Chantress Blog Tour {Review, Dream Cast, Giveaway}

I'm thrilled to have the Chantress Blog Tour stopping by today with my review and Dream Cast...

Chantress

(Chantress Trilogy #1)

by Amy Butler Greenfield

5/7/13

Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry Books

Format: eARC

Source: Edelweiss

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Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Indiebound

Lucy’s Chantress magic will make her the most powerful — and most hunted — girl in England.
“Sing, and the darkness will find you.” This warning has haunted fifteen-year-old Lucy ever since she was eight and shipwrecked on a lonely island. Lucy’s guardian, Norrie, has lots of rules, but the most important is that Lucy must never sing. Not ever. Now it is 1667, Lucy is fifteen, and on All Hallows’ Eve, Lucy hears a tantalizing melody on the wind. She can’t help but sing — and she is swept into darkness.When she awakes in England, Lucy hears powerful men discussing Chantresses — women who can sing magic into the world. They are hunting her, but she escapes and finds sanctuary with the Invisible College, an organization plotting to overthrow the nefarious Lord Protector. The only person powerful enough to bring about his downfall is a Chantress. And Lucy is the last one in England.Lucy struggles to master the song-spells and harness her power, but the Lord Protector is moving quickly. And her feelings for Nat, an Invisible College apprentice and scientist who deeply distrusts her magic, only add to her confusion…Time is running out, and the fate of England hangs in the balance in this entrancing novel that is atmospheric and lyrical, dangerous and romantic.

BOOK TRAILER

Amy Butler Greenfield's Chantress is a captivating mix of magic, romance, and historical adventure. In 1667, fifteen year old Lucy lives on a deserted island with her guardian Norrie. Norrie's most important rule is that Lucy must never sing. But when Lucy hears a haunting melody on the wind, sing she does and she and Norrie are swept away by magic to England. Lucy discovers that she is a Chantress and can use magic through song. And Lucy's Chantress powers are needed to save England from the evil Lord Protector and its deadly Shadowgrims. Taken in by the Invisible College, a group of scientists and thinkers, Lucy must learn to control both her abilities and her confusing feelings for Nat, a young apprentice at the Invisible College.

Chantress certainly cast a spell on me and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Greenfield weaves a beguiling tale full of enchantments, historical intrigue, and likable characters. The concept of a Chantress, one who can manipulate and use magic through song, isn't a new concept, but I really liked the way Greenfield ran with this idea and what she did with it. Greenfield is a great storyteller and much of the writing in Chantress is quite beautiful. Like Lucy, I was easily swept away into this world of magic and science, fiction and history, and, for the most part, found it to be a fascinating world. The magical Chantress elements are a wondrous mix of whimsical and dark; I only wish more enchantments and spells were shown (I'm sure/hoping more will be shown in future books), but the ones present in book one are very cool.

The magical elements are fictitious of course, but I like how historically grounded the backdrop and setting are. Greenfield clearly did her historical research regarding this time period in England, and this really shines through. The historical, scientific, and magical aspects all work really well and just seem to fit together. I do wish the overall storyline was less predictable and more twisty. There are few instances where the plot feels a bit too forced or convenient and I would have appreciated more subtlety or complexity. A little more action would have been nice too.

Lucy is a likable, relatable heroine. She grows a good deal as a character and I enjoyed watching her come into her power, but I liked that she remained realistically fifteen. It took me some time to warm up to Nat, but after getting his backstory and getting to know him, I ended up really liking him. He isn't your typical overly romantic, grand gesture doing, cheesy love speech making, swoon-worthy YA love interest...but this is a good thing! Instead, he simply felt real and believable as a teenage guy who's been through some shizz, is kinda wary of magic, and who is falling for this girl who isn't sure he can trust. The interaction between Lucy and Nat is full of fun snark and I'm excited to see where their connection goes in future books. The villainous Lord Protector makes for a sinister and frightening villain, but I wish we were given more "facetime" with him.

The ending is satisfying but open, and I'm definitely interested to see what's next for Lucy.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Chantress has an enchanting premise that Amy Butler Greenfield ran with beautifully and that captivated me from beginning to end. An awesome first book in what I'm sure will be a fantastic series!

MY RATING

Amy Greenfield Butler

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Amy Butler Greenfield was a grad student in history when she gave into temptation and became a writer. Since then, she has become an award-winning author. 

Born in Philadelphia, Amy grew up in the Adirondack Mountains and later studied history at Williams College, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Oxford. She now lives with her family in England, where she writes, bakes double-dark-chocolate cake, and bounds over book piles as high as Tower Bridge. 

Among other honors, her books have won a PEN/Albrand Award, the Veolia Prix du Livre Environnement, and a Beacon of Freedom Award.

I've been given the very fun task of picking my Dream Cast for a Chantress movie. So here are my picks for actors to play a few of the key characters (and yes, I did choose an entire cast consisting of actors who have been on Supernatural! Why? Why not, lol?!)...

Madison McLaughlin as Lucy

I think Madison looks the age and part and would rock it as Lucy!

Osric Chau as Nat

I just adore Osric! I think he can pull of that smart, scientist vibe but also be a charming, makes your heart flutter, love interest.

Jim Beaver as Penebrygg

Jim Beaver is just plain awesome and I think he should play ALL the roles ever! 

Loretta Devine as Norrie

Loretta could definitely pull of the loving, motherly guardian role, right?! 

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Lord Protector

There's nothing better than a hot, evil villain and who's hotter than JDM?! 

Whaddya think of my picks?! 

Win a signed finished copy of Chantress!

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