Welcome to my tour stop! Check out an interview with the author and enter the giveaway below...
By Shannon Price
YA Suspense, Thriller
Hardcover & ebook, 304 Pages
November 5th 2019 by Tor Teen
Summary
Shannon Price's A Thousand Fires is a breakout contemporary debut―think The Outsiders meets The Iliad―that's perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Veronica Roth.
10 Years. 3 Gangs. 1 Girl’s Epic Quest…
Valerie Simons knows the city's gang wars are dangerous—her own brother was killed by the Boars two years ago. But nothing will sway her from joining the elite and beautiful Herons to avenge his death—a death she feels responsible for.
But when Valerie is recruited by the mysterious Stags, their charismatic and volatile leader Jax promises to help her get revenge. Torn between old love and new loyalty, Valerie fights to stay alive as she races across the streets of San Francisco to finish the mission that got her into the gangs.
Praise for A THOUSAND FIRES
"A Thousand Fires pulls you in close and shows you the essence of what it means to keep fighting. Shannon Price is one to watch." ―Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds
"Brutal and beautiful, A THOUSAND FIRES broke my heart. A fast-paced tragedy of love, betrayal, and vengeance." ―Heidi Heilig, author of FOR A MUSE OF FIRE
"Modern, unflinching and filled with haunting, lingering imagery, A Thousand Fires gives the story of the Iliad the bare-knuckled update it deserves." ―Colleen Oakes, author of The Black Coats
"Fast-paced... Vivid descriptions and intricate details bring San Francisco to life ... A promising debut." ―Kirkus
"A heart-wrenching tale... action-packed and intense... A fantastic read." ―School Library Journal
Interview
Would you tell us a little more about Valerie and Jax, the main characters from A THOUSAND FIRES?
Valerie is a character who’s trapped. Having lost her brother at a young age and feeling like it’s her fault, she’s paralyzed by her grief and fixates on one way to break out of it (even if that’s not the healthiest of ways, by any means). Jax, on the other hand, has always felt free to do what he wants. When they meet, Val is struck by Jax’s recklessness, and Jax in turn is drawn to Val because he admires her sole focus on what she wants. Once he decides to help her, he doesn’t really care about the consequences or that the other Stags don’t understand why. It’s what he wants, and that’s all Jax cares about.
What one piece of advice would Valerie give about surviving in the gangs?
Keep your mouth shut.
What part or aspect of this story do you love the most?
Writing Jax was such a blast. He’s the Achilles-figure, so there was a lot of rich source material for me to work. Achilles has been portrayed in so many ways over the centuries, and it was fun to decide which shade of him I wanted to display in my book.
Did you find anything especially interesting while researching, or challenging while writing A THOUSAND FIRES?
Working with a source material like the Iliad was really daunting—I wanted to honor the text without writing a scene-by-scene retelling. In the end, there are some plot points that are more obviously a nod to Homer’s epic than others. My hope is that readers who are familiar with the story pick up on those elements, while others who haven’t read the Iliad might be intrigued enough by ATF to do so.
What’s one of your hobbies or something we might not know about you?
I love baking and baking shows—I rewatch The Great British Bakeoff all the time, and it usually inspires me to go make something myself.
What book are you currently reading or what three books are on your tbr?
Currently reading Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin. The writing is really beautiful and it’s full of witches and twisty secrets—perfect for this time of year!
About the Author
SHANNON PRICE is a proud Filipina-American and Bay Area native. She once led an a cappella group for three years despite not knowing how to read music, and she carries that same level of confidence in every area of her life. When not writing, she can be found watching baking shows, exploring old bookstores, and going to the beach as often as she can.
Her debut novel A Thousand Fires is a YA reimagining of the Iliad set in modern day San Francisco. She is represented by Elana Roth Parker of Laura Dail Literary Agency and thanks her lucky stars that she is.
PHOTO CONTENT FROM SHANNON PRICE
Tour-Wide Giveaway
- 6 Winners will receive a Copy of A THOUSAND FIRES by Shannon Price.
- Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter Ends | 11/26/19
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Have you read the Iliad? Is this contemporary twist on your list to read? What did you think of the interview?
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