The Ravens of Solemano by Eden Unger Bowditch

The Ravens of Solemano
or The Order of the Mysterious Men in Black
(The Young Inventors Guild)
by Eden Unger Bowditch

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Just released: September 2013
Publisher: Bancroft Press
Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk (a bit), Middle Grade
Hardback: 465 pages
Rating: 3.5

The Young Inventors Guild series:
The Atomic Weight of Secrets or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black
The Ravens of Solemano or The Order of the Mysterious Men in Black
book 3 - tba

Amazon | BarnesNoble

It has been mere days since the brilliant children of the Young Inventors Guild escaped from the clutches of the horrible Komar Romak.

They've escaped with their lovely and caring schoolteacher, Miss Brett; with their long-absent parents; and with their bizarre captors, protectors, or both--the mysterious men in black. And now they travel by train, destined for parts unknown.

But a note torn from the hand of a dead man in a New York tunnel guarantees that safety is an illusion. When the children's world is blown apart, life will never be the same again.

Soon, the children--Jasper and little Lucy Modest, from London, England; Wallace Banneker, from New York, United States; Noah Canto-Sagas, from Toronto, Canada; and Faye Vigyanveta, from Delhi, India--find themselves in the ancient Italian village of Solemano, deep in a mystery that spans centuries. As they inch toward the truth of the men in black and the secrets they keep, one terrible fact remains:

Komar Romak is still out there. He's still after them, for reasons they can't even begin to imagine.

And he knows exactly where they are . . .

From the rolling plains of America to the wide-open waters of the Atlantic, through the Strait of Gibraltar to a remarkable village in the hills of Abruzzo, Italy, The Ravens of Solemano or The Order of the Mysterious Men in Black, the second book of Eden Unger Bowditch's Young Inventors Guild trilogy, is an adventure like no other, as the children draw ever closer to the answers to the mysteries that surround them.

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s):
You will experience some traveling, good eating and inventing in this second tale to this trilogy.

I found this to story to be slow-paced as the kids continue to bond while trying to remain safe from the baddie, Komar Romak.

However, the interesting draw to read book two was discovering the mystery behind the mysterious men in black as well as things about their past.

~*~
* if you would like to read my arc copy, leave me a comment with your email address by Dec 22, 2013
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Contest has ended - winner is here

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* review copy courtesy of publisher

* part of virtual book event: TEA on The Filigree

Meet: young inventors from The Ravens of Solemano by Eden Unger Bowditch

~*~
A few ladies hover around the petit fours and chat about this news article from America...

~*~
Excerpt (partial): from The Ravens of Solemano by Eden Unger Bowditch

PROLOGUE:

The following article appeared in The New York Times, fall 1903 (actual date withheld).

FOUND DEAD IN TUNNEL

Body of Italian, Full of Stiletto Wounds, Near Jerome Park Reservoir

The body of a murdered Italian was found yesterday by John Martins, a foreman of the Jerome Park Reservoir, in the new tunnel which, when opened, will connect the reservoir with the High Bridge Aqueduct, within about 100 feet of the opening.

The body of a young man in his early 20s was in an advanced state of decomposition, although a scar was evident across the eyelid of the victim’s left eye.

Martins notified Policeman Bailey of the King’s Bridge Station and telephoned Coroner O’Gorman. When they examined the body, it was found that there were nine stiletto wounds in it—six in the back, two in the breast, and one in the stomach . . .

Near where the body had been there was found a long and murderous stiletto, with strange signs carved on the handle . .

~~~
The New York City police came to the conclusion that the young man was Italian. This was because Italian coins were found in his jacket pocket, and because his rather worn clothes had tailoring marks in Italian. The trousers, it was noted, were made in Italia.

But in truth, these were not revelations of vast importance. These were not such terribly mysterious or, in the end, even important clues. The fact that he was Italian would matter little to the police of New York City. He could have been Greek or Armenian, or even from the United States. The police would never know what had happened in that tunnel or why. In the end, they would close the case. They would call it “murder by person or persons unknown,” and only a handful of people far, far away would be faced with the darkest of facts.

The article did, however, fail to mention three terribly mysterious and infinitely more important clues. First, in the right hand of the victim was a corner of a map. It was a very tiny piece of a map that, when completely unfolded, would show, to someone who knew the region very well, a sliver of the Appennini, or Apennine, mountain range. Second, in the left hand, the victim held a fistful of black feathers. Third—and the utter and total absence of this clue from the written newspaper article was in no way the fault of the journalist, his editors, the coroner, or the police investigators at the scene, because this terribly mysterious and most important clue was gone by the time any of them even knew there was a body in that tunnel—hidden by a rock, much farther down the tunnel, in the shadows, there was an envelope, crumpled beyond recognition, with a broken wax seal and a torn note inside that, when it was intact, and the ink had not run from the wetness, and the note was legible, read simply, “They will be on the train.”

Somewhere in America, Mid-Autumn, 1903

READ the rest of the excerpt here.


--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of publisher ~--

The Ravens of Solemano
or The Order of the Mysterious Men in Black
(The Young Inventors Guild)
by Eden Unger Bowditch
It has been mere days since the brilliant children of the Young Inventors Guild escaped from the clutches of the horrible Komar Romak.

They've escaped with their lovely and caring schoolteacher, Miss Brett; with their long-absent parents; and with their bizarre captors, protectors, or both--the mysterious men in black. And now they travel by train, destined for parts unknown.

But a note torn from the hand of a dead man in a New York tunnel guarantees that safety is an illusion. When the children's world is blown apart, life will never be the same again.

Soon, the children--Jasper and little Lucy Modest, from London, England; Wallace Banneker, from New York, United States; Noah Canto-Sagas, from Toronto, Canada; and Faye Vigyanveta, from Delhi, India--find themselves in the ancient Italian village of Solemano, deep in a mystery that spans centuries. As they inch toward the truth of the men in black and the secrets they keep, one terrible fact remains:

Komar Romak is still out there. He's still after them, for reasons they can't even begin to imagine.

And he knows exactly where they are . . .

From the rolling plains of America to the wide-open waters of the Atlantic, through the Strait of Gibraltar to a remarkable village in the hills of Abruzzo, Italy, The Ravens of Solemano or The Order of the Mysterious Men in Black, the second book of Eden Unger Bowditch's Young Inventors Guild trilogy, is an adventure like no other, as the children draw ever closer to the answers to the mysteries that surround them.

WIN a copy of this book!

Open to US only.

Offer ends: December 1, 2013

TO DO: (2-parts)

1. ADD this book to your Goodreads Want To Read list.

OR

Tweet about this giveaway. Please include #younginventorsguild

OR

Read an interview with the author here, here or here and tell me something that was of interest to you.

2. TELL me what you did in comments.

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

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Contest has ended - winner is here

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~*~
image source: petit fours recipe

~~- TEA at The Filigree schedule -~~

Stacking the Shelves - 9.7.13

Stacking the Shelves
hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details)
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

~*~
Bought:

The Bone Season
by Samantha Shannon
-fantasy
For Review:

A Matter of Temperance
by Ichabod Temperance
-steampunk
courtesy of author
Thanks Ichabod!

A World of InTemperance
by Ichabod Temperance
-steampunk
courtesy of author
Thanks Ichabod!

Burial Rites
by Hannah Kent
-historical, mystery
ARC courtesy of publisher and Shelf Awareness
Thanks!

The Mona Lisa Speaks
by Christopher Angel
-France, thriller
courtesy of author
Thanks Christopher!

The Ravens of Solemano
The Order of the Mysterious Men in Black
(The Young Inventors Guild)
by Eden Unger Bowditch
-steampunk
courtesy of JDPR
Thanks Lauren!

Rory
The Ghosts of Palladino, Book 1
by Ciye Cho
-ghosts, YA
courtesy of author
Thanks Ciye!

The Sleeping Dictionary
by Sujata Massey
-India, historical
courtesy of publisher
Thanks Mary!

Steel Lily
The Periodic series
by Megan Curd
-steampunk
courtesy of author
Thanks Megan!
~*~
Library:

Self-Inflicted Wounds:
Heartwarming Tales of Epic Humiliation
by Aisha Tyler
-humor
~*~
* most of these will be offered as giveaways within the next two months

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways offers

The Atomic Weight of Secrets by Eden Unger Bowditch

The Atomic Weight of Secrets
or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black
-The Young Inventors Guild
by Eden Unger Bowditch

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Published: 2011
Publisher: Bancroft Press
Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk (a bit) , YA
Hardback: 320 pages
Rating: 5

In 1903, five truly brilliant young inventors, the children of the world's most important scientists, went about their lives and their work as they always had.

But all that changed the day the men in black arrived.

They arrived to take twelve-year-old Jasper Modest and his six-year-old sister, Lucy he with his remarkable creations and she with her perfect memory from their London, England home to a place across the ocean they'd never seen before.

They arrived to take nine-year-old Wallace Banneker, last in a long line of Africa-descended scientists, from his chemistry, his father, and his New York home to a life he'd never imagined.

Twelve-year-old Noah Canto-Sagas, already missing his world-famous and beloved mother, was taken from Toronto, Canada, carrying only his clothes, his violin, and his remarkable mind.

And thirteen-year-old Faye Vigyanveta, the genius daughter of India's wealthiest and most accomplished scientists, was removed by force from her life of luxury.

From all across the world, they've been taken to mysterious Sole Manner Farm, and a beautiful but isolated schoolhouse in Dayton, Ohio, without a word from their parents as to why. Not even the wonderful schoolteacher they find there, Miss Brett, can explain it. She can give them love and care, but she can t give them answers.

Things only get stranger from there. What is the book with no pages Jasper and Lucy find in their mother's underwear drawer, and why do the men in black want it so badly?

How is it all the children have been taught the same bizarre poem and yet no other rhymes or stories their entire lives?

And why haven't their parents tried to contact them?

Whatever the reasons, to brash, impetuous Faye, the situation is clear: They and their parents have been kidnapped by these terrible men in black, and the only way they're going to escape and rescue their parents is by completing the invention they didn't even know they were all working on an invention that will change the world forever.

But what if the men in black aren't trying to harm the children? What if they're trying to protect them?

And if they're trying to protect them, from what?

An amazing story about the wonders of science and the still greater wonders of friendship, The Atomic Weight of Secrets or The Mysterious Men in Black , the first book of the Young Inventors Guild trilogy, is a truly original novel. Young readers will forever treasure Eden Unger Bowditch's funny, inventive, poignant, and wonderfully fun fiction debut.

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): pressed flowers
Good start to this trilogy.

Each character is presented well as the story progresses. I liked watching the bonding of the kids as they worked together and puzzled over their predicament.

Meanwhile their genius brains come together to create and invent.

For Alice in Wonderland fans like me, there are mentions and references that blend in well and just tickle.

Beware: lots of fresh-baked goodies imagery - i was inspired to bake up a batch of butter biscuits :-D

Came to the end of the story, "And thennnnnnnn?" is the question I ask.

Looking forward to the next part.

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
signup to win this book

~*~
* review copy from net galley

* read a guest post from Eden about steampunk

* part of SteamBoyz event

Article: The Atomic Weight of Secrets

After Edward takes his first bite of scone followed by a sip of tea, he settles down to read the newspaper properly.

He is drawn to an article at the bottom right side of the page...

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Eden Unger Bowditch
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
It was the amazing Steve Parke (who did the cover art for my book) who told me about the movement. “Your book is totally Steampunk!” he said.

The funny thing is that I have always been totally into the Steampunk thing—but until The Young Inventors Guild entered my brain, I didn’t know what it was! Really! Okay, so The Atomic Weight of Secrets is a story that takes place at the turn of the last century, and there are a bunch of brilliant inventors. How could I have missed it?

Well, for one, I’ve been living in Egypt. Steampunk, as a movement, has not made it over there, but anyone looking for amazing stuff from the late nineteenth century would have a field day. In shops, you can find old Smith Corona typewriters and Victrolas and cool walking sticks, all the detritus of bygone adventurers who left their goods behind when they traveled elsewhere or died trying.

The Atomic Weight of Secrets is the introduction to the world of the Young Inventors Guild, and I am so glad it has found a home where it belongs. So many people were critical, since there are no magic wands or flying broomsticks (not that I have anything against either!). The magic of invention, they thought, was too different and too strange. It almost felt like a lost cause to try to bring to life the power behind the concept.

The brilliance of Steampunk is that it captures the birth of a modern era while embracing the elegance of a bygone age. As I work, full steam, on Book Two of the Young Inventors Guild trilogy, I can feel the pleasure of knowing that the story has a home within this visionary and wonderfully enthusiastic community.

So that’s how I first discovered Steampunk. How did you?

What does it mean to you?

~end

Guest post created for SteamBoyz event by Eden Unger Bowditch, author of The Atomic Weight of Secrets
© 2011. All rights reserved.

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Eden Unger Bowditch
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
The Atomic Weight of Secrets
or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black
-The Young Inventors Guild
by Eden Unger Bowditch
signup to win this book

~*~
* earn an extra point for the giveaway by answering one of Eden's questions:

How did you first discover Steampunk?

What does Steampunk mean to you?

* image source newspaper advert

::= SteamBoyz schedule =::

SteamBoyz next week

A book to be featured...

The Atomic Weight of Secrets
or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black
(The Young Inventors Guild)
by Eden Unger Bowditch
Just released: March 15, 2011
In 1903, five truly brilliant young inventors, the children of the world's most important scientists, went about their lives and their work as they always had.

But all that changed the day the men in black arrived.

They arrived to take twelve-year-old Jasper Modest and his six-year-old sister, Lucy he with his remarkable creations and she with her perfect memory from their London, England home to a place across the ocean they'd never seen before.

They arrived to take nine-year-old Wallace Banneker, last in a long line of Africa-descended scientists, from his chemistry, his father, and his New York home to a life he d never imagined.

Twelve-year-old Noah Canto-Sagas, already missing his world-famous and beloved mother, was taken from Toronto, Canada, carrying only his clothes, his violin, and his remarkable mind.

And thirteen-year-old Faye Vigyanveta, the genius daughter of India's wealthiest and most accomplished scientists, was removed by force from her life of luxury.

From all across the world, they've been taken to mysterious Sole Manner Farm, and a beautiful but isolated schoolhouse in Dayton, Ohio, without a word from their parents as to why. Not even the wonderful schoolteacher they find there, Miss Brett, can explain it. She can give them love and care, but she can t give them answers.

Things only get stranger from there. What is the book with no pages Jasper and Lucy find in their mother's underwear drawer, and why do the men in black want it so badly?

How is it all the children have been taught the same bizarre poem and yet no other rhymes or stories their entire lives?

And why haven't their parents tried to contact them?

Whatever the reasons, to brash, impetuous Faye, the situation is clear: They and their parents have been kidnapped by these terrible men in black, and the only way they're going to escape and rescue their parents is by completing the invention they didn't even know they were all working on an invention that will change the world forever.

But what if the men in black aren't trying to harm the children? What if they're trying to protect them?

And if they're trying to protect them, from what?

An amazing story about the wonders of science and the still greater wonders of friendship, The Atomic Weight of Secrets or The Mysterious Men in Black , the first book of the Young Inventors Guild trilogy, is a truly original novel. Young readers will forever treasure Eden Unger Bowditch's funny, inventive, poignant, and wonderfully fun fiction debut.

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
Win an autographed copy of this book!

Open to US and CANADA only.

Offer ends: July 31, 2011 -->extended to Aug 14

TO DO:
Tell me which of the five characters in the description captures your attention the most.

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

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Contest has ended - winner is here

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

::= SteamBoyz schedule =::

SteamBoyz coming in July

SteamBoyz
a virtual book event
interactive
steampunk driven
July 28-30, 2011

SteamBoyz = YA steampunk stories with (mostly) YA male protagonists

put the parasols away and
get your goggles!

Books featured:

All Men of Genius
by Lev AC Rosen

The Atomic Weight of Secrets
or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black
-The Young Inventors Guild
by Eden Unger Bowditch

The Sky: The World
by Jessica McHugh

more to be revealed during the event

~*~
* curious? here's last year's SteamBoyz schedule

* image source cover of All Men of Genius by Lev AC Rosen

::= SteamBoyz schedule =::

Watch out: The Atomic Weight of Secrets

The Atomic Weight of Secrets
or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black
-The Young Inventors Guild
by Eden Unger Bowditch

Just released: March 15, 2011

Description from the amazon:
In 1903, five truly brilliant young inventors, the children of the world's most important scientists, went about their lives and their work as they always had.

But all that changed the day the men in black arrived.

They arrived to take twelve-year-old Jasper Modest and his six-year-old sister, Lucy he with his remarkable creations and she with her perfect memory from their London, England home to a place across the ocean they'd never seen before.

They arrived to take nine-year-old Wallace Banneker, last in a long line of Africa-descended scientists, from his chemistry, his father, and his New York home to a life he d never imagined.

Twelve-year-old Noah Canto-Sagas, already missing his world-famous and beloved mother, was taken from Toronto, Canada, carrying only his clothes, his violin, and his remarkable mind.

And thirteen-year-old Faye Vigyanveta, the genius daughter of India's wealthiest and most accomplished scientists, was removed by force from her life of luxury.

From all across the world, they've been taken to mysterious Sole Manner Farm, and a beautiful but isolated schoolhouse in Dayton, Ohio, without a word from their parents as to why. Not even the wonderful schoolteacher they find there, Miss Brett, can explain it. She can give them love and care, but she can t give them answers.

Things only get stranger from there. What is the book with no pages Jasper and Lucy find in their mother's underwear drawer, and why do the men in black want it so badly?

How is it all the children have been taught the same bizarre poem and yet no other rhymes or stories their entire lives?

And why haven't their parents tried to contact them?

Whatever the reasons, to brash, impetuous Faye, the situation is clear: They and their parents have been kidnapped by these terrible men in black, and the only way they're going to escape and rescue their parents is by completing the invention they didn't even know they were all working on an invention that will change the world forever.

But what if the men in black aren't trying to harm the children? What if they're trying to protect them?

And if they're trying to protect them, from what?

An amazing story about the wonders of science and the still greater wonders of friendship, The Atomic Weight of Secrets or The Mysterious Men in Black , the first book of the Young Inventors Guild trilogy, is a truly original novel. Young readers will forever treasure Eden Unger Bowditch's funny, inventive, poignant, and wonderfully fun fiction debut.

~*~
* you can get an ARC of this on Net Galley

* stay tuned: this book will be featured during my Steamboyz event in July with a giveaway offer ;-D