Early release of Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas controversy: Why can't we all be adults here?

In light of all the horrible controversy over Sarah's latest book, Empire of Storms, which is set to release September 6th this year, we've got to remember the one person who gave us great characters to look up to and root for!

The beautiful and talented Sarah J Maas!

Most recently we heard about Lindsay Cummings, author of The Murder Complex duology and The Balance Keepers trilogy, managing to find a hardcover copy of EoS at the Chicago Airport two weeks before the actual release date. This sent fans into a frenzy of emotions and chaos. At first this made me so excited and I was happy to see that a fellow author friend of Sarah's had managed to swipe a copy for herself.

Majorly delayed at the airport, and I NO LONGER CARE BECAUSE I FOUND EMPIRE OF STORMS HERE EARLY OMGOMGOMG @SJMaas pic.twitter.com/2SCgOXvV5S

— Lindsay Cummings (@authorlindsayc) August 20, 2016

When I woke up Saturday morning (NZ time) to check Twitter, I noticed that everyone had gone crazy over a number of other people who had also managed to get their hands on a copy (possibly from the exact same bookstore at the airport in Chicago where Lindsay got hers) and had finished it, along with either expressing their enraged thoughts about what had seemed to happen in the books or venting their anger by leaving abusive comments on the novel's Goodreads page.

A Snapchat picture of where I vented my frustration about the childish reviewers (a major understatement).

There seemed to be major tension about how certain readers thought that the Throne of Glass series was racist, abusive and discriminating through multiple characters actions, dialogue or have said that people of colour have seemed to be killed off more than others. In my opinion, some people on Twitter have gone way too far. They may say that there is no evidence of death threats towards Sarah, but that does not change the fact that there is plentiful hate and biases about particular themes that may appear throughout the series. Some people just can't seem to be adults and review a book in a more respectable manner.

go back to kissing your white mediocre author's ass I can't believe you can even speak when you're stuck so far up in there

— westfall zoe (@persrephones) August 27, 2016

One anonymous source seems to point out that Sarah is not a good author and just writes in steamy sex scenes to cover up her lack of talent for plot lines and character development whilst comparing her work to Fifty Shades of Grey. Well sorry to disappoint you but Sarah actually has talent for writing and she didn't become a best selling author from writing a trashy S&M novel. Must I point out how much character development Celaena Sardothien went through in the first four books to get to where she is now in her story?

pic.twitter.com/q6UjUYFayk

— anon book opinions (@shadybooktweets) August 28, 2016

Despite the horrors of this situation, there are still many devoted fans who are trying to support Sarah through this rough patch. A couple of hashtags #SJMDefenseSquad and #ToGIsJustBeginningParty started in an attempt to push the haters away and put a positive light on the imminent release of EoS.

Guys please help retweet and spread the message so that @SJMaas can see this letter! #sjmdefensesquad pic.twitter.com/0SWRM1oPfp

— Sarah J. Maas HK (@maas_hk) August 27, 2016

#togisjustbeginningparty #sjmdefensesquad I love and support @SJMaas and all that she does. She is super kind and completely adorkable 😍😍😘

— Anna Deles (@ALDeles) August 27, 2016

Why are people hating SJM? It's HER book, she can do what she wants. She does what she does and that won't please everyone #sjmdefensesquad

— Jules (@julsreads) August 27, 2016

My statement for the #togisjustbeginningparty #sjmdefensesquad pic.twitter.com/uC89eUDTis

— Terri (@canslerterri) August 27, 2016

 Please remember that when you're voicing your own thoughts and opinions on the internet, people will be affected in one way or another. Sarah J Maas, who I have personally met in person at her book signing in Auckland City, New Zealand last year in September, is such a wonderful, talented and down-to-earth individual and she has feelings like every one of us. If you have trouble with the concept of cyberbullying, try put yourself in her shoes or imagine saying what you've said to her face.

You are book lovers, book reviewers, fandom fanatics, etc. Please remember why you love to read and the fact that just because a book doesn't go in the direction you'd hoped or it doesn't contain a certain theme or aspect that you wanted, it doesn't give you a free pass to go and obliterate the author with your harsh words. Be a kind human and spread love and if you feel the need to review a book in a not-so-nice way, do it professionally through a blog post and leave it at that or talk to your friends about it through private message or even in person. Don't forget to be civilised and humane.

This world already has way too much hate and sadness. Do your part to make it a better place to live in so that we can all come online with confidence and celebrate what we love most.

A photo of Sarah and I at her Auckland, New Zealand signing in September 2016.

by Ella Fleming-Christie

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I created my first tag video for Booktube!: Character Habits Tag! - FeathersandFaith

Hey everyone! I finally created my own tag on YouTube! I came up with this idea surprisingly just by not being able to sleep one night! The following morning (after I eventually drifted off to sleep) I wrote everything down so I wouldn't forget it and then the next couple of weeks I spent most of my time sorting it out and figuring out how I would film everything and who I would tag.

Now that I have uploaded it, everyone who I tagged seem to be passionately keen to film their own versions of this and I am so thrilled to be able to hear that from them! I am so interested on seeing how they all portray this tag and what type of scenes/skits they'll do to interpret the characters they have chosen!

If you are wanting to do this tag video, I will leave the tag questions for you all down below!:


Choose a character:

1. Who is too clumsy for their own good
2. Who's love could save the world
3. Who makes decisions then suffers the consequences later
4. Who would die protecting their best friend
5. That would do anything for a family member
6. Who has a revenge plan to take over the world
7. Who is truly lethal, inside and out
8. Who is too serious to take a joke
9. Who has great leadership skills but doesn't realise it/doesn't want to accept responsibility
10. Who is an introvert and doesn't mind being alone


If you decide to do this tag then please comment the link to your video down below! If you have decided that you are not overly confident acting out a scene or talking in front of a camera but you would like to do it in the form of a blog post then you could take photos of you as the character doing their typical habit instead. Remember to also leave the link to your post down below as well so I can go check it out and even retweet it!

I hope you all enjoy this video and I promise that I have many more original videos in the process of being created now so there won't be a short supply of awesomeness! I love you all and I'll talk to you soon!

All the best,

Ella Fleming-Christie - FeathersandFaith xoxo

Find more out about my writing career at:

http://ellafleming-christie.weebly.com

My YouTube Channel: FeathersandFaith

Darkened Shadows: The Call by A.L. Terry: Book Review

Cameron Evans never had a typical childhood with the death of her mother, her father leaving at a young age, and the disappearance of her older brother Abraham. Everyone knew about her life’s story and everyone gossiped about it even now. After the death of her mother her step-father, Richard, being the only living person eligible to keep her adopted her and thus raised her until the events during her senior year of High School. The summer before Cameron's last school year she joined her friend Kelsey to a party that was said to be the party of the year. Little did Cameron know that night would be the start of a very up and down spiral in her life. It had been years since she had nightmares about her brother Abraham and years since she had spoken to her ex-boyfriend Adam whom on the night of the party brings terror to Cameron at which introduces Sawyer a male who unknowingly to Cameron was sent to protect her against the unknown creatures that were coming after her.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

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From reading the description of this novel, I didn't quite know what to expect or what I was really getting myself into when I decided to read and review for my friend, A.L. Terry. At first, a mystery/thriller novel is what popped into my mind while reading the blurb and not one bit of a hint was given as to what else it could have in store. I was shocked to find that this was everything I was looking for in a dark fantasy read. For a debut novel, I feel overwhelmed after reading this as I have been given off an "experienced writer" vibe - this book has definitely been another of which has reminded me why I love reading so much and A.L. Terry has brought back the memories of when I first started to write stories for the love of a good plot and romance between two individuals in need of attention.

In terms of suspense and a gripping storyline, I felt like I was pulled in deep and I couldn't return, nor did I even want to (not to mention I read this book in the time frame of about 4 hours!). Thinking about how werewolves and vampires were a big topic a few short years ago, it's not hard to see the similarities and likabilities in this story. I feel like the two different species gives a sense of a side to choose and how hard it is to make a certain decision. In Cameron's case it's very clear that she is to become a Gathien due to her bloodline, but aspires to be as loving, caring and understanding as the werewolves. The development of the plot was well done as everything pieced itself together perfectly and no little details were left out. Everything in terms of powers, gifts or changing was explained in a way which I understood and made sense of for something that I have never actually read about before, specifically in terms of the Gathiens and their abilities.

Cameron is a very strong character and I like the way she is able to stand up for herself and not be the damsel-in-distress as almost every main female character seems to be; with the exception of Katniss Everdeen, Rose Hathaway, Celaena Sardothian, etc! Cameron knows how to handle things in a way that will deem her as someone who is smart but will sometimes make acts out of love and sacrifice which is another thing I like, although sometimes can lead her into trouble she could have avoided. Then again, who likes a story where there is no trouble?

The love for her brother seems to be stronger than what she has towards Sawyer and I appreciate that also as she knows where her loyalties lie and she will not go down without a fight knowing that there is a possibility that she can save him, even if it does cost her life. The relationship with Sawyer however I feel like I didn't see enough development with. I recall a passing time period where she stays at the mansion for a few weeks to stay safe but there wasn't enough times with them slowly getting used to each other for me to really see how they could have gained a good relationship with each other. I feel like the kiss on the head was moving a little too fast at first but either way, it still left a little tingle in my stomach. I don't not like how they ended up, in fact, I definitely ship Cameron and Sawyer! I just feel like there could have been a little more development between the two love birds.

Overall I really loved this book and I am itching to read the next one as the plot twist at the end gave me a shiver of excitement and confusion which I love! So I have give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars because I really couldn't see much I didn't like about it, if any and I actually got more into this novel than I originally thought I would. I feel like this will be a series that will stay with me for a long time to come! Don't forget to let me know if you buy this book too!

Go add Darkened Shadows: The Call to your Goodreads list HERE

Find more out about my writing career at:

http://ellafleming-christie.weebly.com

My YouTube Channel: FeathersandFaith