Lit Chat: Joy and Alexa on Quintana (and Giveaway)

See the full schedule for the Quintana of Charyn blog tour HERE.

So. Alexa and I spent an hour or two one Sunday afternoon fangirling chatting about Quintana. Please bear with us because we were all over the place. We wanted it to be as spontaneous as possible so we didn't really have any prepared topics or questions. We flew by the seats of our pants and if you can bear with our ramblings, I'm sure we've made a bit of sense...somehow.

Please note: We had to block out a couple of spoilery things below. We could tell you what they were...but then we'd have to kill you...just kidding!  

12:46 PM Joyousreads: Oh hey!

12:47 PM Alexa: I was looking everywhere and finally found the invite on this talk thing lol

 Joyousreads: Sweet. :)

12:48 PM You read Quintana pretty fast!

12:49 PM Alexa: I've realized I can read fast when it's a book I REALLYREALLY want to read. Other books just take me days. lol

 Joyousreads: I hear ya. I forced myself to slow down. I've read and re-read this book already.

12:51 PM Alexa: Ooh I want to reread it too along with Froi. Not sure when tho.

12:52 PM Joyousreads: I knowwwww. I had this plan to write a post on 132 about all the things I was looking forward to about Quintana before she comes but time ran out on me.

12:53 PM Anyway. I don't need to ask if you loved it because...that's just a stupid question. LOL. Of course, you did!

12:54 PM Alexa: That would have been an interesting post to compare to after reading.

  Yes, same for you!

 Joyousreads: Exactly. Rhetorical question. :)

12:57 PM Well what were you looking forward to the most about Quintana?

1:00 PM Alexa: In the summary it said that there was a showdown between Isaboe & Quintana in the valley and I couldn't wait to read that!

1:01 PM Who was going to gain power & who was going to go through heartbreak?

1:02 PM It made me really nervous. D:

1:03 PM Joyousreads: For me, I wanted to know if Froi would be forced to take sides. I knew his bond with Isaboe would make it difficult and it was interesting to see it all play out.

1:06 PM Alexa: Yes I wondered how that was going to work out. I know he cares so much for Isaboe, Finnikin, and Lumatere, but I wanted him to be with Quintana and his real parents.

  Everyone has just been through so much. I wanted everyone to be happy.

1:08 PM Joyousreads: They got there but it wasn't easy though, wasn't it? But I'm not complaining. I love that about MM's books. Her characters go through so much before she gives them their HEA. The books are always fraught with hardships and heartaches.

1:10 PM Alexa: So true. Wouldn't be an MM book without all that.

  Who did you think would get the power or the heartbreak?

1:15 PM I didn't want either Quintana or Isaboe to go through any sort of heartbreak. But I admit I did want Quintana to get the power...

 Joyousreads: I was more hedging on the fact that no matter what, both kingdoms would be united as one. Froi is the bridge that would link them to peace. As for heartbreak...well. It was across the board. Like you said, it wouldn't be an MM book without it.

1:16 PM And I agree. Charynites deserved peace after all the years of their struggle.

1:20 PM Alexa: They did deserve! Actually while I was reading, I remember finally deciding who I wanted to have the power. I was like, 'Okay, Isaboe, I'm sorry. It's Quintana's turn.' As soon as I thought I turned the page to the next chapter..

1:21 PM Spoiler: And I found out Isaboe and Finnikin had lost their baby!!

1:22 PM Joyousreads: Lol! We're going to have to block that one out!

  But yeah, that was...hard to read.

 Alexa: (lmao Okay!)

1:24 PM Yeah, it was. So sad. :'( I wanted to go in there and comfort them. I regretted thinking that one deserved more happiness than the other. Quin&Isa both deserved happiness.

1:28 PM Joyousreads: I love what Finnikin said when Isaboe asked him that question and his answer was that he'll shout out to the goddess in fury why he was given so much and other men so little. God. This is what I love about her writing. It doesn't take much for her to reduce me to tears.

1:36 PM Alexa: Aww Finnikin... While it all just broke my heart, I'm glad that MM still had Finnkin and Isaboe go through heart wrenching moments. They were going through things like everyone else.

1:37 PM Joyousreads: I must admit, I was a little irritated with him right from the get to. I mean, come on, Finch. You really think Isaboe is going around dreaming of another man while she's in bed with you? Duuuude.

1:44 PM Alexa: Oh I know! I wanted to punch him! His assumptions and some of things he said were funny to me because they were so ridiculous. :p

 Joyousreads: :)

1:45 PM Do you ever find yourself going to the map to track where everyone was? I did that a lot. Lol.

1:46 PM I think this is the only fantasy book where I'm completely vested in every facets of the novel.

1:47 PM Alexa: Heck yea! I would have been lost without those maps. This time I kept getting Sarnak and Sorel mixed up.

1:48 PM Same here. Usually I don't pay much attention to maps in other books, but I loved looking at the ones in this series.

 Joyousreads: I was more obsessed about how much traveling they had to do. Like that part where Grij had to take Phaedra back to the valley. Mind you, it probably was more because I was dying for a reunion with Luc-ien!

1:49 PM Alexa: Phaedra and Lucian!! <3 <3

1:50 PM I was definitely looking forward to scenes with them. I needed to know what would happen between them! :D

 Spoiler: Joyousreads: Yessss. God. I expected a lot more temper throwing from that Mont though. Especially when he found out his wife was alive the entire time.

1:51 PM Alexa: lol I wanted the opposite. I didn't want him to get angry at all!

1:52 PM Joyousreads: What?! Come on, Mont boys are hot when they lose their tempers! Actually, so do the boys from the Rock...and the Flatland...and the River. Well...I like them when they lose their tempers anyway. :)

1:55 PM Alexa: I know, you're right! But....I didn't want him to be angry at Phaedra. Because she's awesome, and I wanted him to be understanding.

1:56 PM Joyousreads: MM's books are littered with strong heroines...even secondary ones. A lot of writers could use a lesson or two from her.

1:58 PM Alexa: For real. And her secondary characters leave an impression. I actually care about them and want to know what happens to them as much as the main characters.

1:59 PM Joyousreads: Which brings me to this question: if MM would write a short story about a couple of her secondary characters, which two would you pick?

2:00 PM ...that is, if we were given the chance to choose. :)

2:01 PM Alexa: After finishing Quintana, I would definitely love to read more about Perri and Tesadora.

2:02 PM Joyousreads: God. Yes! It'd had to be R-rated. There's just no way those two wouldn't have fierce...er, relations. Lol.

2:03 PM Alexa: I loved those two before, but when I found out what happened to them all those years ago.. I need to know more!!

  YES! lol And Perri is just... faints

2:04 PM Joyousreads: Yes. That scar on his face. That fierce, dangerous aura? And Tesadora could give as much as she could take. They're perfect.

2:08 PM Alexa: They made me smile so much. X3 That reminds me, when Lucian tried to warn Perri about Tesadora's mood...that was hilarious! Oh Lucian. XD

2:09 PM Joyousreads: Tesadora is one scary witch.

2:10 PM Was it everything you hoped for?

2:13 PM Alexa: It was completely satisfying. I felt so relieved and happy when I was done. :) What about you?

2:16 PM Joyousreads: That and more. I can't pinpoint what I liked best about the book but I can say in all honesty that I didn't like the fact that this is the end for this series. I mean, don't get me wrong. It ended how it was meant to end but I just can't. I don't. You know the feeling you get when you've prepared and worked hard to achieve something for the longest time and instead of feeling relieved you're just kind left feeling empty? Like a deflated balloon? That's how I felt. Not because the book was unsatisfactory but it's like..."now what do I do?" yanno?

2:18 PM Alexa: It's weird; I did feel like that in a way as well. I didn't want it to ever end!

2:19 PM Joyousreads: Oh well. Anyway, the boy is screaming for his afternoon snack. I'll catch ya later on Twitter. Nice chatting with ya :)

2:21 PM Alexa: hehe Okay

  Enjoyed chatting about the book. :)

 Joyousreads: Same. We should do this often. :) 

Now for a giveaway of the entire Lumatere Chronicles trilogy! The giveaway ends November 30th. Here are the rules:

1. INTERNATIONAL.
2. Entrants must be 13 years old to enter.
3. Hosts will not be responsible for lost or damage of goods while in shipment.
4. Winner will be notified via email and will have 24 hours to reply or another will be drawn.

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