SILVER Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Silver
By: Talia Vance
Reported by: Julianna Helms
Source: ARC via Netgalley/Publisher
Release Date: Sept. 8th, 2012 from Flux

An Irish heritage, Celtic myth, and deadly beauty

In eighth grade, Brianna did something so dreadful she was suspended and homeschooled. No one could explain what happened that night . . . except Brianna's Irish grandmother, who gave her a silver charm bracelet and told her to wear it until she turned seventeen. Ever since she slipped it on, Brianna has felt like she's invisible. People stare right past her as if she doesn't exist. And that includes Blake Williams, the one boy she can't resist.

But everything changes in one frozen, silver moment when Blake sees her--and recognizes what she's been hiding. Brianna is descended from Danu, the legendary Bandia of Celtic myth. Yet before she can fully understand who or what she is, Brianna accidentally binds her soul to Blake--whose tribe has spent the last thousand years hunting Danu's descendants to protect humanity.

-Summary from Goodreads
Pre-order: Mrs.Nelson's (support my local indie store!)||Barnes&Noble||Amazon||Book Depository

When describing Silver, the words clever--or perhaps witty--astounding, and bewilderingly intense come to mind. In this fascinating tale tangling threads of ancient Celtic myth and an authentic yet strong heroine, Silver manages to do three things: 1) make itself feel as valuable as silver (pun intended), 2) sincerely pluck out the nature of desire and growth of teenagers--therefore inducing twisted plots and often frustrating, but understandable, decisions, and 3) transform the mythological genre into a new excitingly unique and incredibly detailed creature.


Brianna is a protagonist who may not be the most cunning or responsible person in the world, but she is quick on her tongue and a do-er, not a sitter. In other words: this is a heroine who deserves the "hero" (in both the linguistic and romantic ways). The relationship between her and Blake was accidental but a powerful metamorphosis: from pure lust to pure bond, and then more, and then less, and the realistic portrayal (despite the mythological differences) of relationships enhanced the story rather than drag it down with tons of cliché romance.

I think what makes this book so compellingly rich is the way Talia Vance sneaks in foreshadowing. A fantastic story wouldn't make itself so great without some inventive foreshadowing, and Talia is the sensei: the story is a bundle of messes at one point and you're thinking what is going to happen? How? Is this what it will end up being: a jumbled jargon? and then suddenly the entire twist is thrown in your face. What makes it so special is that the carefully arranged plot pieces are not just one single storyboard, but multiple, subtle ones, so that even if you figure some things out and you believe that the story is but over, the eventual revelation that you never saw coming will only surprise--and enthrall--you all the more.

Silver may seem like simply a pretty cover and a blooming romance, but that judgment would be a mistake: In truth, the nature of Silver is like the furious scrawl of a quill, noting down myths and history. It is a platter of delicacies gifted with silver domes concealing the entrees, so that when you lift the tray and peek inside, it is a surprise, a mystery, and an invitation to a world meticulously crafted and tasteful both and at once.

Besides the review, Talia is also going to be giving away THREE SIGNED, FINISHED COPIES of Silver, AND Jaime (from Two Chicks on Books, who hosted this awesome awesome tour) is offering up a handmade bracelet just like the one Brianna wears. Freaking awesome, right? Just enter the giveaway below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are all of the tour stops, for your intellectual pleasure:

9/1/2012- YA Sisterhood- Blake Interview

9/2/2012-  Page Turners Blog hosted by Sophie- Lightening Round Q&A

9/3/2012-  The Review News- Review

9/4/2012- Two Chicks On Books- Dream Cast Post

9/5/2012-  What The Cat Read- Silver Playlist

9/6/2012-  I'm a Bookshark- Top Ten Scenes from Silver

9/7/2012- Debbie's World Of Books- Guest Post

9/8/2012- Magical Urban Fantasy Reads *****Release Day**** Scene from Blake’s POV

9/9/2012- The Ravenous Reader- Interview and Review

9/10/2012- Taters Tall Tales- Review

9/11/2012- Books Over Boys- Interview

9/12/2012- Jean Book Nerd- Interview

9/13/2012- Fiktshun- Celtic Myth Guest Post

9/14/2012- Literary Exploration- Interview

HAPPY SILVER-HUNTING! :D