The Quest to the Uncharted Lands Blog Tour (review & giveaway)

The Quest to the Uncharted Lands

(World of Solace #3)

By Jaleigh Johnson

June 13, 2017

Random House

From the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller The Mark of the Dragonfly comes another magical and thrilling story that takes readers on an exciting new adventure.

Stella Glass dreams of exploring worlds beyond her home of Solace, but when her famous parents are sent on a historic mission to the Uncharted Lands, it's simply too dangerous for her to join them. By order of the king, she is left behind.

Missing out on the excitement is one thing, but Stella is devastated at the thought of her parents flying into the unknown. So she takes matters into her own hands. Instead of staying with family as planned, she steals away and--right before takeoff--sneaks aboard the airship.

But Stella isn't the only stowaway. In the cargo bay is a boy who is also desperate to get to the Uncharted Lands. And someone else who's determined to keep the ship from making it there at all. . .

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Praise for The Quest to the Uncharted Lands

★ “The author's endearing STEAM-loving heroine and magical hero hit all the right buttons for middle grade readers. . . . Funny and heartbreaking . . . a must-have choice for all middle grade shelves.” —School Library Journal, Starred

"A full-throttle fanfare for those with a predilection for alchemy, adventure, and a little anarchy."—Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Secrets of Solace

★ “Highly recommended for those who have finished with Harry and are too young for Katniss.” — School Library Journal, Starred

“An engaging world rich in detail, mayhem, and adventure . . . All aboard for fantasy lovers with a dual penchant for girl power and keeping up with the Indiana Joneses.” —Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Mark of the Dragonfly

★ “This magnetic middle-grade debut . . . [is] a page-turner that defies easy categorization and ought to have broad appeal.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred

★ “Heart, brains, and courage find a home in a steampunk fantasy worthy of a nod from Baum.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred

★ “A fantastic and original tale of adventure and magic. . . . Piper is a heroine to fall in love with: smart, brave, kind, and mechanically inclined to boot.” —SLJ, Starred

The war in Solace has ended and its leaders are forging a fragile alliance and partnership, starting with a quest to the mysterious Uncharted Lands. Stella Glass’ healer parents are a part of the mission and will set off on the Iron Glory airship, bound for unknown danger and peril...which is why Stella stows away on the airship, determined to keep her parents safe. Once on board, Stella discovers another stowaway, an unusual boy named Cyrus with even more unusual abilities and secrets. And soon Stella and Cyrus realize that someone aboard is set on making the mission fail and keep everyone far away from the Uncharted Lands. The adventure and wild discoveries Stella has always wanted turn out to be more than she could have ever imagined!

Jaleigh Johnson’s middle-grade World of Solace series is simply superb! Each book in the series- The Mark of the Dragonfly, The Secrets of Solace, and now The Quest to the Uncharted Lands- can be read as standalone novels, but together, the three books make for an immersive, fun, and unforgettable reading experience.

Jaleigh Johnson weaves another pitch-perfect and exciting tale, full of captivating storytelling, wondrous world-building, and engaging characters. A wonderful mix of adventure and mystery fantasy and steampunk, The Quest to the Uncharted Lands is bursting with imagination. Over the course of three books, I’ve come to absolutely love the world of Solace and its fascinating facets to explore, from its formidable mountains, cool airships, meteor showers full of otherworldly objects, and different species and beings. Young readers will fall head first into this mesmerizing and dazzling world and will want to stay a long while! And in The Quest to the Uncharted Lands, readers finally get to explore the world beyond the dangerous mountains, a world that is full of surprises and marvels.

One of the things I love best about this series, are all the likable, well-written young characters, including Stella and Cyrus. Readers will love this resourceful, smart, and quirky pair...I especially loved the genuine and sweet friendship that blossoms between the two.

The Quest to the Uncharted Lands takes both Stella and Cyrus, and readers, on a high-flying adventure, full of thrilling peril, startling revelations, and enough excitement to fill an airship! This book, and series, are perfect for reads to squash any summer boredom!

MY RATING

5/5 Cupcakes

Jaleigh Johnson is a New York Times bestselling author as well as a lifelong reader, gamer, and moviegoer. She loves nothing better than to escape into fictional worlds and take part in fantastic adventures. Her novels for young readers include The Mark of the Dragonfly, The Secrets of Solace, and The Quest to the Uncharted Lands. Jaleigh lives and writes in the wilds of the Midwest, but you can visit her online at jaleighjohnson.com or follow @JaleighJohnson on Twitter.

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(5th MMGM) The Secrets of Solace Blog Tour (review & giveaway)

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The Secrets of Solace

By Jaleigh Johnson

March 8, 2016

Random House

From Jaleigh Johnson, the acclaimed author of The Mark of the Dragonfly, comes another thrilling adventure in the magical world of Solace.

Lina Winterbock lives in the mountain strongholds of Solace. She’s an apprentice to the archivists, the wise men and women whose lives are dedicated to cataloging, studying, and preserving the objects that mysteriously fall from the sky in the scrap towns.

Lina should be spending her days with books, but the Iron War has changed everything. The strongholds are now a refuge, and the people Lina once counted on no longer have time for her, so she spends her days exploring the hidden tunnels and passages of her home. The strongholds are vast and old, with twisting paths, forgotten rooms, and collapsed chambers, some of them containing objects that have been lost and forgotten even by the archivists.

And in one of the forgotten chambers, Lina discovers a secret.

Hidden deep in a cavern is a half-buried airship like nothing she has ever seen before. She’s determined to dig it out and restore it. But Lina needs help, and she doesn’t know anyone she can trust with her secret.

Then she meets Ozben, a mysterious boy who has a secret of his own—a secret that’s so dangerous it could change the course of the Iron War and the world of Solace forever.

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Praise for The Secrets of Solace

“An engaging world rich in detail, mayhem, and adventure…All aboard for fantasy lovers with a dual penchant for girl power and keeping up with the Indiana Joneses.”—Kirkus Reviews

Deep within the mountains of Solace, young Lina Winterbock studies as an archivist apprentice. The archivists study the many objects that fall onto Solace from other worlds. Lina discovers something extraordinary: a buried airship unlike anything she’s seen. Lina must keep her discovery a secret as she tries to dig it out, but she soon finds that the intense Iron War, between the Merrow Kingdom and the Dragonfly Kingdom, is fast approaching her mountains. When Lina meets the mysterious Ozben, the two find themselves on an incredible journey that just might save all of Solace!

In The Secrets of Solace, a companion to The Mark of the Dragonfly, author Jaleigh Johnson returns to her enthralling and unforgettable world, where objects fall from the sky. Like its companion novel, The Secrets of Solace excites, enchants, charms, and dazzles with superb storytelling, captivating world-building, and irresistible characters. The world of Solace, with its clever mix of fantasy, sci-fi, and steampunk elements, is beyond awesome. Johnson has done a wonderful job of creating a complex, fully realized world that young readers will love escaping to. The world of the archivists, in their mountain strongholds, vividly comes to life through lush world-building, smart details, and fantastical elements. This world is infused with so much imagination!

Lina and Ozben make for an engaging and likable heroine and hero. Both young characters are bursting with courage, compassion, heart, and intelligence. I just love their genuine, endearing friendship! Their adventures take them high and low, near and far, and up against friends and foes, and through it all they rely on their own special talents, and their bond, to get them through. Young readers will be rooting for these two until the very end!

My final thoughts: Returning to the magical, thrilling world of Solace was such a treat! The Secrets of Solace is a spectacular companion novel in a thoroughly enjoyable and special series!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jaleigh Johnson is a lifelong reader, gamer, and moviegoer. She loves nothing better than to escape into fictional worlds and take part in fantastic adventures. She lives and writes in the wilds of the Midwest, but you can visit her online at jaleighjohnson.com or on Twitter @JaleighJohnson.

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(MMGM) Jaleigh Johnson, author of The Mark of the Dragonfly {Review, Interview, Giveaway}

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The Mark of the Dragonfly

by Jaleigh Johnson

3/25/14

Random House 

Fans of The City of Ember will love The Mark of the Dragonfly, an adventure story set in a magical world that is both exciting and dangerous.
   Piper has never seen the Mark of the Dragonfly until she finds the girl amid the wreckage of a caravan in the Meteor Fields.
   The girl doesn't remember a thing about her life, but the intricate tattoo on her arm is proof that she's from the Dragonfly Territories and that she's protected by the king. Which means a reward for Piper if she can get the girl home.
   The one sure way to the Territories is the 401, a great old beauty of a train. But a ticket costs more coin than Piper could make in a year. And stowing away is a difficult prospect--everyone knows that getting past the peculiar green-eyed boy who stands guard is nearly impossible.
   Life for Piper just turned dangerous. A little bit magical. And very exciting, if she can manage to survive the journey.

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I lovelovelove Jaleigh Johnson’s The Mark of the Dragonfly! It has everything you can want in an awesome middle-grade read: thrilling adventure, sweet romance, endearing characters, steller storytelling, and refreshingly original fantasy; sci-fi; and steampunk elements.

Thirteen year old Piper, an incredibly talented machinist, lives in a world called Solace, where objects from other worlds and planets make their way among the Meteor Fields, and people like Piper collect, fix, and sell these objects. All alone since her father’s death, Piper does what she has to in order to survive. One night, during a terrible meteor storm, Piper finds a mysterious girl among a caravan wreckage. The young girl has the mark of the Dragonfly, meaning she’s under the protection of the king of the Dragonfly Territories and maybe worth a hefty reward. With no memory of who she is or where she came from, Piper decides to return the girl, Anna, to her territory. But when a scary man comes looking for Anna, she and Piper must stowaway on the 401, the majestic train that will take them to the Dragonfly Territories. The two girls soon find themselves on a breathless adventure, full of peril, unexpected friends, and  magic.

The Mark of the Dragonfly enchanted me from beginning to end! Jaleigh Johnson took me on an epic thrill ride through a captivating world full of magic, mystery, and grand marvels. Fast-paced and teeming with fun twists and turns, I couldn’t put this book down!

Johnson is a superb storyteller whose writing sparkles and shines! She has created a pitch-perfect middle-school fantasy, with fantastic sci-fi and steampunk elements. The world of Solace, with its terrifying Meteor Fields; mysterious objects from other worlds; and human and non-human inhabitants, makes for a fascinating and compelling setting. I loved exploring this world, with Piper and Anna, from inside and outside the beautiful 401. This grand train, with its own mysteries and surprises, is a spectacular world in itself.

Piper and Anna are two very different, yet equally lovable characters. With her determination, compassion, courage, and quick thinking, Piper is an admirable and worthy heroine. Smart, unique, sweet  Anna is such a wonderful companion for Piper. I love the genuine love and sisterly bond that develops between these two lovely girls!

Piper and Anna’s journey take them from Piper’s bleak Scrap Town Sixteen all the way to the big cities of the Dragonfly Territories and Piper’s first look at the breathtaking ocean. Along the way the girls encounter countless dangers, exciting escapades, surprising friends, magic they never dreamed existed, and uncovered life-changing secrets!

My Final Thoughts: Epic adventure. Fascinating new worlds. Unforgettable characters. Excellent storytelling...The Mark of the Dragonfly has it all and so much more! This awesome book is full of endless fun and a definite must read!

MY RATING

What three words best describe The Mark of the Dragonfly?

Friendship. Magic. Trains.

Can you give us your best one sentence pitch to convince readers, especially reluctant readers, to give The Mark of the Dragonfly a try?

In a world of magic and strange creatures, two girls who couldn’t be more different must come together to save each other by stowing away onboard a beautiful old steam train called the 401.

Grab a copy of The Mark of the Dragonfly and answer the following:

favorite chapter?  Chapter 6.

favorite page?  Pg. 382.

flip to a random page and give us a 1-2 sentence teaser?

Piper stopped dead.

In the moonlight, the creature looked equal parts lizard, bird, and man, with eyes that glowed green and leathery wings that stretched to a huge span on either side of its body.

What inspired The Mark of the Dragonfly? How did the story come to be?

Two of the main inspirations were the train and the dragonfly symbol.  The dragonfly came to me six years ago when I needed a pin to wear on the back of my wedding dress, and I found this little dragonfly pin sitting on a table at a store.  I bought it, and ever since then I’ve started seeing dragonflies in lots of art and architecture.  The image stuck with me and ended up as a tattoo on one of my characters and the most recognizable symbol of the book.  And I’m still seeing dragonflies everywhere.

The other inspiration is a steam train at the railway museum in Monticello, Illinois.  The Southern 401 is an actual, functioning steam engine restored by museum volunteers.  They spent 15 years working on it, and it’s a beautiful old train.  I thought what a shame it would have been if those wonderful volunteers had given up along the way, and the 401 might have remained a rusted old shell, forgotten by the world.  It made me think of all the things we throw away in our lives, the objects that were once important to us but that we end up forgetting.  I wondered what would happen if those forgotten things somehow made their way to another place, somewhere they could be restored and valued.  That’s how my world of Solace came to be, and the story grew from there.  

There are some memorable characters in The Mark of the Dragonfly, do you have a favorite? What do you love about him/her? Did any of your characters end up surprising even you with the way they turned out?

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but Piper and Anna’s relationship turned out to be one of the most surprising and joyful parts of writing this book.  They are so very different, yet the more I wrote about them, the more I realized that each is missing something vital, an emotional hole only the other person can fill.  They take strength from each other, and I loved exploring that as I wrote.  And of course, I had a blast doing their dialog, playing with the contrasts between them.

If you could live in any fictional world from any book, which would you choose? What would you do there?

You’d most likely find me living in Middle Earth in the Shire.  I think I’d have no trouble living like a hobbit, in my warm little hobbit hole just a few doors down from Bilbo Baggins.  But I wouldn’t mind if a wizard came to call now and then with talk of adventure in faraway lands. I might be enticed out of my hidey-hole to see an elf or two.

As a middle-grade author, why do you think middle-grade is so important? What do you love about writing and reading middle-grade?

I think middle-grade is important because those are the books that have stayed with me all my life.  I love that I can still go back to stories like A Wrinkle in Time and Charlotte’s Web, and none of the wonder of those books has diminished for me.  Sometimes I’ll reread books I loved in high school or college and realize that I don’t enjoy them anymore.  They aren’t the same in my memory, or I’ve changed too much as a person to appreciate them.  That’s not the case with middle-grade, not for me anyway.     

What is your all time favorite middle-grade book, middle-grade hero, and middle-grade heroine?

 A Wrinkle in Time. Charles Wallace and Meg Murry.  Those two have a very special place in my heart.

Fill in the blanks:

I’m really awesome at games. All kinds. I’ve loved them since I was a kid.

I’m really embarrassed to admit that I want to be sleeping at noon and writing at midnight. That’s my ideal life.

The last great book I read was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

If you were to create and bake a cupcake inspired by The Mark of the Dragonfly, what would it look and taste like, and what would you call it?

Well, it would be called The Dragonfly, of course.  Let’s see, I’m picturing a rich vanilla cupcake with a lemon cream cheese frosting tinged green and dusted all over with gold sprinkles.  There might even be a hidden lemon curd filling inside.  Man, do I really want a cupcake now!

Thanks so much, Jaleigh, for stopping by!

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Win 1 of 3 copies of The Mark of the Dragonfly, plus a bookmark and tattoo!

The awesome folks at Random House have generously offered up three copies of books and fun swag for three winners.

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