BLOG TOUR: The Inventors at No. 8 by A.M. Morgen
ABOUT THE BOOK
Brimming with mystery and treasure, this action-packed tale sends a boy in need of luck and girl in need of a friend on an adventure that will change their lives forever. Meet George, the third Lord of Devonshire and the unluckiest boy in London. Why is George so unlucky? First, he's an orphan. Second, unless he sells everything, he's about to lose his house. So when his family's last heirloom, a priceless map to the Star of Victory (a unique gem said to bring its owner success in any battle) is stolen by a nefarious group of criminals, George knows that there is no one less lucky-or more alone-than he is.
That is until Ada Byron, the future Countess of Lovelace, bursts into his life. She promises to help George recover his family legacy, and is determined to find her own father along the way--all in a flying machine she built herself. Joined by a mischievous orangutan and the long-lost son of an infamous pirate, Ada and George take off on a cross-continent journey through the skies that will change their lives, and perhaps the world, forever.
REVIEW
An entertaining book so far. Unfortunately, this time of year is so busy I haven't had time to finish it, but I've enjoyed reading about George and Ada. The beginning of the story which recites all the unfortunate deaths associated with George, Lord Devonshire the Third. This makes for an intriguing beginning. And a girl hidden away in the house across the street who happens to have a mechanical bird that attacks a thief escaping from George's house with the only valuable thing he owns definitely raises questions needing answers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A.M.
Morgen comes from a long line of engineers and researchers but chose to pursue
literature over the laboratory. To her family's surprise, she has managed to
make a decent living as an editor with her English degree. In her spare time,
A.M. enjoys taking long walks in the forest, trying out new hobbies (then
abandoning them), and complaining about her mean cat. Despite what you may
think, A.M. is not a morning person.
GUEST POST BY THE AUTHOR: A.M. MORGEN
4 Quest Worthy
Real-Life Magical Objects
Some of the oldest stories in the world are about journeys
to find a mythological object. These objects were so special that people were
willing to die or kill to get them. I’m sure you could name a few of those
things right now: The Golden Fleece, the Holy Grail, and Aladdin’s lamp.
Unfortunately, most of the mythological objects in stories
have been lost to history, if they ever existed in the first place. But, did
you know, that not all mystical objects are legendary? Some of them are real!
Maybe you don’t believe that an object can have magical powers, but to some,
there are divine symbols in this world that are worth starting wars to protect.
In my novel, Inventors
at No. 8, the characters follow a treasure map to find a legendary object
called the Star of Victory. The Star is valuable not only because it’s a
beautiful gemstone, but also because its owner will be victorious in any
battle. Coming up with the backstory for the Star was a lot of fun. It was also
very challenging! I needed to create a treasure worthy of an epic quest, so I
took inspiration from some real-life objects. Who knows…maybe one of them will
inspire you!
Spear of Destiny
The Spear of Destiny is also called the Holy Lance or the
Holy Spear. It is supposed to be the tip of the spear that the soldier Longinus
used to stab Jesus of Nazareth on the cross. One of these spearheads (there are
at least four!) became part of the Imperial Regalia of the Holy Roman Emperor
in the 10th century.
According to legend, whoever owned the Spear of Destiny would
be able to conquer the world. However, if the Spear was ever dropped or lost,
its owner would immediately die. Some of its famous owners/victims have been
Charlemagne, Constantine I, and Adolf Hitler. You can visit the Spear of
Destiny at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.
Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond is a very large blue diamond that was
originally part of an even larger diamond called the Tavernier Blue or French
Blue. The jewel was first bought by King Louis XIV in 1669 and was owned by the
French royal family until 1792 when King Louis XVI and his wife Marie
Antoinette were executed by guillotine. The stone then ended up in the hands of
the Hope Family in England then made its way to America. At some point, the
diamond gained the reputation for bringing bad luck to whoever owned it,
although the majority of its owners kept their heads. You can visit the Hope
Diamond in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.
The Three Sacred
Treasures of Japan
The Imperial Regalia of the emperors of Japan consists of
three objects: a sword, a mirror, and a jewel. The objects were symbols of
virtue and were owned by the ancestors of the first Japanese emperor. Later,
they became part of the enthronement ceremony for all Japanese rulers from 690
CE to the present day. Owning the Three Sacred Treasures gives political
legitimacy to whatever faction possesses it. Because these objects are so
sacred, they’ve never been photographed, and they are closely guarded by the
current government.
Stone of Destiny
The Stone of Destiny (also known as the Stone of Scone or
Coronation Stone) isn’t much to look at. It’s a rectangular block of stone with
two metal rings attached to the top. Despite its unassuming appearance, it’s a
very important object. Ever since Edward I took the stone from Scotland in
1296, it’s been used in coronation ceremonies to symbolize Britain’s dominance
over Scotland. According to legend, the stone would groan whenever a true ruler
sat upon it. In 1996, the stone was finally returned to Scotland by the
government with the promise that it could still be used in any future
coronations. You can visit the Stone of Destiny in Scotland at Edinburgh
Castle.
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