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!

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

This Cruel Design Blog Tour and Giveaway!

 Reviews for This Cruel Design and This Mortal Coil!

This Cruel Design

by Emily Suvada

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: October 30, 2018

Genre: Young Adult -- Science Fiction

Goodreads Summary

Catarina Agatta is a hacker. She can cripple mainframes and crash through firewalls, but that’s not what makes her special. In Cat’s world, people are implanted with technology to recode their DNA, allowing them to change their bodies in any way they want. And Cat happens to be a gene-hacking genius.

That’s no surprise, since Cat’s father is Dr. Lachlan Agatta, a legendary geneticist who may be the last hope for defeating a plague that has brought humanity to the brink of extinction. But during the outbreak, Lachlan was kidnapped by a shadowy organization called Cartaxus, leaving Cat to survive the last two years on her own.

When a Cartaxus soldier, Cole, arrives with news that her father has been killed, Cat’s instincts tell her it’s just another Cartaxus lie. But Cole also brings a message: before Lachlan died, he managed to create a vaccine, and Cole needs Cat’s help to release it and save the human race.

Now Cat must decide who she can trust: The soldier with secrets of his own? The father who made her promise to hide from Cartaxus at all costs? In a world where nature itself can be rewritten, how much can she even trust herself? 

My Take

I was definitely a bit hesitant to try this one because it's another sci-fi about a virus and I just recently read one and loved it so I was hesitant to read another one so soon. However, I am extremely glad that I did! I think I'm really taking a liking to Sci-Fi!

Though there were a few slow parts but I don't think there were as many as some other reviewers may have thought. The characters were well developed and the emotions ran high. The main character Cat, is super likeable and I loved watching her grow and develop more throughout the story. I wasn't too happy that another story had a scientist father who isn't able to complete work and so the daughter needs to finish it, though. The story itself had a lot of action and a lot of emotion which is a perfect combination for a YA Sci-Fi.

 I got a little lost in the coding and Technology jargon; my mind doesn't work that way but it was still really neat to read about Cat experiencing these things. I don't think the romance was too heavy which also made it a much more engaging Sci-Fi. All in all I think readers that have more of an interest in science and technology will definitely enjoy This Mortal coil more, though I think it is a great book for all.

DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS MORTAL COIL

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

This Cruel Design

by Emily Suvada

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: October 30, 2018

Genre: Young Adult -- Science Fiction

Goodreads Summary

Cat thought the Hydra epidemic was over, but when new cases pop up, Cat must team up with an enemy to fix the vaccine before the virus spirals out of control in this thrilling sequel to This Mortal Coil, which New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman says “redefines ‘unputdownable.’”

The nightmare of the outbreak is finally over, but Cat’s fight has only just begun.

Exhausted, wounded, and reeling from revelations that have shaken her to her core, Cat is at a breaking point. Camped in the woods with Cole and Leoben, she’s working day and night, desperate to find a way to stop Lachlan’s plan to reprogram humanity. But she’s failing—Cat can’t even control her newly regrown panel, and try as she might to ignore them, she keeps seeing glitching visions from her past everywhere she turns.

When news arrives that the Hydra virus might not be as dead as they’d thought, the group is pushed into an uneasy alliance with Cartaxus to hunt down Lachlan and fix the vaccine. Their search takes them to Entropia, a city of genehackers hidden deep in the desert that could also hold the answers about Cat’s past that she’s been searching for.

But when confronted with lies and betrayals, Cat is forced to question everything she knows and everyone she trusts. And while Lachlan is always two steps ahead, the biggest threat to Cat may be the secrets buried in her own mind.

My Take

This Cruel Design starts off right where This Mortal Coil ends. I love that everybody is together and recuperating from everything that had happened before and now they're getting ready to set out to see if they can find Lachlan. I was immediately immersed back into their world and taken on another action packed adventure. 

The pacing of the first book was great but the pacing of the second book is excellent.  I'm not dragged around listening to the same story for too long but also not rushed into the technological elements too quickly. I love that the old characters are still with us but also some new ones are added.  Anna quickly became a favorite. I always seem to like characters that are meant for people to dislike.

I think this cruel design had even more plot twists and the gene technology was even more elaborate then in the first book. I also really enjoyed the diversity added for characters to manipulate their gender using the technology that Suvada created.  This book spoke about acceptance even if that wasn't its main purpose and a lot of people, myself included will appreciate that.  I knew that I would love This Cruel Design even more than the first and I was right!! I can't wait for the next book! 

About the Author

Emily Suvada was born and raised in Australia, where she went on to study mathematics and astrophysics. She previously worked as a data scientist, and still spends hours writing algorithms to perform tasks which would only take minutes to complete on her own. When not writing, she can be found hiking, cycling, and conducting chemistry experiments in her kitchen. She currently lives in Portland, OR, with her husband.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emilysuvada

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.suvada/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilysuvada

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/emilysuvada/

Website: http://www.emilysuvada.com/

TOUR SCHEDULE

http://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2018/09/tour-schedule-this-cruel-design-by.html 

GIVEAWAY

Prize: 2 copies of This Cruel Design by Emily Suvada (USA only)

Starts: 10/22/18

Ends:  10/31/18

Rafflecopter Giveaway

BOOK LINKS

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38316465-this-cruel-design

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2zNUucW

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/this-cruel-design-emily-suvada/1127922693#/

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/This-Cruel-Design-Emily-Suvada/9781481496360

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/?

The Evaporation of Sofi Snow by Mary Weber

The Evaporation of Sofi Snow (The Evaporation of Sofi Snow #1)

by Mary Weber

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

•       Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32969235-the-evaporation-of-sofi-snow

•       Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Evaporation-Sofi-Snow-Mary-Weber/dp/0718080904

•       Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Evaporation-Sofi-Snow/9780718080907

•       Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-evaporation-of-sofi-snow-mary-weber/1125138297?ean=9780718080907

•       Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-evaporation-of-sofi-snow

•       IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780718080907

TOUR SCHEDULE

Blog tour schedule link: http://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2017/11/tour-schedule-evaporation-of-sofi-snow.html

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

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86274/?