Showing posts with label clues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clues. Show all posts

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


Thursday, August 3, 2017

Review and Giveaway of League of American Traitors



League of American Traitors
Publisher: Sky Pony
Release Date: August 8, 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Historical

Synopsis:

Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it. . . . 

 When seventeen year-old Jasper is approached at the funeral of his deadbeat father by a man claiming to be an associate of his deceased parents, he’s thrust into a world of secrets tied to America’s history—and he’s right at the heart of it.

First, Jasper finds out he is the sole surviving descendant of Benedict Arnold, the most notorious traitor in American history. Then he learns that his father’s death was no accident. Jasper is at the center of a war that has been going on for centuries, in which the descendants of the heroes and traitors of the American Revolution still duel to the death for the sake of their honor.

His only hope to escape his dangerous fate on his eighteenth birthday? Take up the research his father was pursuing at the time of his death, to clear Arnold’s name.

Whisked off to a boarding school populated by other descendants of notorious American traitors, it’s a race to discover the truth. But if Jasper doesn’t find a way to uncover the evidence his father was hunting for, he may end up paying for the sins of his forefathers with his own life.  Like a mash-up of National Treasure and Hamilton, Matthew Landis’s debut spins the what-ifs of American history into a heart-pounding thriller steeped in conspiracy, clue hunting, and danger.


What an exciting historical fiction novel!  I remember reading that League of American Traitors was a mash up between National Treasure and Hamilton, and it was just that!  I couldn’t have been happier, as I am an avid National Treasure fan!  I like history more and more as I’m experiencing it through these types of novels specifically.  This was the first historical fiction novel that I read that wasn’t WWII based, so I was a little nervous to give it a shot, but I am so glad I did.  I loved Jasper!  His resilience and determination reminded me so much of myself!  And a descendant of Benedict Arnold?!  Yes please!  I need all of the notorious historical figures discussed in YA fiction the way this one was!


I loved how the story opens in a funeral. I think it’s dark but real and when it's real, it grasps on to you.  The first two chapters were absolutely filled with action and I knew this book was going to be good.  As the chapters continued and the story and characters developed, my assumptions were confirmed.  Landis is great story teller and knows exactly how to write about history for YA!

I also read that Landis was a history teacher and so I knew that the facts would be just that, facts.  I felt that because of his expertise in his field, he was able to really open up the world of U.S. history in a very unique and entertaining way.  There are not a lot of authors like that, in my opinion.  Sometimes children are looked down upon because of their parents’ actions, I really enjoyed how Landis develops his characters with their pasts held over their heads.  Nora was definitely a favorite of mine, but I do wish I would have heard a little more about her. I felt that Jasper was well thought out and handled situations, exactly how you’d expect a 17 year old descendant of Benedict Arnold to handle things, struggling to maintain honor, maturity, and responsibility.

With such a clever premise, and so much action, it was pretty difficult to not turn the page.  I thoroughly enjoyed the adventures and the clues given throughout the story that ultimately lead to a very satisfying ending.  




Links:




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I love history, but not in the old, awful, kill-me-now-please kind of way. My passion is convincing my students that the past is actually hilarious, shocking, tragic, disturbing, and altogether UN-boring. While getting my graduate degree in History at Villanova, I realized that there was yet one more way to do this: write contemporary young adult books laced with history to convince my students that past isn't as awful as they think. That’s a huge reason why I wrote The Judas Society.

Some other stuff: I love poetry but don’t understand it; I want Gordon Ramsay to give me a fatherly hug at some point; I tend toward the unapologetically dramatic; and (to my great shame) I didn’t read the Harry Potter series until last year. I’m also really good at covering up patent insecurities with self-deprecating humor (like this joke).



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July 31st

Pink Polka Dot Books- Welcome Post

August 1st

When Curiosity Killed the Cat- Q&A
Little Library Muse- Promo

August 2nd

My Thoughts Literally- Guest Post
Kyera's Library- Review


August 3rd

What's She Reading?- Review
Justice Reads- Revew

August 4th

A Dream Within a Dream- Promo
Little Red's Reviews- Review

August 5th

Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Guest Post
Books, Books, and More Books- Review

August 6th

Never Too Many To Read- Creative Option
Absolute Bookishness- Revew

August 7th

Comfort Books- Q&A
The Critic Uncritical Bookworm- Review

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ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY:


•    2 copies of LEAGUE OF AMERICAN TRAITORS by Matthew Landis
•    US & Canada Only
•    No Giveaway accounts

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Book Review: Winning Over the Baker by Danielle Thorne

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