Karen Metcalf's In the Storm (Review, Interview, and Giveaway)

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Abandoned by the world around her, Carly believes she is fated to a life of torment at the hands of her stepfather and is desperate for an escape. When she can bear the abuse no longer and gives in to a thunderous rage, she suddenly finds herself in an unfamiliar, yet beautiful, storm world. This limbo between dimensions appears to be her private sanctuary, but it may just be her purgatory.

No one escapes fate without sacrifice, but is the price more than Carly is willing to pay?

Review:

Startling, mind-boggling, unique, and enthralling, Karen Metcalf's In the Storm is the perfect read for one stormy, rainy afternoon.

In the Storm tells the story of Carly, a girl who has never had an easily life. For one, her mother deserted Carly and her brother Mitch a few years ago, leaving them stranded and with only one house to go to- their abusive and frightening stepfather's. There they face punishment like no other- punishment that Carly and Mitch don't know how to escape from or stop. Though, one day when Carly is pushed too far, she lands herself into a stormy yet perfect world, but is it a sanctuary or a purgatory? More importantly, what happens when Carly meets the stunning and secretive Morgan? Will he help her save her brother in time, or will everything fall apart? Only time and more pages will tell in this fast-paced read that will leave nearly any reader breathless.

For a short story, Karen Metcalf's In the Strom leaves quite the impact. For one, the premise of this one is fantastic. I loved the idea of a sanctuary in which Carly could retreat to when she desired an escape. Luckily the execution was even better, because not only did it leave my mind reeling but I constantly was amazed by how in depth Karen went in such few pages.

Carly was a character I admired and liked from the beginning. She was strong, determined and let nothing get in her way, not her stepfather's cruel antics nor the misery that kept landing in her life. I especially liked the scenes between her and her brother because they managed to show just how caring and loving she was towards her brother.

Well-written and mesmerizing, In the Storm packs quite the punch, which leaves me with only one request: you all must give this book a try. Karen is a great author, and this short story is even better!

Grade: A

In The Storm is now out.

Source: Author- thanks Karen!

Interview:

Karen Metcalf is the author of In the Storm, and recently I got the chance to ask her a few questions. So, without a further ado...

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What are the top three reasons why teens (or even adults) should consider picking up In the Storm the next time they see it online or in stores?

I think the latest trend in YA is beginning to dying out a bit, and it seems to be moving towards sci-fi. In fact, I think a lot of pop culture is returning to sci-fi. In the Storm fits into this category. It’s also a short read, and it only costs $2.99.

In the Storm tells the story of Carly so would you mind sharing a little about her?

Carly is a girl who just wasn’t dealt a good hand. She was abandoned by both parents and raised by an abusive step-father. Her only joy in life is her younger brother Mitchell. At some point she snaps under the pressure, which sends her to another world.

I think what I admire about Carly is that she knows who she is. She goes on an emotional rollercoaster, but I think considering the situation, she handles herself pretty well.

Besides Carly, I really enjoyed reading about her little brother Mitch, so what was the inspiration behind his character?

I have a little brother, who I can clearly picture when he was Mitch’s age. I kept that in mind as I wrote about her emotions and reactions regarding him. Mitch was the first character that I thought up, and the true reason I started writing In the Storm.

Do you have a favorite scene or line from In the Storm? If so, would you mind sharing it, or a bit about it to get readers excited about the book?

Although I love thunderstorms, my true love is the ocean. Having grown up on the water, it was a hard thing to leave behind. There is a short scene in which the ocean there moves very differently than ours, which I really enjoyed writing.

In the Storm is a short story, so what made you decide to write it that way rather than a full-length one?

There was never an active decision to make In the Storm so short. I just wrote until I felt the story was complete. Even after sitting on it for a few months, I never felt like anything should be added. I felt anything more would have just been fluff, and detract from the story.

If you were given your own private sanctuary like Carly’s, what would it be like?

It would be the same stormworld. In reality, I have never seen storms like the ones I grew up with on the North Carolina coast. The lightning has a purple tint to it like nowhere else. I could live in those storms. That was my inspiration for the colors in Carly’s stormworld.

Name three things you were readers would be surprised to know about you.

I am one of five children.
I love pickles so much I used to get gallon jars of them for Christmas.
I have a pretty intense Southern accent.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you for having me on your blog, and thanks to everyone who reads In the Storm!

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Thanks so much, Karen!

To find out more about Karen and her books, be sure to visit her website. You can also visit her Facebook author page here; the In the Storm fan page here; and lastly the In the Storm teaser and excerpt here.

Giveaway:

Thanks to Karen and Vagabondage Press, I have THREE e-copies of In The Storm to giveaway.

To enter please fill out the following form.

Here are the official rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older to enter.
~ Open internationally.
~ This giveaway will close on March 14, 2011!