Meeting the Author Krystal Wade

Today we had the privilege of skyping with author and Blaze Pub founder, Krystal Wade. After convincing my child to stop dancing in front of the camera, we asked Krystal about the inspiration for her novel that we read; Asleep.

Krystal explained that she enjoys the weird and the creepy, and likes to write these twisted tales. Fairy tale spins are something she started with Charming so she has continued with this novel. She also explained she drew elements from her own youth to bring the characters and story to life (But, no she never went to an asylum!)

We talked about how the cover came to be, and the lovely Phillip and his confusing plot line (No spoilers!) how sad a certain death was, and why the doctor was doing what he was doing to Rose.

We then talked about travelling, because who doesn't want to travel?? Specifically Europe...

And we talked about her newly founded publishing company, Blaze Publishing. Krystal explained that the name came from a combination of the passion for "trail blazing" while hiking, and their dog named "Blaze." She then gave us an overview of upcoming titles for the publisher which all sound exciting and fun.

We finally wrapped things up and said goodbyes, Everyone received bookmarks and badges (above) to take home.

We then set our date and time for our next meeting and selected our next read. And here it is:

Join us next month to see our thoughts on the book and our chat with Rena Rockford!

Team Reviews of Asleep by Krystal Wade

From Goodreads:

"To cure fear, you must use fear." 

Rose Briar claims no responsibility for the act that led to her imprisonment in an asylum. She wants to escape, until terrifying nightmares make her question her sanity and reach out to her doctor. He’s understanding and caring in ways her parents never have been, but as her walls tumble down and Rose admits fault, a fellow patient warns her to stop the medications. Phillip believes the doctor is evil and they’ll never make it out of the facility alive. Trusting him might be just the thing to save her. Or it might prove the asylum is exactly where she needs to be. 




Our Reviews:
Katie:
How can I wrap my head around what I want to say about this book. The twists and turns definitely had me wondering throughout the entire book. I'm afraid if I say too much, I'll give out spoilers unintentionally.
Rose isn't exactly what I'd describe as likable, but considering the situation, I don't think likability is important to the story. She's made some bad choices, and ended up at the wrong end of the stick. Throughout the book she undergoes a great deal of growth, which gave me the desire to root for her.
Phillip is great, right from the beginning. He figures everything out and works his hardest to help Rose through. Despite their awful circumstances, he slots in as the perfect hero in her plight.
Although this is technically a "fairy tale" retelling, there isn't much of the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty involved, so don't expect that at all. It's very raw, and there are parts that are truly sad. It's a psychological story, as you watch the people around Rose mess with her head. But she fights back, refusing to believe the lies.
I saw several things coming, but not the conclusion, Again, no spoilers!
I'd consider it a clean read, in the sense that there's no sex or explicit violence. It does leave you wondering, what is going on? though, as almost archaic treatments are implemented.

Jackie G:
For me this was a very dark and troubling book. I think for the subject of this book though it should be expected. Mental illness troubles have always been a little misunderstood. I am glad I read it . I am enjoying being exposed to different types of writing.

Suzi:
This is not usually the kind of book I read and I found it extremely difficult to read. It kind of all just mashed together, it would have been nice if there was some distinct way to tell when she was "dreaming/remembering" things that happened and when she was in present time. It was really hard to follow and enjoy.

Emily:
From the moment I started reading I connected with the main character. There is a level of understanding I think each person can relate to when reading this book. From the first chapter I was hooked and by the end I was so emotionally attached to the characters. The author has an amazing way of writing. She grabs you and keeps you guessing to the end. I loved this book.


***Thank you to Blaze Pub for giving us the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a honest reviews***