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Book Blast: Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii by Vicky Alvear Shecter

Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii
Author: Vicky Alvear Shecter 
Publication Date: May 27, 2014 
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books 
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Genre: YA Historical
Pages: 336
Synopsis: When your world blows apart, what will you hold onto?

     TAG is a medical slave, doomed to spend his life healing his master's injured gladiators. But his warrior's heart yearns to fight in the gladiator ring himself and earn enough money to win his freedom.

     LUCIA is the daughter of Tag's owner, doomed by her father's greed to marry a much older Roman man. But she loves studying the natural world around her home in Pompeii, and lately she's been noticing some odd occurrences in the landscape: small lakes disappearing; a sulfurous smell in the air...

     When the two childhood friends reconnect, each with their own longings, they fall passionately in love. But as they plot their escape from the city, a patrician fighter reveals his own plans for them -- to Lucia's father, who imprisons Tag as punishment. Then an earthquake shakes Pompeii, in the first sign of the chaos to come. Will they be able to find each other again before the volcano destroys their whole world?


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About the Author

Vicky Alvear Shecter

Vicky Alvear Shecter is the author of the young adult novel, CLEOPATRA'S MOON (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2011), based on the life of Cleopatra's only daughter. She is also the author of two award-winning biographies for kids on Alexander the Great and Cleopatra. She is a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Antiquities at Emory University in Atlanta.


Author Links

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Book Blast Schedule

Monday, May 12

 Bibliophilia, Please
bookworm2bookworm's Blog

  Tuesday, May 13

 Broken Teepee
Passages to the Past
In the Hammock Blog

 Wednesday, May 14

 CelticLady's Reviews
The Most Happy Reader
I'd So Rather Be Reading
History From a Woman's Perspective

 Thursday, May 15

 Kinx's Book Nook
A Bibliotaph's Reviews
Historical Fiction Obsession

 Friday, May 16

 Booktalk & More
The Mad Reviewer
Book Lovers Paradise

 Saturday, May 17

 SOS Aloha
Reading the Ages
Kelsey's Book Corner

 Sunday, May 18

 Giant Squid Books
WTF Are You Reading? 

Monday, May 19

 Caroline Wilson Writes
So Many Books, So Little Time 

 Tuesday, May 20

 West Metro Mommy
The True Book Addict
The Musings of ALMYBNENR

 Wednesday, May 21

 Book Nerd
Tower of Babel
Hardcover Feedback

 Thursday, May 22

 Paperback Princess
Bittersweet Enchantment

 Friday, May 23

 History Undressed
Historical Fiction Connection

 Saturday, May 24

 Literary Chanteuse
Just One More Chapter 

Sunday, May 25

 A Dream within a Dream
The Little Reader Library

 Monday, May 26

 Pages of Comfort
Griperang's Bookmarks

 Raizza's Book Blogging Adventure

 Tuesday, May 27

 Princess of Eboli
Ageless Pages Reviews
The Musings of a Book Junkie

Giveaway

To win a copy of Curses & Smoke or a $25 Amazon Gift Card please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on May 27th. You must be 18 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on May 28th and notified via email. Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. 



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Comments

  1. DianeMay 16, 2014 at 8:37 AM

    It could be fun. I visited Pompeii many years ago - not that I expect to recognize much, but one never knows. I can understand, though, how the ruins can give birth to exciting, possible stories.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lauralee May 17, 2014 at 12:12 AM

    Thanks. It sounds like an interesting story.

    ReplyDelete

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