A Spear of Summer Grass is Deanna Raybourn's next full-length novel. Set in the twenties, it features a flapper who heads to Kenya "in search of adventure." I really don't need anything else to convince me, but I do love this cover and how different it is from her others. It screamed Out of Africa the first time I saw it, but my favorite bits are the aged creases, as though it were a faded photograph someone had folded and kept in her pocket. Due out May 1st or April 23rd (depending on where you check). I am so looking forward to the spring now. Fortunately, we've got the Lady Julia Grey Christmas novella coming out in just a couple of weeks to tide us over until this one comes out.
It seems a long time ago now that I first read Shiver -- the first book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. But looking back I started it on the plane ride to BEA and finished it there in the conference center, fingers gripping the cover tightly, while sitting on the floor in one of the many autograph lines. And now it's May again and BEA is right around the corner and I emerge from my recent and nasty reading slump stupor to find a copy of Linger sitting in my mailbox like a glove thrown down in the dirt. "I will be the one to pull you out," it whispers to me slyly. "Just open me up and take a sip. I promise--one sip is all it will take." And I look at it with fear and longing written all over my face. "You promise?" I ask intently. "Because it's been a long walk in the cold and I'm not sure I can take another disappointment." "Just open me up," it says, confidence written all over its cover. And so I do. And everythin
Oh that cover is gorgeous - I love the marked change from the Lady Julia novels, but it's still so beautiful. I can't wait for it! I'm slightly worried that being in the UK I may not be able to get my little grabby hands on the LJG novella when it's released though!
ReplyDeleteI know. It was the perfect direction to go coverwise.
DeleteOh dear. Surely they'll release it there as well!
I am so excited for this book. I love Lady Julia, but I'm excited to see what Deanna Raybourn can do with this time period. She really hasn't disappointed me yet. :) When I see the cover and the little blurb we've gotten, I'm reminded of M.M. Kay's "Death In..." series, which is one of my all time favorites. LOL - I'll probaby try to dampen my enthusiasm down to something more reasonable before it's actually released but for now I'm blissfully happy.
ReplyDeleteThat's the thing with authors who always come through for you. You don't feel that nervous terror when they embark on a new thing.
DeleteI haven't read any M.M. Kay. You recommend then?
I love M.M. Kaye (oops, I had to fix the spelling) and her Death In books are some of my very favorite books to re-read. They are dated and the newer covers are nasty looking, but they really take me to another place and time.
DeleteHm . . . sounds lovely. I will have to explore.
DeleteFlapper dress? 20s? I'm in! :)) And you're right, the cover "creases" are a nice touch!
ReplyDeleteHehe. Yeah, there's really nothing not to love about that synopsis.
DeleteRaybourn, flappers, and Africa? BE STILL MY HEART.
ReplyDeleteI knew you would be on board.
DeleteI found your site on someone's blogroll. The cover of the book is an immediate attention-getter and I had to see what it is about. The cover's gorgeous and I really thought it was an old vintage book at first! I'll be keeping this one in mind. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove the urbane, fantastical sensibility of your header too :-)
Glad you found your way over here, June. :) It really does look vintage, doesn't it? The art designers really nailed it with this one.
DeleteThanks for the header compliment! My brother is a lovely artist and he created it for me.
umm love!
ReplyDeleteI know!!
DeleteI am looking forward to both this book and Lauren Willig's African set book too! Interesting that they are both coming out at around the same time!
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting! I had no idea.
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