Monday, December 18, 2017

Sparked by Helena Echlin and Malena Watrous


Goodreads Summary:

Fifteen-year-old Laurel Goodwin wakes up to find her older sister Ivy missing from their Airstream trailer in the Oregon redwoods. A recurring nightmare convinces her that Ivy was abducted, but no one takes her dream seriously, including her mom. Laurel, a loner, has to learn to ask for help, and Jasper Blake, a mysterious new kid who shares her love of old books, quickly becomes her ally. Together they find their quiet town holds a deep secret and is the epicenter of a dark prophecy. 
Laurel soon learns that her worst enemies, mean girls Peyton Andersen and Mei Rosen, are developing powers that she needs to find and save Ivy. With time running out, Laurel realizes that power doesn't always take the form that you expect. And once she learns to look beyond her snap judgments, she develops an unexpected gift of her own.

My Take:

This was a very paranormal young adult read and I liked it!  I immediately liked Laurel.  I felt the missing sister story line has been played a lot, but Echlin and Watrous did a nice job in making this story its own.  I think any book that has the words ancient prophecy in it, speaks for itself.  I definitely wished I could've read this before October as I feel it has a nice creepy vibe to it and I like those types of books at certain times of year.  I felt that Laurel was a complex character who shows originality and true versions of being a teenager, making  her very easy to relate and connect to.  Jasper was a nice love interest in that he, himself, has a backstory that is quite unique.  I didn't really care for Mei or Peyton, but I do think that was the objective.  You can plainly see that everyone is struggling with real life teenage feelings and emotions and insecurities. 

I truly enjoyed Laurel's dreams that told so much of the story and her journey into finding out what happened to her sister Ivy.  I would probably give this story 3 stars for being a creepy, paranormal, sibling bonded, teenage journey to finding ones true self. 

Dream Cast  Was so much fun to make!!!

Laurel ~ Chloe Moretz
Ivy ~ Veronika Bonell
Jasper ~ Ansel Elgort
Sky ~ Skai Jackson
Peyton ~ Aurora Perrineau
Mei ~ Nikki Soohoo
Simone ~ Bailee Madison

Favorite Quotes

"But it was only a nightmare, I told myself. It couldn’t mean anything."

 "I felt like she’d taken the billowing black mass of the nightmare and folded it over and over, until it became a tiny square, small enough for me to put away and forget about."

"Ancient magic sang in their veins, while the most ordinary blood trickled through mine." 

 “As the date approaches, the natural order will begin to fall apart, and the lower beings will be seen to rise from the dead.”

About the Authors

Hello! We are both novelists, but if you've ever tried to write anything, you know that writing can be a lonely, angst-filled business. So one night over a cocktail or two, we came up with a solution: write our next book together. Malena already had an idea: a girl's sister is kidnapped and she has to rely on mean girls with superpowers to get her sister back. We couldn't resist seeing where that story would take us – a wild ride that includes a loner girl who wants to be a writer and a gorgeous boy who can shoot fire from his eyes but also loves to talk about books. And an ancient Zoroastrian prophecy. And pie shakes. (OK, so maybe we got a little carried away.)


We've both published solo novels (check them out here and here) and had no idea how co-writing would work out, but we pounded out the first draft in a white-hot frenzy of inspiration we called "the Vortex." One of us would write a scene and send it to the other with a note: "My apartment is a pigsty and I haven't eaten all day. #inthevortex." We wrote the book we wanted to read as teenagers: a supernatural thriller with healthy doses of horror and humor. Oh, and of course there's romance. You have to wait a long time for the only kiss in the book, but isn't that the case with all the best kisses in books?


Tour Schedule


December 16th



December 17th

Deal Sharing Aunt - Promotional Post
The Reading Life - Review + Dream Cast + Favorite Quotes


December 18th

JusticeReads - Review + Dream Cast + Favourite Quotes
A Bookish Abode - Review
Rainy Days and Pajamas- Promotional Post


December 19th

Vicarious Bookworm - Review + Favorite Quotes
Ink of Blood- Review


December 20th

Ctrl, Alt, Books - Review + Favourite Quotes
The Clever Reader - Review + Favorite Quotes

December 21st

Books, Boys, and Blogs - Review + Dream Cast + Favourite Quotes
Lisa's Loves(Books of Course) - Promotional Post
A Dream Within a Dream- Promotional Post


December 22nd

YA/NA Book Divas - Review + Favourite Quotes
Hauntedbybooks13 - Review


Tuesday, December 12, 2017

The Evaporation of Sofi Snow by Mary Weber






The Evaporation of Sofi Snow (The Evaporation of Sofi Snow #1)
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: June 6th 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Synopsis:

Ever since the Delonese ice-planet arrived eleven years ago, Sofi's dreams have been vivid. Alien. In a system where Earth's corporations rule in place of governments and the humanoid race orbiting the moon are allies, her only constant has been her younger brother, Shilo. As an online gamer, Sofi battles behind the scenes of Earth's Fantasy Fighting arena where Shilo is forced to compete in a mix of real and virtual blood sport. But when a bomb takes out a quarter of the arena, Sofi's the only one who believes Shilo survived. She has dreams of him. And she's convinced he's been taken to the ice-planet.
Except no one but ambassadors are allowed there.
For Miguel, Earth's charming young playboy, the games are of a different sort. As Ambassador to the Delonese, his career has been built on trading secrets and seduction. Until the Fantasy Fight's bomb goes off. Now the tables have turned and he's a target for blackmail. The game is simple: Help the blackmailers, or lose more than anyone can fathom, or Earth can afford.


My Thoughts:

What a great fantasy novel!  Mary Weber has written an amazing trilogy before and this new story is no different.  Her writing style is so unique, concise and clear.  The world building is creative and tangible and I was sucked right in.  The many different topics this fantasy covers are real and tremendous.  Sofi is such a relateable character and the relationship she shares with her brother is incredible.  I love stories about strong sibling bonds.  She is also another broken but strong heroine and that what readers are into right now, because that's how a lot of us feel.  We have moments of strength and moments of weakness.  We are building stronger futures for ourselves on top of broken or shattered foundations.

This is a fast paced novel like Weber's other novels.  She has a way of weaving a story into your mind and making it play out like a movie.  This one has a lot of Sci-fi elements like aliens, futuristic worlds and such.  Which makes this read one for many. Hovercrafts and transports truly transport the reader into the future and hooked for a ride of their of life. 

I felt a strong connection with Sofi and as the main character that is very important to me.  I thoroughly enjoyed this and am ready for the sequel like... now please.  

I've never actually listened to music before while reading and but I love trying new things!  So, I given the setting of The Evaporation of Sofi Snow, I wanted to listen to some Sci-Fi type of music...


Playlist
1.  Cello Wars (Star Wars Parody) Light Saber Duel - The Piano Guys
2.  Star Wars Medley - Lindsey Stirling and Peter Hollens
3.  Interstellar Overdrive - Pink Floyd
4.  E.T. by Kanye West and Katy Perry
5.  Wondaland by Janelle Monae
6.   Life on Mars? by David Bowe
7.  A Thousand Years by The Piano Guys
8.  The Inner Light (Star Trek) Piano Cover
9.  Batman Covers - The Piano Guys
10.  In the End - Linkin Park

BOOK LINKS


TOUR SCHEDULE



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Weber is the multiple-award-winning author of the bestselling young adult Storm Siren Trilogy, and The Evaporation of Sofi Snow series (all by HarperCollins). An avid high school, middle school, and conference speaker, Mary's passion is helping others find their voice amid a world that often feels too loud. When she's not plotting adventures involving tough girls who frequently take over the world, Mary sings 80's hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California which is perfect for stalking L.A. bands, Comic-Con, and the ocean.

Mary's debut, Storm Siren, was featured in the Scholastic School Book Fairs, and her novels have been endorsed by bestselling authors Marissa Meyer, Jay Asher, Wendy Higgins, CJ Redwine, and Jonathan Maberry.

You can also find Mary's fun interviews in the paperback of Marissa Meyer's NYT bestselling, CRESS, and in Jay Asher's 13 REASONS WHY movie tie-in edition. Most recently, you can see her and her family as extras in the NETFLIX Original Series, 13 REASONS WHY.

She gets nerdy at @maryweber.com, FACEBOOK @MaryWeberAuthor, INSTAGRAM @MaryWeberAuthor, TWITTER @mchristineweber, and GOODREADS. Come say hi!!


GIVEAWAY
       Prize: Everything in the picture— Backpack, earbuds, hardcover copy of the book
       US/Canada only
       Starts: 12/11
       Ends: 12/29

Monday, October 30, 2017

A Sleeping Beauty Re-telling Must Read!


Prepare yourself for a wonderfully told re-telling story of the sleeping princess!

Goodreads Summary:

A kingdom burns. A princess sleeps. This is no fairy tale.

It all started with the burning of the spindles.

No.

It all started with a curse…

Half sisters Isabelle and Aurora are polar opposites: Isabelle is the king’s headstrong illegitimate daughter, whose sight was tithed by faeries; Aurora, beautiful and sheltered, was tithed her sense of touch and her voice on the same day. Despite their differences, the sisters have always been extremely close.

And then everything changes, with a single drop of Aurora’s blood—and a sleep so deep it cannot be broken.

As the faerie queen and her army of Vultures prepare to march, Isabelle must race to find a prince who can awaken her sister with the kiss of true love and seal their two kingdoms in an alliance against the queen.

Isabelle crosses land and sea; unearthly, thorny vines rise up the palace walls; and whispers of revolt travel in the ashes on the wind. The kingdom falls to ruin under layers of snow. Meanwhile, Aurora wakes up in a strange and enchanted world, where a mysterious hunter may be the secret to her escape…or the reason for her to stay.

My Take:

I never cared for the classic Sleeping Beauty movie, so I was hopeful that I would like this retelling.  Jumping from different character’s points of view helps to keep any story new and fresh and I absolutely adored that about Spindle Fire.  I immediately loved the twist of Aurora having a half-sister in this story.  Definitely makes the princess character seem a bit more relatable.  I actually think I preferred Isbe to Aurora in many different instances and wished that she was the princess here and not the weak and feeble Aurora. Alas, there could be no Sleeping Beauty retelling Aurora and she did come into her own.  A very complex character in my opinion, who grows and when you can see growth in a character in any story, you know you are reading a great book, by a great author.
The many different fairies in this tale make this retelling unique as well.  Malfleur and Belcoeur definitely give us a lot of excitement and awe.  I was on the edge of my seat quite a few times, not able to put this book down. There was so much magic and it was epic!  Fans of YA fantasy will love this retelling in my opinion.


I felt the story took off right from the beginning.  I wasn’t a huge fan of the girls having such main characters tithed from themselves, although it definitely made this story its own and stand out for me at the same time.  Maybe I just can’t be happy?  Nah, I was enveloped by this story and could imagine every scene in my head with Gil and Heath.  However, the romance in this story is not the highlight which I love.  It’s a story of sisters and trust and determination in a world full of evil and magic and obstacles to keep them from each other.

 

I felt that Hillyer’s writing was very engaging and raw with an exquisite prose and intense relationships, containing so many elements of a fantastical world of fairies and magic and 
royalty.  I could not have asked for a better retelling and I am in such high anticipation of the sequel, Winter Glass to come in 2018! 





About the Author: Lexa Hillyer

 I'm the author of Spindle Fire (coming April 2017 from Harper!), Proof of Forever, and the poetry collection Acquainted with the Cold, which won the 2012 Foreword Book of the Year Award's Gold Prize for Poetry. I'm also the co-founder of creative development company Paper Lantern Lit. My poetry was anthologized in Best New Poets 2012, and appears in several journals. I live in Carroll Gardens with my husband, daughter, and a very skinny orange tree. Follow me on instagram @ProofOfLex and twitter @Lexa_Hillyer !  (Author bio from Goodreads.)

Saturday, October 7, 2017

The Memory Trees With Giveaway!!!




ABOUT THE BOOK

The Memory Trees
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: October 10th 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Paranormal
 
Synopsis:

The Memory Trees is a dark magical realism novel about a mysterious family legacy, a centuries-old feud, and a tragic loss that resurfaces when sixteen-year-old Sorrow returns to her mother’s family orchard for the summer.

Sorrow Lovegood’s life has been shaped by the stories of the women who came before her: brave, resilient women who settled long ago on a mercurial apple orchard in Vermont. The land has been passed down through generations, and Sorrow and her family take pride in its strange history. Their offbeat habits may be ridiculed by other townspeople—especially their neighbors, the Abrams family—but for the first eight years of her life, the orchard is Sorrow’s whole world. 

Then one winter night everything changes. Sorrow’s sister Patience is tragically killed. Their mother suffers a mental breakdown. Sorrow is sent to live with her dad in Miami, away from the only home she’s ever known.

Now sixteen, Sorrow’s memories of her life in Vermont are maddeningly hazy; even the details of her sister’s death are unclear. She returns to the orchard for the summer, determined to learn ore about her troubled childhood and the family she left eight years ago. Why has her mother kept her distance over the years? What actually happened the night Patience died? Is the orchard trying to tell her something, or is she just imagining things?

Buy Links:


                                            


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kali Wallace studied geology and geophysics before she decided she enjoyed inventing imaginary worlds as much as she liked researching the real one. Her short fiction has appeared in Clarkesworld, F&SF, Asimov's, Lightspeed Magazine, and Tor.com. Her first novel, Shallow Graves, was published by Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins in 2016. Her second novel, The Memory Trees, will follow in 2017. She lives in southern California.









1 signed hardcover copy of THE MEMORY TREES by Kali Wallace (US Only)


Direct Link:


There is a preorder giveaway: anybody who preorders by 10/10 can get a signed bookplate and some bookmarks if they send an email to thememorytrees@gmail.com.


Wednesday, August 30, 2017

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:

ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY:


  2 signed hardcover copies of LIGHT YEARS by Emily Ziff Griffin
  US Only
  No Giveaway accounts


Links:

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Hunting Prince Dracula Blog Tour and Giveaway!!!


PRAISE FOR HUNTING PRINCE DRACULA
“There are plenty of suspects and red herrings as well as tense escalations….A scenic, twisty mystery.”
Kirkus Reviews
 “Readers of the previous mystery will be thrilled to have more of this likable duo. [A] delightful romp into an 1888 Gothic mystery with a hint of romance.”
                                            ―School Library Connection

About the Book
Title: Hunting Prince Dracula
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Release Date: September 19th
Description: In this hotly anticipated sequel to the haunting #1 bestseller Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer…or has the depraved prince been brought back to life? 
Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper’s true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe’s best schools of forensic medicine…and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.
But her life’s dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school’s forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.


My Thoughts:  I knew the sequel to Stalking Jack the Ripper would be exhilarating, engaging and utterly intense and I was not wrong.  Maniscalco has mastered the craft of writing historical/Gothic fiction.  Her verbiage, clear and concise, with so much detail, fully captivates the reader and lunges them into the story.  So, into Romania, I went.

Audrey Rose and Thomas pick up right where they left off, with their witty and entertaining thoughts and remarks while searching for clues to Romania's darkest mystery.  This dynamic duo does not fail to impress me and with Maniscalco's intricate dialogues, I'm kept on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next clue to be discovered and the banter that's sure to follow.  

Hunting Prince Dracula is full of Romanian history and it is quite clear that Maniscalco has done her homework very extensively.  I was very intrigued by how the setting played a part in the atmospheric moods of Thomas and Audrey.  There was definitely a deeper, darker, and dare I say, more dangerous feel to this sequel.  I must admit, that I quite enjoyed that.  This story really took me for a Gothic ride that I was hoping for in every way.  I felt that it actually had a quicker pace to it than SJTR, which I really enjoyed as well.  I like quick and entertaining reads, that are sure to keep me wanting more when its over.  I will surely have to rate this with 5 bats!  Hehehe

About the Author:

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with Gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.
Her first novel in this series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history.

Follow Kerri on Social media links:
Twitter   |  Facebook   |   Instagram   |   Website   |   Tumblr   |   Pinterest

Check out the rest of the tour!

Week One

August 21st ~ Paper Cuts: Hunting Prince Dracula Playlist
August 22nd ~ Literary Legionnaire: Review of Hunting Prince Dracula
August 24th ~ Arctic Books: Hunting Prince Dracula Playlist
August 25th ~ 21st Century Once Upon A Times: A “Drink Your way through SJTR: Tea Edition”

Week Two
August 28th ~ Hiver Et Café: History of Prince Dracula
August 29th ~ Justice Reads: Review of Hunting Prince Dracula
August 30th ~ Nicole’s Novel Reads: Travelling Etiquette and tips for Victorian Women
August 31st ~ Sophie Reads YA: Favourite Stalking Jack the Ripper Fanart
September 1st ~ LILbooKlovers: Top Ten Quotes from Stalking Jack the Ripper

Week Three
September 4th ~ One Way or An Author: Hunting Prince Dracula Phone Backgrounds
September 5th ~ A Blinding Book: Hunting Prince Dracula Aesthetic
September 6th ~ Rants & Raves: Review & Snacks
September 7th ~ Rattle the Stars: Hunting Prince Dracula Playlist
September 8th ~ A Gingerly Reviews: Review of Hunting Prince Dracula

Week Four
September 11th ~ The Plot Bunny: Hunting Prince Dracula Trick or Treat Customer Ideas
September 12th ~ Blame it on The Books: Hunting Prince Dracula Review
September 13th ~ The Reader & the Chef: Hunting Prince Dracula’s Menu
September 14th ~ Books, Tv, and More…Oh MY!!: Top Ten Favourite Traits of Audrey & Thomas
September 15th ~ Unquenchable Reads: GIF, GIFS, and more GIFS

Week Five
September 18th ~ Rattle the Pages: A Glimpse Back in Time: Vlad The Impaler edition
September 19th ~ Beyond the Book Reviews: Character Wears of the 21st Century
September 20th ~ The Heart of a Book Blogger: Hunting Prince Dracula Mood Board


Shadowcast by Crystal D. Grant Spotlight & Excerpt

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Shadowcast by Crystal D. Grant, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours ! About the Book Title: Shadowcast Series...