Cover Reveal >> Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate Manga #2)

Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate Manga #2)

Check out the gorgeous cover for the upcoming second installment of Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate manga series! I am absolutely smitten with the blue-ness of this ensemble, and the lovely fullness of that parasol. The capelet is a nice touch to the outfit as well, wouldn't you say? I am looking forward to picking up a copy of Changeless, due out sometime in December. What are your thoughts on the cover? Are you inspired to make your own Alexia steampunk outfit?

Get the "Cate Cahill" Look

"It's impossible to care about new dresses with so much to fret about. But that's my conundrum, isn't it?" ~Cate Cahill, Born Wicked

The Born Wicked Look

Review >> Born Wicked

Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1) by Jessica Spotswood -- February 7, 2012 -- Hardcover, 330 pages, Putnam (9780399257452)

"Our mother was a witch, too, but she hid it better."

Cate Cahill and her sisters, Tess and Maura, are different from the other girls in town. They're too educated, too well read, and keep to themselves most of the time. They're also hiding a very big secret: they're all witches, just like their deceased mother. However, being a witch in 19th century Chatham is dangerous business, especially when accusations of witchery have become unbearably rampant in recent years. The Brotherhood is starting to crack down on the women of the town, and targeting young girls who are a bit odd, or defiant, or who exhibit lustful behavior. The girls are then sent to a prison ship, or Harwood Asylum, but more often than not, the girl's are never heard from again. Now, Cate must do everything in her power to protect her sisters from exposing their powers to anyone other than themselves, lest they be punished for their wicked deeds. The situation is made even more complicated when a handsome suitor and Cate's childhood friend, Paul, shows up to ask for her hand in marriage, a role she would happily accept if it weren't for the fact that she'd have to leave her sisters in Chatham unprotected, and she is finding herself falling in love with the reclusive but kind gardener, Finn.

Upcoming Films, Les Adieux a la Reine

Farewell, My Queen

Happy Easter!

“By first believing in Santa Claus, then the Easter Bunny, then the Tooth Fairy, Rant Casey was recognizing that those myths are more than pretty stories and traditions to delight children. Or to modify behavior. Each of those three traditions asks a child to believe in the impossible in exchange for a reward." ~Chuck Palahniuk, Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey

Get the "Faye Robson" Look

The Harbinger Look

Taking our cues from Sara Wilson Etienne's novel, Harbinger, comes a look inspired by the cover photo. The designs for this image are derived from the Two of Swords tarot card, traditionally depicting a blindfolded individual holding two double edged blades, with the moon hovering in the background. In Harbinger, the two of swords tarot card has been altered to represent the Harbinger, who will decide the fate of humanity.

Although achieving this simple look should be a walk on the beach, I wouldn't recommend wearing the blindfold while trying to save the world. You can find fitted strapless black dresses in most clothing stores, as it's practically a staple in any girl's wardrobe, but why not try this Candlelit Dinner Date Dress , available from Modcloth for $57.99. The structured bodice on this dress is exquisite, with a sweet ribbon on the waist and a lace skirt overlay that screams "woman of mystery." Complete the look with these uniquely designed black pumps ($64.99), a pair of lacy red gloves  ($11.99), and a pair of crescent moon earrings ($11.99), all available from Modcloth.

Finish off your look with a silk ribbon mask for an authentic Harbinger feel, or a lacy mask for a more practical accesssory. You can make your own, or purchase one like this from Etsy.

I hope you've enjoyed my take on Harbinger's own little deviant, Faye Robson. How would you wear The Harbinger look? Show me your best Faye coordinates!

Review >> Harbinger

Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne

Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne -- February 2, 2012 -- Hardcover, 309 pages, Putnam (9780399256684)

"'Nay, are there not moods which shall find no expression unless there be men who dare mix heaven, hell, purgatory, and faeryland together, or even to set the heads of beasts to the bodies of men, or to thrust the souls of men into the hearts of rocks?'"

Harbinger is the story of a young girl's struggle to supress the horrific images she sees when looking into other people's eyes, and her inability to cope with the reality of everyday life in a world nearly destroyed by humanity. Her parents decide to send her away to Holbrook Academy, a boarding school for misguided youths, under the guidance of the head caretaker, Dr. Murdoch. Feeling betrayed and abandoned, Faye must accept the help Holbrook Academy has to offer, or face the abuse of the sadistic groundskeepers called Takers. However, she soon learns that there is more to this mysterious institution than the cookie-cutter facade presented in the brochures sent to her family. Now, Faye and her "family" of misfits at Holbrook, including the elusive and brooding Kel, find themselves involved in an ancient ritual involving crude talismans, symbols drawn in red, hidden rooms, and a foreboding prophecy predicting the end of life on Earth.