Interview with Maurissa Guibord - Author of Warped

Maurissa Guibord is the author of Warped, released Jan 11th 2011 by Delacorte Press for Young Readers, and I invited her over to answer a few questions about her latest book.

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Author Bio:

Before beginning her writing career Maurissa Guibord worked slinging pizzas, alphabetizing things and practicing medicine. Now she writes teen fiction for people who love the same kind of stories she does: mysterious, romantic and with a touch of humor. Her short mystery fiction, published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine has been nominated for the Agatha Award. She lives on the coast of Maine with her mysterious cat, romantic husband and three kids who make her laugh. Her debut novel, Warped, will be published in early 2011 by Delacorte Press.

Maurissa is represented by Ted Malawer of Upstart Crow Literary Agency http://www.upstartcrowliterary.com
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1. Your inspiration for Warped came from the unicorn tapestries in Cloisters Museum in New York. Were the other aspects of the book, such as the time travel, the Norns and the threads came with it or were they inspired by something else?

My initial (vague) idea was that someone was trapped inside the tapestry for five hundred years. I really wanted to construct a plot in which that could happen. If you think about someone being stuck inside a tapestry- it isn't a far stretch to image their life as a thread. And luckily for me- there was already a whole mythological support for that in the story of the Fates, the three women who spin and weave and cut the threads of life. In WARPED I used their Nordic cousins- the Norns, because I thought the name sounded a bit more creepy and mysterious.

2. What sort of modern day books do you think Will would like? Do you think he’d enjoy reading books about kids forced to kill each other? Or sparkling vampires?

I think Will would spend most of his time delving into the classics that he missed (being from the sixteenth century and all). I think he would really dramatic, adventurous stories like Around the World in Eighty Days or Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. He would probably like Hemingway and Jack Kerouac too. Working up to more modern day fare- I think he would love Hunger Games. As far as paranormal love triangles? No- that wouldn't really appeal to him at all, LOL.

3. How did you decide on the characters’s personalities? Did they just come with the plot or did you consider them thoroughly?

I wanted there to be conflict between my two main characters- with very different personalities and backgrounds. Being from different centuries just wasn't enough! Will came from a very privileged lifestyle and was rather spoiled and carefree. Tessa is a more modern day girl- independent and worried about her future. She's a bit of a control freak too and is always trying to "fix" things. It really devastates her when things start happening that are completely out of her control.

4. Did you also do some extensive research? Tell us a funny fact you learned that has nothing to do with the book.

Well, Norse mythology plays a part in the book- as I describe the Norns and their role in weaving the threads of life. Norse myths are something I knew very little about, all I remembered from school was Greek/Roman mythology. It's really fascinating and I predict that you'll see an explosion of Norse retellings in YA fantasy stories soon. There are so many rich tales to draw from!
A couple of fun things I learned but couldn't fit into the book:

1. How to pronounce Yggdrasil (the tree of the world, or life) - EEG-DRAH-SIL

2. The Norse god Odin, in order to gain power, decided to hang himself on the tree of life. (Yeah, different huh?) After nine days of hanging there, staring at the ground he noticed a bunch of twigs had fallen. Their strewn patterns spelled out words.* Thus the Runic alphabet was born.

* I believe they spelled "Cut yourself down from that tree dumbass!"

5. You’re currently working on a book that is not the sequel of Warped. Do you plan to publish it as well? Also, when do you plan to write Warped’s sequel? Have you got any ideas what it’s going to be about?

Yes I'm currently working on REVEL- it's a story of a girl who comes to an isolated island of the coast of Maine. She discovers that Trespass Island is home to two communities living side by side. One is human, the other is made up of demi-gods of the sea and their demon offspring. When Delia arrives she upsets the balance between the two groups. It's a little bit horror, a little bit romance. REVEL should be coming out late in 2012.

I do have some ideas for a sequel for WARPED. They involve Tessa time-traveling again to the past to fix something that got messed up in the first story- and meeting Will de Chaucy for the first time (again!). Only he's not the same...
But currently I don't have an idea when that book will happen. Someday!

Thanks a lot to Maurissa for answering my questions! I can't wait to read her new book AND the sequel to Warped. :)

You may also visit Maurissa on her website, blog, twitter and facebook.

Book Review: Spellbound (ARC)

Spellbound
by Cara Lynn Shultz
Paperback, 384 pages
Expected publication: June 28th 2011 by Harlequin Teen
Source: ARC from NetGalley & Harlequin Teen

Summary:

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.


Review:

Reincarnation. Soulmates. Spells. Cursed lovers. Insta-attraction. Too perfect to be true male MC. New girl who thinks she’s not pretty enough and yet, manages to catch the attention of the two most sought-after boys in school. Girl must stay away from boy (because boy is bad news) but boy is too dang attractive to ignore. Well, if you put it like that, Spellbound has all the cliché I dislike in a paranormal YA romance book.

However, strangely enough, Shultz managed to incorporate all these cliché in one book without making it annoying cliché - which, I tell you, is a first among all the other PNR YA books that I read with the exact same elements. And they are quite a handful! Some, I couldn’t finish and some, I was able to finish but not without holding a grudge or getting the urge to hit the characters. I love that this all happened for a reason and not just by some too good to be true fluke of nature.

Brendan’s character is portrayed very well from the start. It’s practically impossible not to fall for him. He’s just smoking hot! It’s also easy to connect with the characters. I like it very much when Emma thinks dirty thoughts about Brendan. The legends told provide for a fascinating, yet creepy read too. Truly, Spellbound is a one enthralling read that intertwines magic, legends and a cursed romance that is surprisingly very well-written you’ll be spellbound before you know it.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars!

Disclosure: This e-ARC was received from the publisher (Harlequin Teen via NetGalley) for free in exchange for an honest review.

In My Mailbox (14)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

The LocketLegacy (Harlequin Teen)Summer's Crossing 
Borrowed:
NetGalley:
Legacy - Cayla Kluver (Jun 28, 2011 by Harlequin)
Free from Harlequin:

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Teaser Tuesdays (13): The Locket


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read.
  • Open to a random page.
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
  • Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away!) You don't want to ruin the book for the others!)
  • Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they liked your teasers.
My Teaser is from Stacey Jay's The Locket

The Locket

“Do you see that? The horses and . . .” 
“And the men in togas playing ‘Amazed’ by Lone Star on fiddles to a carriage full of people dressed like they’re headed to a Greek orgy?” His eyes flicked over my shoulder and then back to mine. “Yeah, I see that.”

I have a very strong feeling that this is going to be one of my favorite reads of 2011. So good!

Book Review: Love Story (ARC)

Love Story
by Jennifer Echols
243 Pages - Paperback
Expected publication: July 19th 2011 by MTV Books
Source: ARC from S&S Galley Grab

Summary:

SHE'S WRITING ABOUT HIM. HE'S WRITING ABOUT HER. AND EVERYBODY IS READING BETWEEN THE LINES.

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

Review:

As an heiress to a wealthy millionaire, Erin Blackwell’s grandmother wants her to pursue business course. But Erin has other plans for herself. She wants to be a writer. As a result, she is stripped off of all her inheritance. Worse, her grandmother had to give it to Hunter; the stable boy from her childhood. Now, Erin has to balance life from work and college. It’s already hard enough that she has to study and work her butt off. The only place she could relax is in the creative writing class. So when Hunter enrolled in the same class, all hell break loose. It doesn’t help that Hunter has to read the story she prepared on his first day, inspired by the same stable boy she met from childhood.

The story opens with a short story written by Erin about a forbidden tryst between a stable boy and his lady. I pretty much enjoyed this short story as well as the others. Though between Erin and Hunter, I enjoyed the latter’s works much better.

The plot is quite predictable, but what I love about Echols’s works is that no matter how predictable the plot is, you just can’t help anticipating the next events. However, no matter how much I liked how the events were unfolding, I gotta say that I was seriously disappointed with the last quarter of the book. Erin and Hunter had an argument. And although both parties were responsible, I was disappointed by how fast the fight ended. Without a single apology from either of them. It was a WTF moment for me. That said, I think the ending is rushed. I felt like it could still go on for 20 more pages, but unfortunately, it was cut short.

Erin also talked about the final story she wrote for the creative writing class before she and Hunter went back to the horse farm. The story is not featured in the book though, unlike her other stories. I thought that it was going to be an epic epilogue to the novel since it’s her and Hunter’s story. But all in all, I enjoyed reading Echols’s Love Story. Just not as much as her Going Too Far and Forget You.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Disclosure: This e-ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster (via S&S Galley Grab) for free in exchange for an honest review.

In My Mailbox (13)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

 Other Words for LoveWhat Happened to Goodbye 

And there goes my last In My Mailbox. Before I go to the Philippines, that is. Actually, this is a scheduled post and by the time this is published, I'm probably already having fun in the Philippines with my aunts and cousins. :) Mom also allowed me to bring a full box of books! No, actually, we bought 3 boxes of books. The other 2 we'll give to my cousins. Turns out, we'll stay there for at least 2 months so I need a few books to keep me company while my cousins go to school and me and my sister are left with the oldies... :( So, what did you get in your mailbox this week?

Book Review: Enclave

Enclave (Razorland #1)
by Ann Aguirre
259 Pages - Hardcover
Published April 12th 2011 by Feiwel & Friends
Challenge: Dystopia Reading Challenge
Source: Bought

Summary:

WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.


Review:

I’m starting to lose faith in dystopian novels. I have read three dystopia this month and the lot of them disappointed me. After Matched and Divergent, I was looking forward to Enclave. Hoping it could break the two-streak disappointment that both dystopian books brought upon me. But was I right about Enclave...?

Aguirre has created a world that is both fascinating and creepy at the same time. I like that Enclave starts straight to the plot. I thought it was a little fast, but I like it better than having the real plot start when I’m halfway done with the book. I find the characters very amusing. Deuce's ignorance about the sun, moon, rain, furniture and canned goods is really fascinating. I fell in love with Fade the moment Deuce mentioned him. But it was only short-lived. At first, he is described as a scary boy who keeps to himself. He has the blackest eyes, like bottomless pit. That said, I thought he was one mysterious, aloof guy with the darkest past.

I am one of those girls who are attracted to these types of hotties. But wrong! A couple of chapters after that, Fade is revealed to be a really soft guy who smiles and greets his friends. I’m not saying that this isn’t a good thing. I was just disappointed that he did not turn out like how he was first described. Because honestly, after picturing him as a dark, mysterious boy, it's quite hard to imagine him as a guy who smiles and greets people. Awkward!

Also, based on the author's note, Aguirre clearly put so much effort into writing this book. It's quite cool to know that the little, almost insignificant things in the book were based on facts. But like I said, I thought they were almost insignificant. I didn't even give much thought into them until she mentioned them. But still, it's really cool. Also, while I like that this starts straight to the plot, I kind of missed Deuce's back story. Like how she learned to fight or just more about her childhood.

There are a couple of WTF moments here too. Silk's appearance in Deuce's dream is very unconvincing. They are not even close to begin with. I was tempted to use google and see if Enclave also includes the paranormal genre aside from dystopia. And oh, the love triangle! At first, I was really happy because there was no love triangle. But behold! It sprouts towards the end of the book. WTF? Not only was it unconvincing. It seemed forced too.

Rating: 2.5/5 

Waiting on Wednesday (14): Audition

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My WoW:
Audition
Stasia Ward Kehoe
Expected publication: October 13th 2011 by Viking Juvenile

Summary:

Once you've been chosen,
what step can you take...?

Seventeen-year-old Sara's dream of becoming a star ballerina is challenged when she falls for Remington, an older choreographer. Instead of success onstage, she becomes Rem's muse, which is a future she never considered--and one that threatens to break her heart.

Why am I waiting for Audition? It's still WoW Contemporary madness! But what really drew me to this book is in the summary. Sara falls in love with an older choreographer. Older! And look at Rem on the cover. He's so hot!

Teaser Tuesdays (12): Spellbound


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read.
  • Open to a random page.
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
  • Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away!) You don't want to ruin the book for the others!)
  • Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they liked your teasers.
My Teaser is from an ARC of Cara Lynn Shultz'z Spellbound
(This quote is from an ARC copy and is subject to change)

Spellbound (Harlequin Teen)

“Hey, Brendan?” I asked hesitantly. My voice sounded thin and insecure, and I cringed. He paused in his chair and leaned back, turning his left ear in my direction but he didn’t look at me. “I have your hoodie. It’s in my locker. I would have brought it to class but it didn’t fit in my bag. So it’s in my locker. So, yeah. Just um, let me know what you want me to do with that, ’cause it’s in my locker.” Shut up, shut up, shut up.

Um, where did she say she put his hoodie? Haha! I'm almost halfway done with this and I'm really, really enjoying it thus far.

Book Review: Divergent

Divergent (Divergent #1)
by Veronica Roth
495 Pages - Hardcover
Published May 3rd 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books
Challenge: Dystopia Reading Challenge
Source: Bought

Summary:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.


Review:

Divergent has got to be one of the most anticipated dystopian novels of the year. After The Hunger Games, this had been the only dystopian that was said to follow the success of the trilogy (that I heard of). And as a ginormous fan of THG, naturally, I was compelled to read this.

So, do I think that Divergent is the next Hunger Games? No.

Don't get me wrong. It's not that I didn't like Divergent. I actually liked it. I just had super high hopes for this one and so I was slightly disappointed that it did not live up to my expectations.

First off, despite this book's lengthy page, it was surprisingly a very quick read. The pace was a bit slow but with the many interesting events that happened all throughout the story, one wouldn't complain about the pace - you might not even notice it! I feel neutral about Tris and Four. They are both tough and intriguing characters but their characters didn't leave a strong impact to me. Divergent also has one epic premise, I give Roth that. I liked reading about the five factions. It was hard to choose a favorite among them. Each serves a purpose to the society but they are not without flaws. It wouldn't take a genius to predict that sooner or later, problems among each will arise.

I think this also lacked suspense. The plot had little complexity and was quite predictable, especially on the falling action part. I thought it was very cliched. But despite that, Roth did a really good job with this book. Even though I had a hunch on what was going to happen next, it didn't stop me from holding my breath and turning the pages one after the other.

I did enjoy reading Divergent but I think one of the reasons I didn't like this that much is because I kept comparing it to THG - and that was where I went wrong. Enjoy it as it is. Divergent is really good without it being compared to any book!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

In My Mailbox (12)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Blood Magic (The Blood Journals)In the Arms of Stone Angels (Harlequin Teen)The Goddess Test (Harlequin Teen)
MisfitBetween The Land And The Sea (Marina's Tales)The Moon And The Tide (Marina's Tales)
Bought:
Blood Magic - Tessa Gratton
In the Arms of Stone Angels - Jordan Dane
The Goddess Test - Aimee Carter
From NetGalley & Abrams:
Misfit - Jon Skovron (Aug 1st 2011)
For Review: (Mermaids!!!!!)
Between the Land and the Sea (Marina's Tales #1) - Derrolyn Anderson
The Moon and the Tide (Marina's Tales #2) - Derrolyn Anderson

I went to the bookstore to buy some bookmarks. I wasn't really going to buy books but when I stepped inside the bookstore, these three were staring at me... calling to me... so there they are now. :) Thanks a bundle to NetGalley, Abrams and Derrolyn Anderson!

Random video: Nice Guys
This one's a really funny video. I was reminded of nice guys vs bad boys in YA books lol. Though this vid's clearly an exaggeration.



What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Book Review: The Stillburrow Crush

The Stillburrow Crush
by Linda Kage
212 pages - Paperback
Published January 27th 2010 by The Wild Rose Press
Source: Bought

Summary:

Sixteen year old, Carrie Paxton, isn't the most popular girl in her small town of Stillburrow. But that's never concerned her before. Her life revolves around her writing, and she loves her job as the student editor of the school paper.

But when she gets assigned to interview the football team's beloved quarterback, she takes one look into Luke Carter's blue eyes and is a goner. Suddenly, she doesn't like her lowly rank so much. Then her dreamy, popular crush surprises her when he starts to act as if he likes her in return. But there's no way Luke Carter could possibly ever like a nobody like Carrie Paxton. Is there?


Review:


After reading Elizabeth Scott's Bloom, I have lost faith in perfect boyfriends. But The Stillburrow Crush brought that faith back! I know popular jocks with perfect academic status, perfect family, perfectly handsome face and a characteristic of a perfect gentleman sounds boring. Scott's image of a perfect boyfriend has tattooed on my mind that they are annoying and not fun. They're not even swoon-worthy. But oh, The Stillburrow Crush's Luke Carter has all the characteristics of that perfect boyfriend and yet he's fun, he's interesting, he's swoon-worthy and did I say swoon-worthy? Because I all but melted over him whenever he appeared in the book.

You know that expression "warmth that spreads from your chest..." when the protagonist internally swoons over the love interest? Yeah. I totally felt that not with Luke, but with his relationship with Carrie. They're so cute and so adorable to look at. The characters are all so very likable. Carrie is a straight up honest girl, the editor of the school's paper, who thinks she's not good enough to be with people like Luke. But even if she's aware of this, she's not the type of girl who will back down from him. She's aware of it and is very vocal about it. Though her tendency to downgrade herself could be very uncomfortable.

I love the development of their relationship. Carrie fell in crush with Luke the first time she interviewed him for the school paper. And she is not ashamed of admitting this to him. I love their moments together. Their first phone conversation was epic as well. I took pleasure seeing Luke completely disoriented and baffled over Carrie's blunt attitude. So cute!

Ah, after two days, Luke still makes me feel giddy and bouncy. If you haven't read this book yet, I suggest that you head to your nearest bookstore/library or wherever it is you get your books and pick The Stillburrow Crush. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

Rating: 5/5 stars! - This book is an awesome incarnate!

Waiting On Wednesday (13): From Willa, With Love

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My WoW:
From Willa, With Love
Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Expected publication: July 1st 2011 by Scholastic Press

Summary:

It's a surprising, sparkling summer for Willa!

It's August on Cape Cod and Willa has a lot to look forward to. Soon, JFK will return home from baseball camp, and Willa has an idea for an exciting new project that will challenge her to dream big! But life throws Willa some unexpected twists and turns: Ruby has bad news, a beloved friend leaves, a dear friend returns, her brother Will has something he does't want to talk about, and of course, there's a wedding to plan! There's also a cute boy who likes Willa . . . a lot, and Willa thinks she might like him too. It's a summer full of romance and surprises!


Why am I waiting for From Willa, With Love? Summer + Contemporary YA = Win! I'm going back to  Contemporary madness after the disappointing outcome of my Dystopia madness. :(

Oh, and a week from now we're going back to the Philippines. I hope it's for permanent. I'm still not quite used to living here in the US. I feel the same way I felt when we moved here half a year ago. A total stranger. It doesn't help that the nearest neighbor lives half a mile away from our house.

When I was in the Philippines I used to whine about how there were so many noisy kids playing in the streets, but now I rarely see a human being! Okay that was an understatement. I see a bunch of old dudes and dudettes but rarely teenagers. Whenever there's a teenager walking outside, my sis and I would stare through the window. I swear we both look like creeps! Anyway, I'm so excited to go back! I wish grandma has wifi and cable in the province. Oh, and I hope it's rainy season there already. I hate the Philippine summer. It's too freaking hot!
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