but also how divided we all our in our private selves.

1. Gollum from Lord of the Rings - yes, my precious!  I love the idea of evil doing good despite itself and he is far more interesting psychologically than Sauron, who doesn't really exist as a character.

Let me know your favourite villains.  Who would you put in your top ten?

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Thank you so, so much Joss! This was a brilliant post - thank you so much for stopping by and taking part in my Fortnight of Guests again!! :D

My favourite villains list also includes Moriarty, Fagin, Umbridge and definitely Gollum (my brothers and I still creep each other out by whispered: 'my precious' at the spookiest possible times!!).  I think I'd have to add someone from The Mortal Instruments though - not Valentine: I always found him a bit flat, although I do love all the Lucifer references to his character.  But the villain that comes after Valentine... well, a whole different story...  Iago from Othello gets added too: the personifaction of the evil little voice inside our head, mixed with the Machiavellian characterisation and totally psychopathic manipulation he uses absolutely terrifies me!! :D I'm sure I can think of others but this is getting a little long... ;)

Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed Joss' post! And don't forget to follow Joss' Site, follow her on Twitter, and check out her books on Goodreads! :D  Oh, and Joss is a penname for the lovely Julia Golding, who also writes under Eve Edwards as well!  So confusing - and sooo many amazing books!! :D

And keep up to date with MonthOfGuests on Twitter using #MonthOfGuests2013! And stop by tomorrow for an awesome and different post by the amazing Jana Oliver!!

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Julia Golding (born March 1969) is a British novelist.

Julia Golding was born in March 1969 in London and grew up on the edge of Epping Forest. She originally read English at the University of Cambridge.

Golding lives in Oxford and works as a freelance writer. She is married with three children. 

In 2007 she was selected by Waterstone's as one of the 25 Authors of the Future.

Golding also publishes under two pen names: Joss Stirling and Eve Edwards.

Fortnight of Guests: Joss Stirling

It's a huge pleasure to have Joss Stirling, writer of teen novels about the Benedict boys - seven heroes with paranormal powers here today taking part in the FoG!   I love the Benedict series and can't even tell you how excited I am for Seeking Crystal!  If you don't believe me, check out my reviews for the first two in the series: here!  Ok, I'll stop rambling now... ;)

Joss Stirling and the Olympics

Did you get Olympic tickets?  I failed. I needed (my savant character) Victor Benedict’s mind-influencing powers to change that outcome.  It certainly seems unfair I scored a duck when I heard recently of one friend’s brother who received all nine sets of tickets that he put in for.  He is now almost bankrupt, of course. 

My family of savants who feature in Finding Sky, Stealing Phoenix and soon to be published Seeking Crystal (October), all come with handy skills to help them through such dilemmas.  As sadly I can’t conjure them from the page to sort out my Olympic problem, I’ll just have to imagine myself there.

I did something a little like this at the very beginning of Stealing Phoenix. I decided to set the first scene on the close to completed Olympic Park.  A few readers have suggested this will date the book but that would happen anyway with any mention of technology.  In a year or two we will be saying ‘iPod? – that’s so yesterday!’ as we’ll have moved on to the next gadget.  Fashion is another thing that dates quickly, which maybe why writers (including me) often put characters in jeans and t-shirt to play it safe.

Yet the reason for going to the stadium in the plot was not to catch any Olympic wave, but because that part of London has been so radically re-written since I knew it as a child and teen.  My first job involved a long commute past the site – then a derelict stretch of unattractive East London.  This is what it looks like today from the train (insert photo) – still not that pretty but heading towards impressive.  Phoenix’s story is a little like this – a rewriting of her life to make a decision to change the narrative from one of living on the edge to a relationship with someone who will put her at the centre of his life.  (It also helps that he is gorgeous and kind).

Literary landscapes are always charged with meaning from King Lear’s wasteland to Twilight’s forested, moody Washington State.  It would be hard to imagine King Lear having a breakdown on a sunny Caribbean beach, or Bella and Edward languishing after each other in an office in Swindon. 

Part of the enjoyment of writing for me is finding the location to fit the story.  I thought long and hard where to set Seeking Crystal and in the end went for Venice because I could imagine no better place to fall in love.  But it is very much the modern city, on the brink of being submerged by climate change, which adds a layer of fragility chiming with the emotions of the main character.  I won’t say any more now – you’ll find out how this all works in the autumn.

Where would you set a story and why?  Let me know below on the message board.




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http://jossstirling.co.uk/439b5fc2ef/
https://twitter.com/#!/jossstirling   @jossstirling


Ooh, I love the Victorian era, so I'd love to write one set then!  Or, like you, London: gotta love the urban scene!  
Everyone, let us know where you'd set a story!! :D
Thank you so much for taking part, Joss! 

Everyone, if you liked this post, make sure you follow all the FoG events on Twitter at #FortnightOfGuests

Stealing Phoenix by Joss Stirling

Series: Benedict, Book Two

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Format: ARC

Published: 7^th May 201

Number of Pages: 272

Book: For Review From OUP*

Genre: Paranormal, Dark Romance, Urban Fantasy, Magic, Action, YA

Recommended Age: 12+

Contains: Violence, Mild Swearing

No Alcohol, Drug References

Author's Blog: Joss Stirling

Yves' story.

This is about getting you out...I'm stealing you.

Phoenix belongs to the Community - a gang of thieves with paranormal powers. Yves Benedict - an American student visiting London - is her mark. But Yves turns out to be more than just a target. He is her destiny. Her soulmate. But the Community owns Phoenix's past and it wants her future too.

Review:

Phoenix is a thief, part of a secretive criminal group of Savants, known as the Community.  Life for her is difficult, and failing a job could end in death – your own.  So when a college boy seems to fight back against her powers during a run-of-the-mill theft, Phee knows how it can all end.  Not well.  Phoenix never expected the truth.  But what will she do when the leader of the Community tries to use her against her soulfinder?  And the whole of Savant Net?

Now, I read Finding Sky just a little while ago and adored it.  I loved the world, the romance, the characters: everything.  And I just couldn’t see how Stealing Phoenix was going to live up to it.  I am ever so pleased to say that the sequel completely surpassed the first!  There was more romance, more humour, more action, and more family drama.  So, if you haven’t guessed yet: I loved Stealing Phoenix!

Once again, I have to applaud Joss on her amazing characters: they’re so believable and, well, amazing!  Phoenix was a strong lead with the most incredible powers, which I won’t give away now – but let me tell you: I want them!  Phee has been damaged by previous events, stealing only because she has to.  Her life has been absolutely horrid, devoid of love, trust and normalcy.  Her gifts are the one thing she can count on, the one stable thing throughout everything.  For her, soulfinders are a myth, a pretty fairy-tale told to children to give them hope in an otherwise hopeless situation.  But that changes when she meets Yves, quite possibly the most amazing boy out there – I mean, cute and clever?  What more could a girl want in Prince Charming?  But underneath the self-consciousness, however, there’s energy, an internal fire burning within.  And, let me just add, he absolutely lives up to that “Yummy Yves” quote from Finding Sky: he’s perfect.  When Phoenix and Yves were together I laughed and “ahh”ed: they’re so cute and so wonderful together!  And, again, Joss Stirling managed to make the “soulmate” aspect completely and utterly believable. 

Plus the family side – which was my favourite aspect of Finding Sky – was just as perfect as ever, and just as realistic.  I felt the family bond, the familiar teasing which was so similar to that among my own family.  The friendship between Phee and Sky was particularly special, as it was the first one Phee had ever had, something that really got to me.  (What must it be like, to live eighteen years without a single true friend?)  Then there’s the brothers; Trace through to Zed, because, after all, A-B-C-etc. is far too boring!  Zed, in particular, absolutely kills me, though all the boys are hilarious: I love them to pieces!  While we’re on the subject, could I have a Benedict?  Please?

The plot was fast; I was dragged straight into the action.  And from then on in, it was non-stop: I didn’t – couldn’t – stop reading.  It just gripped me, and didn’t let me go until the very last word, which left me desperate for more.

Joss Stirling is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, and these two books about the Savants are definitely up there on my Top Ten list.  The moment I put down Stealing Phoenix I felt the desperation inside of me to just pick it up and read it all over again.  I am literally praying for a long, long, long series: I have to know if all of the brothers find their perfect soulfinder.  Also, I’m not sure how long I can live without my favourite characters!  An brilliant, fantastic book that is sure to have you dreaming about superpowers and telekinesis (in my dreams, I can read minds and lasso eggs). 

Star Rating:
5 Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

Finding Sky by Joss Stirling

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Book Chick City)

British Book Challenge (Hosted by The Bookette)

Happy Reading

Megan

* This book was received from OUP in exchange for an honest review

Stealing Phoenix by Joss Stirling: An Extract

Today I have a special treat for you all, thanks to OUP.  I have an extract from Joss Stirling's upcoming novel Stealing Phoenix...  I hope you all enjoy it!

 

Stealing Phoenix by Joss Stirling

Published: 1st September 2011

Published By: OUP Oxford

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Yves' story.
This is about getting you out...I'm stealing you.
Phoenix belongs to the Community - a gang of thieves with paranormal powers. Yves Benedict - an American student visiting London - is her mark. But Yves turns out to be more than just a target. He is her destiny. Her soulmate. But the Community owns Phoenix's past and it wants her future too.

Enjoy the extract....

 

A tap on the door. ‘Phee, are you OK in there?’ Yves.

I banged my head softly on the wood behind me.

‘Look, sorry I came out with it like that. I tell my brothers everything—we’re really close. I should’ve thought what you might think.’

Yeah, you should’ve.

‘He won’t mind if I don’t mind—about the stealing thing.’

Well done him. God, I was so tired of all this. Yves had clearly not smoothed out his rough edges when it came to handling girls if he thought this excuse for an apology would sweeten my sour mood.  A trickle of flame poured under the door then spun to form a little ball of fi re. Was he trying to burn me out? I yelped and scurried backwards, but then saw that the carpet was not even singed.

‘For you,’ said Yves quietly.

The ball began to spin faster, then split in to three different spheres, flame-yellow, white-hot and blue like a gas ring—three little planets revolving around each other. Suddenly, they flared open, forming into the shape of flowers in bloom. They came to rest at my feet like lilies on a pool before snuffing out of existence, leaving only a faint smell of smoke behind. Nothing was damaged; not even a soot mark on the floor where they had been.

I was stunned: no one had ever given me flowers before. That had been awesome; I’d never thought to create something beautiful out of my powers but Yves must have spent a long time honing his skill to do so.

Like what you read?  The rest of the book, well, it's even better...

Finding Sky by Joss Stirling

Series: Benedict, Book One
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Format: Paperback

Published: First: September 2010

This Edition: 2^nd June 2011

Number of Pages: 320

Book: Bought
Genre: Paranormal, Dark Romance, Urban Fantasy, Magic, Action, YA

Recommended Age: 12+

Contains: Violence, Death, Some Swearing

No Alcohol, Drug References

Author's Blog: Joss Stirling

Sky has a secret past.  Having buried the truth of her traumatic childhood deep inside, she’s something of a mystery, even to herself.

Starting a new school, she catches her first glimpse of Zed.  He stalks the corridors, a god-like creature among mortals.  Sky is dumbfounded when he seems drawn to her, but there’s more to Zed – and to Sky – than she realises.

You have half out gifts, I have the other…

Review:

Sky has been damaged by something – or someone – in her childhood: something she doesn’t remember.  It’s left her shy, scared and afraid to love.  She knows that love leads to hurt.  Sky was in foster care, unable to communicate, or even remember her own name, until, at the age of ten, Simon and Sally adopted her, and slowly brought her out of her shell.  Now the three of them have moved to the Colorado, USA to run an arts centre, where Sky meets bad-boy Zed, one of the seven Benedict brothers.  She can’t understand why he takes such an interest in her, or why she can hear his voice inside her head.  But then he reveals what he is, and a long suppressed truth about Sky is discovered…   Can Sky accept who she really is – in time to save Zed and the rest of his family?

Now, I read a lot of paranormal books.  This book stood out: it was so different, so unique and just, well, incredible.  The supernatural aspect is a brand new world with special people called Savants.  They all have individual gifts, such as mind reading, seeing the future, “handling energy” (creating explosions, fire) and healing.  Then they all have common powers: telepathic communication and telekinesis.  These gifts lead to a fair few laughs, and a few “lassoing the egg” comments (you’ll get that if you read Finding Sky).  But what I really loved was the whole Soulfinder aspect, which is the most romantic and inventive soul-mate idea I’ve ever read about.  Altogether, Finding Sky created a completely new kind of paranormal being: one that I would die to be.

Sky (whose full name is Sky Bright – Simon and Sally are the artistic type) is a self-conscious girl, who often feels as if she’s incomplete, like some part of her is missing.  I loved her, and the way her mind wandered.  She would come up with comic-book images and names to keep herself from getting hurt.  These nicknames were hilarious: “Elasto-man”, “Music Master, Harbinger of Doom” and “Wicked Wolfman”.  Mr Wolfman, also known as Zed, was brilliant.  He may act like the school’s bad-boy, with his bike and disrespect for authority, but underneath he was perfect.  With just the right amount of stubbornness, confidence and wonderful sweetness, I am officially Team Zed.  I love him!

The plot may not have been the fastest, but the concept was perfect.  The bad guy was evil.  The good guys were amazing.  And the romance was believable.  Even though there are soul-mates, there’s no love-at-first-sight.  Instead, the romance is slow, sweet, beautiful, perfect.  Once again, an aspect I’d die for.

Now I just have to mention the seven Benedict boys: Trace, Uriel, Victor, Will, Xavier, Yves and Zed (yes, really: T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z).  I loved them all, Zed, Xavier and Yves probably being my favourites.  They all made me laugh, the family dynamics were completely realistic, and they are just as good as the Drake boys, from The Drake Chronicles.  Their parents were just as wonderful, with their insanely brilliant mother, and strong, caring father.  And as for Sky’s parents, well, they would do anything for her and loved her so, so much – and for that, I loved them.

The single thing I would’ve liked to see is more action.  The majority of the book is a psychologically powerful struggle inside Sky’s head.  I just wish that there were more outward struggles sooner on, if that makes any sense.  The bad guys just weren’t as present as I would’ve liked, coming in around half-way through the book.  Then again, if they had been, there wouldn’t have been as much of the wonderfully romantic and touching scenes between Sky and Zed…  Hmm, I think I change my mind: it’s perfect.

I simply adore this world, with its humour, love, action and suspense.  I am so glad I don’t have to wait for the next book, that I have it right here beside me as I write this review.  I just hope that there is a long series in the future, with one for each brother’s Soulfinder perhaps?  Either way, I know that whatever Joss Stirling brings out next, I will be the first in line to buy.  Her mind is brilliant, her writing beautiful and her characters realistic.  I am off to read Stealing Phoenix, which is out September this year: I just know it’s going to be just as amazing as Finding Sky.

Star Rating:
4¾ Out of 5

                               

Read this book if you liked:

The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Die For Me by Amy Plum

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Book Chick City)

British Book Challenge (Hosted by The Bookette)

Happy Reading

Megan