Our class is SO happy to be hosting Lori M. Lee on our blog! Many of us were able to meet her via Skype in the fall. She was so endearing that she quickly became one of our fave fantasy authors. We have been awaiting the release of her new book and it's finally arrived. Yesterday was the exciting release day for THE INFINITE, her sequel to Gates of Thread and Stone and today we have Lori here with us! We have lots for you to check out, so be sure to read book info + review + interview + giveaway. It's ALL right here!!
About the book: The Infinite (Book #2)
The walls of Ninurta keep its citizens safe.
Kai always believed the only danger to the city came from within. Now, with a rebel force threatening the fragile government, the walls have become more of a prison than ever.
To make matters worse, as Avan explores his new identity as an Infinite, Kai struggles to remind him what it means to be human. And she fears her brother, Reev, is involved with the rebels. With the two people she cares about most on opposite sides of a brewing war, Kai will do whatever it takes to bring peace. But she’s lost her power to manipulate the threads of time, and she learns that a civil war might be the beginning of something far worse that will crumble not only Ninurta’s walls but also the entire city.
In this thrilling sequel to Gates of Thread and Stone, Kai must decide how much of her humanity she’s willing to lose to protect the only family she’s ever known.
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Caylee’s Book Review
I read Gates of Thread and Stone a few months ago and was ECSTATIC when I heard the The Infinite was coming out. The author sent me the link to the book so I got the chance to read it before it came out. It was an incredible moment!
Spoiler free!!!
The Infinite was absolutely amazing. I didn’t want to put it down! There were so many great things about this book. However, the characters were my favorite part. Everything about them was perfect. The way they act, the way they think, the way relationships form between each other. Kai, the main character has a new life and I feel like that was something really important. She is a strong figure, who readers can relate to and love. She has to adjust to some losses and changes in her life, while new dangers lurk outside the walls and await her. In addition, the role of her friends really helped make this book a page-turner. I enjoyed the addition of some new characters, while learning more about my favorites from Gates of Thread and Stone. **Avannnnn....sighhhhhh** Always looking out for her and supporting her, I thought the secondary characters were an important part of the book. In addition, the plot of the book was immaculate. It kept you hooked, it kept you excited, it made you feel like you were in the story yourself. Ninurta and Lanathrill are really interesting. Lee creates this whole fantasy world that you get sucked into and can’t help but love it. Overall, I highly recommend reading this series because both books were absolutely thrilling and the author Lori M. Lee is crazy-talented (Keep reading for our chat with her!). If you enjoy the world of fantasy, magic, characters to love and lots of action, be sure to order The Infinite!
Need to read the first one? Gates of Thread and Stone(Book #1)
In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.
In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.
Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.
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Praise <3 for Gates of Thread and Stone:
“Lori M. Lee excels in building a world of intrigue, oppression, and magic amidst a Labyrinth setting as twisted and winding as the secrets hidden inside her characters’ hearts. Fans of strong heroines who don’t need a boy to hold their hands, action-packed fighting scenes, and whispers of steampunk and mythology, will find themselves wishing they, too, could manipulate the threads of time, if only to stay inside the story a little longer.”
A.G. Howard, New York Times bestselling author of the SPLINTERED series
“A fast-paced, heart-wrenching whirl of a story full of magic, immortals, and a romance that will leave readers gasping for more. I adored the tough, scrappy narrator and fell in love with the boy chasing after her heart. Lori M. Lee introduces us to a fantasy world unlike any other and gives us the first taste of an epic love story in the making. I can’t wait for more!”
Mindee Arnett, THE NIGHTMARE AFFAIR series and AVALON series
“Inventive, romantic, and gripping. I was hooked from the first page!”
Amy Tintera, REBOOT and REBEL
“A thrilling adventure in a vivid world, GATES OF THREAD AND STONE is the kind of book you want to read both fast and slow: fast to find out what happens next and slow to savor the journey. I couldn’t put it down.”
Sarah Beth Durst
“Lee has woven a captivating fantasy that will thread its way into your heart and pull you into a world of magic and intrigue.”
Christina Farley, GILDED and SILVERN
Welcome to our chat with Lori M. Lee!
1. What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Read a lot. Books are a writer’s best tools for learning. They taught me characterization, pacing, dialogue, and how to structure a story arc. If a scene is particularly striking, slow down and take it apart. Figure out how the author was able to achieve it. Once you can answer that, you can do it in your own writing.
2. What is the most rewarding element of writing?
Prior to publication, it was being able to look back at everything I’d written, at the characters and worlds I’d created, and feel proud at what I’d accomplished and how much I’d improved as a writer. After publication, it’s knowing that there are readers who love my characters and the book as much as I do.
3. Was your journey to getting published difficult?
At the time, it felt long. But looking back on it, it was fairly quick. The first book I wrote didn’t pan out, which was heartbreaking, but the second one was picked up fairly quickly. Of course, it still took three years from when a publisher bought my book to when the book was released, but at least then, I knew it’d happen :)
4. If Kai could use her threads to travel into another fictional world, where would she choose to go?
What an awesome question! I think Kai would love Middle Earth. She has a restless spirit, so she’d enjoy traveling through the various lands and meeting new people. Also, she’d be fascinated (but wary) of the elves and their magic.
5. Will there be another book in the series? Can you give us any hints?
I can’t say anything definitive yet, but please cross your fingers for me! :D
6. Top 3 TV shows you look forward to each week?
Game of Thrones, the Flash, and Constantine.
7. Pancakes or waffles?
Waffles topped with syrup, sliced strawberries, chocolate chips, and whipped cream. YUM.
8. What did you find most rewarding about writing The Infinite?
The Infinite is the first sequel I’ve ever written. I was terrified, because I didn’t know if I could do it! Sequels are strange and different beasts from first books. So the most rewarding thing about writing it is discovering that I could do it. I hope you enjoy my efforts :)
Thanks, Lori for answering our questions and we are DEFINTELY enjoying your writing! Want to learn more about her?
About the Author: Lori M. Lee
Lori is the author of young adult fantasy novels Gates of Thread and Stone and The Infinite. She has a borderline obsessive fascination with unicorns, is fond of talking in capslock, and loves to write about magic, manipulation, and family. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, kids, and a friendly pitbull.
Author Links
As promised, here's the giveaway!!!
Win THE INFINITE swag pack with cover poster!
Where has Lori been and where will she be tomorrow???
