the hero’s guide to storming the castle: blog tour & giveaway

Welcome to The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle blog tour!  Christopher Healy’s debut, The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, was a middle grade book that impressed me by twisting traditional fairy tale tropes.  It was hilarious, goofy, monster-packed, and featured a great cast of characters (and villains!).  Luckily, they’re back for more in The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle.

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You remember them, don't you? They're the Princes Charming who finally got some credit after they stepped out of the shadows of their princesses - Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Briar Rose - to defeat an evil witch bent on destroying all their kingdoms. 

But alas, such fame and recognition only last so long. And when the princes discover that an object of great power might fall into any number of wrong hands, they are going to have to once again band together to stop it from happening - even if no one will ever know it was they who did it. 

Christopher Healy, author of the acclaimed The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, takes us back to the hilariously fractured fairy-tale world he created for another tale of medieval mischief. Magical gemstones, bladejaw eels, a mysterious Gray Phantom, and two maniacal warlords bent on world domination - it's all in a day's work for the League of Princes.

One of the best things about this series is the non-stop banter between the heroes and heroines, but the villains aren’t snubbed in that department either.  Deeb Rauber is an 11-year old Bandit King, and a handful at that.  Read on for more of Deeb’s vital stats.  I think you can tell a lot about someone by their Signature Move.  Deeb is no exception! 

Deeb Rauber

Occupation: Bandit King

Age: 11

Affiliation: Leader, Bandit Army

Kingdom of Origin: Harmonia (though he won’t admit it)

Current Residence: Castle von Deeb, Rauberia

Parents: Prudence & Stanley Rauber

Longtime Foe: His cousin, Ella, who has never been able to truly comprehend the enormity of his diabolical wickedness

Likes: Crime sprees, reveling in his notoriety, candy
Dislikes: Trolls, the League of Princes, stinking trolls, mentions of his age, dirty stinking trolls

Signature Move: The Wedgie-Spitball Double-Humiliator

Quote: “I feel like a snack. Let’s go steal the cake from that royal wedding in Jangleheim.”

Little Known Fact: Dunked one of his bandits in a vat of caramel just for using the word “kid.” And the poor man had only been referring to a goat he saw.

Interested in more of the same?  To visit other blog tour posts featuring characters in The Hero’s Guide series, follow this link.  Christopher Healy will also take part in a Twitter chat with Marissa Meyer on the subject of fractured fairy tales at 9pm EST on Monday, June 3^rd.  If that’s up your alley, check out the hashtag #talesretold at the appointed time.

And with that, may I introduce a fabulous giveaway? The first THREE entrants each day will receive signed copies of The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle and EVERYONE who enters is eligible to win a $200 gift card to the bookstore of his or her choice. You will need this SECRET CODE to enter the giveaway: Prince Charming. Enter here.  Giveaway open to US addresses only, and will run until May 26th.  Winners will bGo back and enter each day for another chance to win!  Good luck!

Fine print: giveaway hosted by Walden Pond Press through Facebook.

waiting on wednesday (50)

Today I’m participating in "Waiting On" Wednesday, a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Its purpose is to spotlight upcoming book releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Last year was a great one for me in terms of discovering terrific middle grade books, and it’s one of the reasons I’m doing Middle Grade March this month.  Two of the titles I enjoyed in 2012 were the first books in series, though I didn’t realize that at the time.  I’m excited to read more silly-funny fairy tale adventure from Christopher Healy, and traditional portal fantasy (with a pooka!) from Sarah Prineas, author of Winterling.  The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle will be released by Walden Pond Press (HarperCollins) on April 30th, and Summerkin will be released by HarperCollins on April 23^rd.

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You remember them, don't you? They're the Princes Charming who finally got some credit after they stepped out of the shadows of their princesses - Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Briar Rose - to defeat an evil witch bent on destroying all their kingdoms. 

But alas, such fame and recognition only last so long. And when the princes discover that an object of great power might fall into any number of wrong hands, they are going to have to once again band together to stop it from happening - even if no one will ever know it was they who did it. 

Christopher Healy, author of the acclaimed The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, takes us back to the hilariously fractured fairy-tale world he created for another tale of medieval mischief. Magical gemstones, bladejaw eels, a mysterious Gray Phantom, and two maniacal warlords bent on world domination - it's all in a day's work for the League of Princes.

"Down through the Way she fell, feeling the wind and the pressing darkness, the dizzy thump when she landed on the bank. She was through. The air felt softer here, the shadows deeper—and the pull of her connection to the land settled into her bones." 

In the Summerlands, time moves slowly, roots grow deeply, and change is not welcomed. But change is needed. 

After defeating the wicked Mor and freeing her kin from deadly oaths made to this false ruler, Fer is now the rightful Lady of the land. Yet her people don't know what to make of their new Lady's strange ways, and neither do the High Ones, the rulers of the magical realm, for Fer is an outsider—half human. 

To prove herself worthy of the Summerlands crown, Fer is summoned to compete in an epic contest where her strengths and skills will be tested and her loyalties challenged. Can she trust Rook, the puck she calls friend? Can she trust herself? If Fer fails, she will lose her land and the Way will be closed to her forever.

What books are you waiting on?

the hero’s guide to saving your kingdom

Retold fairy tales are a favorite fantasy sub-genre of mine.  Whether we’re talking about something classic like Edith Pattou’s East or a graphic novel fairy tale mash-up like Bill Willingham’s Fables, I am all-in and interested.  These stories not only re-mix something familiar, they show us important truths – that there is a heart inside the beast, or that the loveliest wrappings sometimes hide wicked hearts.

When I first heard about Christopher Healy’s The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, I thought that turning the ‘Prince Charming’ tale on its head might just be the retelling of the year.  And while it’s still too soon to tell, the book did make me crow with laughter at multiple points.  I’ll be looking for more middle grade fantasy from Healy, that’s for sure!

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You've never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as Prince Charming. But all of this is about to change. Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Gustav stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it's up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other assorted terrors, and become the heroes no one ever thought they could be.

Debut author Christopher Healy takes us on a journey with four imperfect princes and their four improbable princesses, all of whom are trying to become perfect heroes—a fast-paced, funny, and fresh introduction to a world where everything, even our classic fairy tales, is not at all what it seems.

The Hero’s Guide introduces the reader one by one to various Princes who have been heroic enough (at least according to the bards) to attain the title of ‘Prince Charming.’  Each of these fellows (Frederic, Gustav, Liam & Duncan) has his own version of his story, and it doesn’t match the official tale.  They also have their particular faults and strengths.  What follows is a story of teaming up and running into trouble (over and over and OVER again!).

Healy combines the traditional stories of Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel and Cinderella into the overall narrative, and from there things go haywire, sideways, and explosions feature prominently.  It’s fun, silly, outrageous and a really good time.  While I don’t want to spoil any of the storylines or (gasp!) tell you how it ends, I think I can safely say that we’ll be seeing more of this hilarious and rag-tag group of Prince Charmings in the future.

In spite of the Princes’ zany antics and frequent clashes with monsters, the main theme of The Hero’s Guide is character growth.  Frederic, Gustav, Liam and Duncan all learn various lessons (some less savory than they would have hoped), and come to appreciate each others’ quirks and strengths.  And let me not forget the Princesses of all of their tales!  The twists put on the personalities of Briar Rose, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Snow White fleshed out the story.  I have no doubt those (dis)reputable ladies will feature prominently in future adventures.

One of the best bits about the book is the tongue in cheek, smart-alecky dialogue.  It will appeal not only to the middle grade target audience, but also to the adults who read it to them.  It’s a bit silly for the usual YA audience, however teens with a sense of humor will likely get a kick out of it too.  And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the fantastic artwork throughout the book.  Todd Harris' drawings add something special to the reading.

My one (only, tiny!) annoyance with the book were the frequent asides to the reader – things like ‘But you’ll have to wait until Chapter 20 to find out more!’ and ‘Spoiler alert!’  These did not alter my final opinion of the book – I thought it was a smashingly good time.

Recommended for: fans of fantasy, fairy tales and monsters, devotees of funny middle grade fiction, and anyone who has wondered if there was something ‘more’ to the classic Prince Charming than just the traditional story.

Fine print: I received an ARC of The Hero's Guide for review from Walden Pond Press (HarperCollins).  I received no compensation for this review.

teaser tuesday (80)

It's Teaser Tuesday, a bookish blog meme hosted every week by MizB of Should Be Reading. Here's how it works:

Grab your current read and let it fall open to a random page (or if you're reading on an electronic device, pick a random number and scroll to that section). Post two or more sentences from that page, along with the book title and author. Share your find with others in the comments at Should Be Reading, and don't give anything vital away!

“Now unarmed, the prince stood face-to-face with the troll. The monster was nearly three feet taller than him, but Gustav showed no hint of fear. Gustav didn’t really do ‘fear.’”

p. 42 of Christopher Healy’s The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom (ARC version)

waiting on wednesday (24)

I’m participating today in "Waiting On" Wednesday. It is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, and its purpose is to spotlight eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.

You’ve probably noticed by now that this month (March) is mostly about middle grade love. I mean, middle grade fiction in general is pretty lovable. It is plucky heroes and heroines just growing up. Not so much the romance and a little less teenage angst than young adult lit, but with the same emotional punch. And let’s not forget adventures and discoveries and MAGIC. Well, add in a dash of fairytales, the promise of humor and a great cover, and I’m sold. On what book, you ask? The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom releases on May 1, 2012 from Walden Pond Press (HarperCollins).

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You've never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as Prince Charming. But all of this is about to change. Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Gustav stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it's up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other assorted terrors, and become the heroes no one ever thought they could be.

Debut author Christopher Healy takes us on a journey with four imperfect princes and their four improbable princesses, all of whom are trying to become perfect heroes—a fast-paced, funny, and fresh introduction to a world where everything, even our classic fairy tales, is not at all what it seems.

What books are you waiting on?