Recruit of Talionis by C.J. Milacci - Spotlight and Excerpt! (With a giveaway!!!)

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Recruit of Talionis by C.J. Milacci, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Recruit of Talionis
Series: Talionis Series #1
Author: C.J. Milacci
Publisher: Fayette Press
Release Date: November 3, 2022
Genre: Young Adult Sci-Fi Dystopian

"Forget where you came from. Forget the life you knew. You are now recruits of Talionis!"

A teen with a dark past. A secret military force that kidnaps new soldiers. Can she survive as a Recruit of Talionis?

America has fallen.

Seventeen-year-old Bria Averton grew up in a small town of survivors near the ruins of Portland, Maine. It’s all she’s ever known — until she’s kidnapped along with hundreds of other teens and brought to the city of Talionis. A city no one knew existed.

The soldiers tell them the intense trainings are for the good of the survivors, and Bria resists being forced into a new life as a recruited soldier. But she soon finds the dangers in the city are greater than she imagined.

Escape is impossible, and Bria fears drowning in the evil of the city… and the guilt from her own past. But can she find hope, even here?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | BookBub

Excerpt:

A shock zips through me, and I bolt upright, gasping for breath.
“She’s alert, sir,” a woman kneeling on the floor next to me says.
The empty syringe in her hand causes me to try to move away from her, but my bound
hands and feet make it almost impossible. With a rush, everything comes back to me.
Waking up in the forest.
The soldiers.
The other teens.
Golden Eyes.
The man comes into view as though he could read my thoughts. “Good. We’re two mics
out. Prepare for landing.”
“Yes, sir.” The woman puts the needle in a box, seals it, and then stands.
My muddled brain struggles to process everything. I look down and immediately wish I
hadn’t. My stomach roils. I’m suspended in the air, the tops of trees passing by in a blur beneath
me.
“Where am I? What’s going on?” The questions burst from my mouth, coated with fear.
The soldiers ignore me, and I open my mouth to ask again, desperation pushing aside any
sane thought.
“Girl, I would stay quiet if I were you.” The words are a whisper, but they catch my
attention.

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About the Author

CJ Milacci has found creating to be therapeutic in the chaos of life. Writing is her favorite way to create, and she seeks to take her readers on a grand adventure that begins with a single word. As a referee, she is always relearning the hard lesson that it’s impossible to make everyone happy, and she’s discovered that stories can be found anywhere, even on a lacrosse field. She is passionate about crafting stories of good overcoming evil, finding hope in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances, and true acceptance. Always willing to get real about hard issues, C.J. also enjoys the cheesiest of puns. She loves deep conversations, yo-yos, roller-blading, and finding reasons to throw a dance party. She chats about writing, her faith and the hope found in Jesus, bubble tea, and other fun adventures online (@cjmilacci) and at cjmilacci.com.

Connect with CJ by visiting cjmilacci.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a print copy of Recruit of Talionis with swag and a $15 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 27 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 3, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

New Release & Giveaway: Crown of Oblivion by Julie Eshbaugh

Crown of Oblivion 

by Julie Eshbaugh

Best book I’ve read this year! Crown of Oblivion by Julie Eshbaugh was an incredibly action packed YA novel from beginning to end! Raw, fresh and unique, this story unfolds in a dystopian setting with themes of injustice, inequality and horrors that people should never have to witness. I was completely enthralled in Astrid’s world and couldn’t get enough of her experiences. The world building was done quite nicely; not over done like some fantasy novels can be, but enough for me to envision the surroundings and still develop my relationship with the main character!

Astrid, an Outsider, is forced to become a surrogate to the princess… she takes all the punishments that the princess deserves for breaking rules and such. My heart immediately broke for Astrid but at the same time, I was intrigued. How does this girl take this pain and suffering and move past it? The Race of Oblivion definitely distracts her well enough.



This race is brutal and cold, and threatening and vicious. Making it worse, the racers are given Oblivion. A drug that makes them lose all memories before even starting the race. The unfolding of each moment is built with such anticipation that I found it very hard to put the back down (and I’m in a fast paced online course at the moment).

I enjoyed Astrid’s encounters with all of the side characters greatly. Just enough interaction but not too much to make the story drag. The action took precedence. Left and right, Astrid was challenged and though some characters helped her in unexpected ways, Astrid ultimately pulled herself through, giving us our desired clever and brave heroine. With family elements throughout, the story felt real and relatable. There is a very, very slow burning romance weaved into this story, but it does not have the spotlight by any means. It does, however, help to see that even in the darkest of times, love shows itself, in many shapes and forms.


Eshbaugh’s latest release is nothing short of compelling and an absolute thrill ride. Crown of Oblivion is a story that I won’t soon forget and nor should I… the ending hints at a sequel ;) This is perfect for any dystopian fan of The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner series and more. Get ready for the race of your life!

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

**Giveaway**

Did you miss your chance at the amazing pre-order giveaway?!  Well fret no more! I have an extra set of all that's included in the giveaway: Signed bookplate, HeyAtlasCreative designed enamel pin, postcard with book quote and a cut out bookmark of Astrid!  All of this with a hardback copy of Crown of Oblivion!!  

Rafflecopter

  U.S. Only - Ends 11/20/2019

Winner will have 24 hours to respond to notification or another winner will be chosen!

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Review and Giveaway - The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted and Rachelle Dekker

The Girl Behind the Red Rope

By Ted Dekker &

Rachelle Dekker

Published by Revell

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ten years ago, Grace saw something that would forever change the course of history. When evil in its purest form is unleashed on the world, she and others from their religious community are already hidden deep in the hills of Tennessee, abiding by every rule that will keep them safe, pure--and alive. As long as they stay there, behind the red perimeter.

Her older brother's questions and the arrival of the first outsiders she's seen in a decade set in motion events that will question everything Grace has built her life on. Enemies rise on all sides--but who is the real enemy? And what will it cost her to uncover the truth?

For the first time, bestselling authors Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker team up and deliver an intense, tightly focused ride through the most treacherous world of all.

My Review

I knew that a book by father/daughter duo, Ted and Rachelle Dekker was going to be amazing, I just didn’t realize how stellar it was going to be. I read through this book in two days and was glued to every single page.  The setting was perfect for this dystopian/post-apocalyptic story, one of my favorite kinds. The dialogue between the characters was complex but simple, full of wisdom and fear.  Fear.  What this book is really about, at least to me, is the fear that we all live with every day of our lives.  Fear of loss, fear of failure, fear of forgiveness, fear of any and all things grabs hold of us and strangles us with their dark shadowy claws. I thoroughly enjoyed how the Dekker's explored this life stressor and dissected it for each of us to be able to apply it to our own lives in one way or another.  For me, it was more than one!  

In the beginning I felt the MC, Grace to be naive and weak, but really she was controlled and manipulated.  She was controlled by her own fear and the fear of those she loved and respected.  I know so many people that can relate to this! We are a product of our environments and that shows to be true in The Girl Behind the Red Rope but that doesn't mean we can't break the mold.  The description of the Fury were spot on to what I would expect when these times come to pass. I think that because the possibilities that these events can really occur, made the story that much more suspenseful and engaging.  The light that shines throughout this book comes in such an expected way that really pulls at the reader’s heart strings and I couldn’t be more satisfied. There are so many book club questions that reappear and one is, "Did the book change you?"  I can say without a doubt that this one did.  This one opened my eyes to my own fears.  This one opened my heart to forgiveness.  This one changed me.  I was completely enthralled in this story and I cannot wait to read another book by these fantastic writers!

GIVEAWAY

 I'd love to giveaway my copy of this book to someone who truly wants to experience this story!  Just share this blog post on any social media platform and comment below the link to where you shared it! 

Thanks for reading! 

Love, 

Justicereads

Your One and Only Review & Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Your One and Only

by Adrianne Finlay

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Release Date: February 6, 2018

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

Jack is a walking fossil. The only human among a sea of clones. It’s been hundreds of years since humanity died off in the slow plague, leaving the clones behind to carry on human existence. Over time they’ve perfected their genes, moving further away from the imperfections of humanity. But if they really are perfect, why did they create Jack?

While Jack longs for acceptance, Althea-310 struggles with the feeling that she’s different from her sisters. Her fascination with Jack doesn’t help. As Althea and Jack’s connection grows stronger, so does the threat to their lives. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?

My Thoughts:

I love dystopian YA novels.  Your One and Only hit the nail right on the head for me.  I was a bit hesitant at first because I don’t like it when characters have numbers next to their names it can be a little confusing, but Finlay definitely made Althea-310 a human clone, stand out among the others.  This book screams difference, individuality, and acceptance from all corners.

With two point of views, one from Althea-310 and the other from Jack (the last living human), the story is told exquisitely.  Once the two are introduced, the goods and bads from both species are highlighted and your mind really gets to thinking.  I love it when a book gets me to thinking like this one did.  The fact that clones are a large possibility in our future and with all of the diseases spreading, a plague is never out of the question either, both really have an impact on you when you read this.  Finlay made these clones real, almost as real as humans and so you don’t think of them as empty or robotic.  They breathe and feel and think for themselves. 

Jack is the outsider here, and though a bit aggressive, I love him for it, every second.  I love his perspective of the clones and of Althea-310 in particular. While Althea-310 accepts Jack and Jack accepts Althea-310 and even a slight romance seems to begin, the story does not focus on romance.  Sam’s role in the story could’ve been a little stronger.  His affections towards Jack seemed kind of all of a sudden and not so built up from earlier in the story. 

Though there is definitely great world building, the story is absolutely character driven and Finlay does a fantastic job of getting you to know her characters and wanting to meet them in real life.   I felt the first quarter of the book was a bit too slow but the next 3 quarters totally made it up for it. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of YA Dystopian and Sci-Fi.

Favorite Quotes

Lights hung like fireflies from the flowering trees in twinkling paper baskets, and the colored rocks glowed around the perimeter of the kapok.

They understood each other, and in their understanding, they became one.

The art of losing isn't hard to master.

"Don't you know?" His breath was hot in her ear.  "I'm the snake in the Garden."

How foolish we were, to act as gods.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Blog tour schedule link: http://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2018/01/tour-schedule-your-one-and-only-by.html

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Originally from Ithaca, New York, Adrianne Finlay now lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa with her husband, the poet J. D. Schraffenberger, and their two young daughters. She received her PhD in literature and creative writing from Binghamton University, and is an associate professor of English at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa. 

She is also an avid soap maker, and sells handmade soap locally to raise money for type 1 diabetes research. 

https://semisweetsoaps.com/

GIVEAWAY

•       Prize:3 copies of YOUR ONE AND ONLY by Adrianne Finlay (US Only)

•       Starts: 1/30

•       Ends: 2/9

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86278/?

Light Years by Emily Ziff Griffin and Giveaway!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Light Years

by Emily Ziff Griffin

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: September 5th, 2017

Genre: Young Adult

Synopsis:

As a mysterious virus infects the world’s population, a girl embarks on a quest to find a cure in this thrilling debut from Emily Ziff Griffin.

Luisa is ready for her life to start. Five minutes ago. And she could be on her way, as her extraordinary coding skills have landed her a finalist spot for a fellowship sponsored by Thomas Bell, the world’s most brilliant and mercurial tech entrepreneur. Being chosen means funding, mentorship, and most importantly, freedom from her overbearing mother. Maybe Lu will even figure out how to control the rare condition that plagues her: whenever her emotions run high, her physical senses kick into overload, with waves of color, sound, taste, and touch flooding her body.

But Luisa’s life is thrust into chaos as a deadly virus sweeps across the globe, killing thousands and sending her father into quarantine. When Lu receives a cryptic message from someone who might hold the key to stopping the epidemic, she knows she must do something to save her family—and the world.

Suspenseful, lyrical, and thought-provoking, Light Years features a remarkable heroine on an intensely physical and emotional quest for hope and existential meaning.

My Thoughts:  

I was beyond excited to receive an advanced copy of this book for review!  The synopsis of this book was very inviting for a fan of dystopian novels.  I knew this was going to be not only a fun read but an intense one.  I have to admit that at times, it may have been a little too intense though for some fans of YA.  

I say that because of the language.  Griffin has a way with words that makes you sit back and think while your reading, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  However, the cursing, especially in the beginning of the book just seemed unnecessary.  I supposed cursing seems to be incorporated into more and more YA but I am definitely not a fan, especially of the F word.  Luckily, the cursing seems to dissipate as the story progresses. 

Letting this go, I was able to move forward and enjoy the story and the character development of our main character Louisa.  I loved this character.  I loved that she has a Spanish heritage, I loved that she seemed to have a neurological condition that is rare, though I do wish it would have been named.  Some type of sensory disorder definitely, and I think there would be a lot of people with different types of sensory disorders that can relate very easily to this character.   I think Lu's character is very grown for her age, and rightfully so, considering the pandemic the world is facing, but as I read, I loss track that she is indeed, just a 17 year old girl.  

Lu's love interest, Kamal is a fantastic character.  I imagined him to be the tall, dark, rugged, handsome British, Arabic, that he is.  Exactly as Griffin had intended him to be.  I loved the diversity in this book. I wasn't too fond of Lu's brother though.  Where in moments he seemed to be brave and protective, other times, I found him to be annoying.  Maybe I was supposed to feel this way.  

Also, I feel that I need to add that there were quite a few religious references throughout the story.  However, instead of just one religion, there were many.  Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. I think Griffin is a genius for weaving all of this into the book.  A true and intense handle for many to grab a hold of in the instance that the plot of this story were to come to fruition. 

Light Years is a remarkable debut for Griffin.  I felt like the story was real and raw and that it hits close to home for a lot of us. The ending definitely had me guessing, which I still have mixed feelings about so I won't go into too much detail there.  All I can end with, is that I hope Griffin writes again soon!  

My Favorite Quotes:

"The world is everyone's oyster, if they step up to crack it open."

"We are born of love, love is our mother.  I read that on a teabag."

"You know a single image being a true record of anything is an impossible idea, right?"

"We are united by the surreal pain of existing in a life that is still familiar but indelibly altered by loss."

"Religion and spirit are two very different things,"  she says. "You have a spirit.  Therefore the Bible is our story.  Read it like a childhood favorite and God will find is way to you."

"Like the sun, like the oceans, this land does not need us.  It will soak in the rain. It will freeze over in winter, then thaw again in spring. Like an orphaned child, it will manage to survive on its own.  But unlike me, it won't know the difference."

August 29th

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club & Pink Polka Dot Books- Welcome Post

August 30th

The Petite Book Blogger- Review

justicereads- Review & Fave Quotes

The Reading Life- Promo

August 31st

Comfort Books- Q&A

Living Life the Write Way- Review

September 1st

Bookish in Bed- Guest Post

Never Too Many to Read- Review

September 2nd

MNBernard Books- Guest Post

everywhere and nowhere- Review

Tara's Book Addiction- Promo

September 3rd

Wishful Endings- Q&A

September 4th

YA Book Divas- Review

books and photographs- Review

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Emily Ziff Griffin lives in LA where she writes, produces, teaches, daydreams, and mothers two young kids. When she was 25, she co-founded Cooper’s Town Productions with Philip Seymour Hoffman and produced the Academy Award-winning film, ‘Capote,’ along with Hoffman’s directorial debut ‘Jack Goes Boating,’ and John Slattery’s ‘God’s Pocket.’ She's run three marathons, slowly, and holds a degree from Brown University in art-semiotics, the study of how images make meaning. She believes children are way more sophisticated than adults typically give them credit for and writes for the teenager who is ready to claim their own worldview and be grounded in their own power. ‘Light Years’ is her first novel. Find her at www.emilyziffgriffin.com.

Links:

Website- https://emilyziffgriffin.com

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7275770.Emily_Ziff_Griffin

Twitter- https://twitter.com/emilyziff

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/emilyziffgriffin/

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/emilyziffgriffin/

ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY:

•  2 signed hardcover copies of LIGHT YEARS by Emily Ziff Griffin

•  US Only

•  No Giveaway accounts

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86258/?

Links:

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30635582-light-years

Amazon- https://www.amazon.com/Light-Years-Emily-Ziff-Griffin/dp/1507200056?SubscriptionId=0ENGV10E9K9QDNSJ5C82&tag=e0248-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1507200056

B&N-https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/light-years-emily-ziff-griffin/1125495924?ean=9781507200056

BookDepository-https://www.bookdepository.com/Light-Years-Emily-Ziff-Griffin/9781507200056

Kobo- https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/light-years-12

Throw Back Thursday: Marie Lu's "Legend"

Legend

Marie Lu

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

My Thoughts:

I had bought this book when it first came out and read it within a week.  Unfortunately, back then I never thought of writing my own reviews.  So now, here I am many years later finally giving the due credit to this amazing book, which took off and became a world wide sought after Young Adult series.  

One would never know that this was a debut novel for Marie Lu unless told otherwise.  Lu's writing is magnificent.  She sets a very nice mood and backdrop for the reader right away.  In a dystopian world, June and Day are living entirely opposite lifestyles.  While June is a soldier, fighting for what her government believes in, Day is a commoner, fighting for his freedoms, partially due to Day being the Republic's most wanted criminal.

June on the other hand, is perfect pick from the crop.  A prodigy, she is the best of the best and does what her commander tells her to do with no questions asked. I was less than thrilled with June's day job and personality in the beginning of this story, mostly because I'm more of Day than a June.  However, I decided to give June more of a chance with an open mind and I'm glad I did, because everyone has their own story, and you simply need to take the time to hear it, to try and understand why they are the way they are. 

The story here Lu creates has such a unique feel.  I felt like I was watching a movie while reading, with such vivid fighting scenes.  Legend is full of action and I most definitely love that aspect.  I feel that when an author is writing a dystopian, action is a must and Lu expertly executes what is desired by her readers.  With surprising twists and an unexpected romance, Legend is a perfect for debut for Marie Lu and a perfect beginning to an amazing trilogy.  Now, I must re-read Prodigy and Champion. Reviews to come!