Blog Tour + Giveaway: Kinslayer by Jay Kristoff

Reading Level: Ages 14 and up
Paperback: 432 Pages
Release Date: September 17, 2013
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Narration: Third Person: Everyone
Genre: Japanese Mythology
Challenge: Mythology
Source: Publisher

The Lotus War Series:
Book One: Stormdancer
Book Two: Kinslayer
Book Three: Untitled (2014)

Order On Amazon: Hardcover
                              Kindle
Order On Barnes and Noble:
Hardcover and Nook

Goodreads Synopsis:

A SHATTERED EMPIRE

The mad Shōgun Yoritomo has been assassinated by the Stormdancer Yukiko, and the threat of civil war looms over the Shima Imperium. The Lotus Guild conspires to renew the nation’s broken dynasty and crush the growing rebellion simultaneously – by endorsing a new Shōgun who desires nothing more than to see Yukiko dead.

A DARK LEGACY

Yukiko and the mighty thunder tiger Buruu have been cast in the role of heroes by the Kagé rebellion. But Yukiko herself is blinded by rage over her father’s death, and her ability to hear the thoughts of beasts is swelling beyond her power to control. Along with Buruu, Yukiko’s anchor is Kin, the rebel Guildsman who helped her escape from Yoritomo’s clutches. But Kin has his own secrets, and is haunted by visions of a future he’d rather die than see realized.

A GATHERING STORM

Kagé assassins lurk within the Shōgun’s palace, plotting to end the new dynasty before it begins. A waif from Kigen’s gutters begins a friendship that could undo the entire empire. A new enemy gathers its strength, readying to push the fracturing Shima imperium into a war it cannot hope to survive. And across raging oceans, amongst islands of black glass, Yukiko and Buruu will face foes no katana or talon can defeat.

The ghosts of a blood-stained past.

My Review:

The second I flipped to the first page, I instinctively knew that Kinslayer would be the novel to bring me out of my month long reading depression. That mourning period of time after you read a really really good novel and feel as if you'll never be able to face another with the same enthusiasm. If you're an old time subscriber, you'd already know that I've been away on vacation in China for the past month, which sadly means that I only had the books that I brought along with me annnnd that I had no way to access my poor, neglected blog. Sucks, I know. But that just made the surprise all the sweeter when I came home to not one....but two ARC copies of Kinslayer...which means that they'll be a giveaway coming up very soon, so stay tuned. :D

One of the awesomely unique aspects of this novel is the character directory in the beginning. Something I desperately needed since I forgot most of the minor characters' names. Along with the names came a brief, but helpful, description of the character and the location they were last seen in at the end of Stormdancer. Another thing that I admired about Jay's novel was that he recapped, in a subtle fashion, the major events that occurred in Stormdancer in a way that jogged your memory but didn't leave you bored to tears or irritatingly patronized by rehearing things that you already knew.

All of the characters in Kinslayer played strong roles leading up to the overall outcome of the novel. And since Jay decided to stick to the third person writing style he used in Stormdancer, we saw from all of their perspectives and how the rebellion affected each and every single one of their lives. This tactic.....was both good and bad in my eyes, because yes, I definitely enjoyed knowing what was happening to each character.....but at the same time I was itching to skim pages because my mind was more set on hearing Yukiko's story then that of the other peoples.

I fell in love with most of the characters because they were such capable, independent people, people that you'd aspire to be one day, minus all the killing of course. Even though they were bad a, they were still vulnerable in their own ways, even Michi, who scared the shit out of me sometimes with her ruthlessness. However, the things she did only made me respect her character all the more. After everything that's happened in her past, she's not willing to take chances on anyone any longer. She does whatever is needed for the sake of survival, manipulating the people around her into thinking she's just a helpless young girl seeking some semblance of direction in her life when there's a lethal, cold-blooded killer hiding just below the surface instead. And Yukiko? There were so many times that I found myself being crushed by all the feels when I saw Yukiko losing herself piece by piece to the fury within her after all that happened with her father. Even though life kept throwing seemingly unconquerable obstacles in her way, tripping her over and over again, she still got up and kept fighting, even when most of the world would have just given up.

Jay's unique writing style was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because he always spoke in a melodious, poetic, and elegant way, even when spouting off a joke. Therefore, making the story flow from page to page in a seamless way. There weren't any awkward pauses or stilted sentences whatsoever which I was grateful for. However, it was also a curse, because with so many descriptive details, so much world-building, it made the plot drag a little bit. Nowhere near the way it dragged in the first novel, but still enough to be noticed from time to time.

Overall, Kinslayer was a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed, perhaps even more then its predecessor. The twists, turns, and jaw-dropping betrayals had me sobbing hysterically and punching walls. It's truly a rare thing to take me completely by surprise without at least a vague notion of what's going to happen next, but Jay succeeded in doing it anyways. The comedy was absolutely hilarious, best I've seen in a long time. Jay has his very own special type of humor that I just couldn't get enough of. Adding to that, this novel also had a badass, katana wielding heroine and revolved around an amazing Japanese culture centered theme. Love. Love. LOVE. Will be eagerly awaiting to discover where Yukiko and Burruu's adventures will lead me next.

Heroine- 5/5

Action- 4.5/5

Romance- N/A

There is romance....

but it's a little hard to explain.

Comedy- 6/5

Couldn't get enough of it.

Theme- 6/5 Super unique.

Overall- 4.5/5

About The Author:

Jay Kristoff is a Perth-born, Melbourne-based author. His first trilogy, THE LOTUS WAR, was purchased in the three-way auction by US publishing houses in 2011. He is as surprised about it as you are. The first installment, STORMDANCER, is set to be published in September 2012 in the US, UK and Australia.

Jay is 6’7, has approximately 13870 days to live and does not believe in happy endings.

Find The Author:

Goodreads  Website  Twitter  Facebook

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: The Children and the Blood by Megan Peterson

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 350 Pages
Release Date: February 28, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Narration: Third Person:
Ash, Cole, and Police Officer
Genre: Fantasy/Magic
Challenge: Paranormal/Debut Challenge
Source: Xpresso Book Tours/Author

The Children and the Blood Series:
Book One: The Children and the Blood
Book Two: Unknown
Book Three: Unknown

Order On Amazon: Paperback
                              Kindle
                           
Order On Barnes and Noble:
Hardcover and Nook

Author's
Goodreads  Website  Twitter  Facebook

Goodreads Synopsis:

A forgotten life.

A secret war.

Eight years ago, an exploding gas main killed Ashley’s family and left her with a childhood she can’t remember. Eight years later, the forgotten past is behind her and life on her isolated farm is all she knows.

Until that past comes looking for her.

Until men with superhuman powers hunt her down in the night, determined to take everything she loves away from her again.

My Review:

I was truly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. When I began The Children and the Blood, I was a bit skeptical as to if I would be able to get into the story, because you never really know with Self-Published authors. Sometimes they're a huge success and make you wonder why they weren't picked up by a publishing company. Other times, the majority of the time, their writing needs a bit more polishing before they can actually call their novel, a well-executed novel. However, Megan cleared up my lingering doubts immediately! Within the first few chapters, I was caught up in her writing, anxiously flipping pages to discover what happens next.

If your main issue with Self-Published novels is the grammar and spelling, don't fret! Although I'm nowhere near a Grammar Wiz by any means, I do know enough to tell you that there aren't any glaringly obvious spelling errors, if there were any at all to begin with. Megan's writing style reminded me of that of a much more experienced author. Heck, her writing style is a lot more refined than many published authors period. Her sentences flowed smoothly and she transitioned between viewpoints flawlessly, which is definitely no easy feat to accomplish. I never had any trouble discerning the perspective the story was being told from. In fact, the constant switch between characters was probably the reason why I wasn't able to set the book down. Most of the time, she ended her chapters with a sort of epic cliffhanger that left you grasping at straws. And of course, with my meager self-control with anything book related, I found myself dodging sleep to read just one more chapter.

Now that brings us to the action. For me, action and premise usually share a direct relationship. Look at that! I brought math into this. Curse you, Algebra 2! Basically, the more interesting the premise, the more interesting the action. Makes everything seem all the more....involving, for lack of better term. The synopsis made it pretty obvious that magic was involved, that I knew was coming. However, what I didn't expect was the way Megan incorporated that magic into the story. I loved learning about the origins and history on her innovative twist on magic and how everything came to be in an otherwise contemporary, mundane world. She answered the questions that were forming in my mind, yet left just the right amount unanswered to give it that mysterious and cryptic edge. I don't want to give anything else away, but I will include that her version of magic is pretty darn cool, like control over fire, nothing lame like some stories I've come across.

Since I read this novel about a month ago, the details on the characters are a bit fuzzy. The POVs were told by a police officer whose name alludes me at the moment, Ashley, and Cole. This resulted in a much more diverse read, since we were able to see the story through more than one perspective. Although the police officer's part did sort of aggravate me a bit. Let me explain...Since I was privy to Ashley and Cole's story, I was able to perceive truth from downright lie, and since the police officer had the misfortune of running in the wrong circles, his source of information tended to fall towards the lie side. I wanted to scream, "There innocent!" to him a countless number of times, but I understand why he made the decisions he made. There wasn't a strict switching back and forth rule between the characters, but Megan usually kept the POVs between Ashley and Cole, because they were the main focus in the story.

I admired how quick Ashley was on her feet and how she managed to repress her fear and control her emotions, even when she had no idea what was happening to her. She was a strong and likable person who I would love to read more about! She grew in character as the story progressed, and instead of staying a meek, fearful young girl, she turned into a strong and brave young woman who wasn't afraid to fight for what she believed in. Cole, on the other hand, I didn't like as much. I respected him for looking after Ashley's little sister and taking care of her, but I felt that he was way too impulsive in his actions. He didn't wait and think things through, he just did. He walked into dangerous situations even when he knew they had a high probability of being traps. I mean, even if you wanted answers that desperately, you could at least devise a sneaky way of getting them instead of walking head-first into, I don't know, an ambush? There were so many times when I just wanted to smack some common sense into him. *Shakes head*

Overall, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed my time with The Children and The Blood! In the beginning, I really wasn't sure what to expect since it was a Self-Published book. With those, it's usually just a toss up and all you can do is hope that it's one of the good ones. Thankfully, it was! I loved the unique premise Megan created in an otherwise overused genre and the twists she added to make it uniquely her own. The action was stimulating and I enjoyed reading about most of the characters, with one exception. :P I can't wait to read the sequel! This series is one that should not be missed, especially for those who are drawn towards magic and fantasy.

*An ARC was provided by the author and Xpresso Book Tours 

in exchange for a honest and thoughtful review.

Heroine (Ash)- 4/5 Strong, Brave
Hero (Cole)- 2.5/5 Impulsive, Rash
Action- 4.5/5
Romance- N/A
Comedy- N/A
Writing- 4/5
Overall- 4.5/5

About The Author:

Megan Joel Peterson lives somewhere between the cornfields of Illinois and fantasy worlds filled with magic and wizards. She has a degree in English Literature from the University of Illinois, and has worked a little bit of everywhere over the years. Now she spends her days and nights creating new stories, and thinks writing is the best job she ever could have asked for. The Children and The Blood is her first published novel.

Find The Author:

( Goodreads ! Website ! Twitter ! Facebook )

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Fraction of Stone by Kelley Lynn

Reading Level: Ages 13 and up
Paperback: 293 Pages
Release Date: March 21, 2013
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing
Narration: Third Person: Akara & Rydan
Genre: Fantasy/Superpowers
Challenge: Debut
Source: Xpresso Book Tours

Fraction Series:
Book One: Fraction of Stone

Order On Amazon: Paperback

Order On Barnes and Noble:
Paperback

Goodreads Synopsis:

There is only one among the Tarmack nation with the ability to wield magic, eighteen-year-old Rydan Gale. He lives like a prince, cherished for his talent to bend the fabric of the universe to his will. In the war against the Liasam, he is their ultimate weapon.

The Liasam have a source of magic as well, but Akara’s mastery of her power is rudimentary at best. With a brilliant display of fire-rain Rydan’s side wins the war, giving the Tarmack sole control over dwindling resources due to the natural disasters ripping apart the earth.

When Akara is sentenced to death, Rydan questions the motive, and discovers the leaders of the newly unified nation fear magic above all else. With war a memory, his skills no longer needed, Rydan suspects he is next. Throwing away every comfort, he pulls Akara from the flames of her execution and their lives as fugitives begin.

Both have a tattoo on the back of their neck, the mark of an extinguished tribe. They discover the natural disasters plaguing the world are due to the tribe’s demise and only Rydan and Akara can save the crumbling world.

But the greatest obstacle for saving mankind isn’t the bizarre creatures and determined men hunting them.

It’s that Akara doesn’t believe the world is worth saving.

My Review:

*Some minor spoilers may be included.*

I don't know what I was expecting to find when I first started Fraction of Stone, but it certainly wasn't this. The summary intrigued me with talk about the fate of entire civilizations, the entire world, hinging on the decision of one single girl. In most YA stories, the hero or heroine always does whatever it takes to save all of humanity, but in Fraction of Stone.....that was certainly not the case. Instead, our heroine doesn't believe the world is worth saving. 

Of course I wanted to read more about this magic filled world Kelley created, but I wasn't overly excited about it. Like how desperate I am right now to read Apollyon by Jennifer Armentrout. xD However, after reading the novel, I'm wondering why I pushed it so far back on my TBR pile. Fraction of Stone makes you really stop and think from the characters' perspectives instead of immediately labeling them as heartless people.

Although Rydan and Akara are the only people with the ability to wield magic, they had two entirely different upbringings. Rydan was seen somewhat like a crown prince of his nation. He had everything he could ever want growing up as a child. All the best clothes, all the nicest weapons, and of course, all the prettiest girls. In the beginning of the novel, we see him as a pompous, arrogant, and overly optimistic guy who is used to being treated as the hero. But under that superficial exterior, we also see a quieter side. A side that craves someone who understands the strain of using magic. Someone who fills the undeniable loneliness he tries so desperately to hide. 

Akara, on the other hand, got the short end of the stick. Although she is a very talented sorceress who can wield unfathomable amounts of power, she is treated as no more than a filthy piece of property to be used as a weapon when needed and thrown into the corner to rot when not. Ever since she accidentally lost control of her power and injured her teacher as a child, she was condemned and locked in a cell where she would never see the light of day. Since she's constantly drugged, she can barely even remember her own name, and when she's in the state of mind to think, she craves nothing more than her own death. A way to escape the constant pain she endures from her torturers and the deadness she feels inside.

Fraction of Stone has an immense amount of character development, that rivals even that of The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson. Both Akara and Rydan learn from each other and become better people in result of it. When Rydan saved Akara from being burned alive, some of his reasoning was because he knew it was wrong and iniquitous. However, the majority of it was for his own personal gain. For the opportunity to figure out who he really was and where he really came from. When he did discover that his true calling was to rescue the world from it's ultimate collapse, he treated the quest as if it was a game. A way to be welcomed back into his city as a hero instead of a fugitive. As the story progresses, he learns that life and death is in fact not a game to be played, but something to be taken seriously. Rydan realizes that the weight of the entire world is literally resting on his shoulders.

After Akara is saved by Rydan, she still remains distrustful of all those around her, including her savior. Which is understandable, considering all of the hardships her people put her through. To Rydan, she has little more personality than a husk of corn. Throughout the novel, she begins to open up, little by little, to her travelling companions and learns that there are things in the world, no matter how small, worth saving. I loved the way that Kelley described the outside world in Akara's eyes. She saw beauty in the littlest things, because beauty was a luxury absent in her prior life of dungeons and dank cages. Akara was a great protagonist who challenged me to look at the world in a totally different light. She was a strong and intelligent character that may very well be one of the best written female heroines of 2013 so far.

The action had me completely absorbed in the story. Although the majority of the plot was of them travelling to remote places in order to gather the different fragments of the Gia stone, there was never a dull moment! Every time I even contemplated getting bored, some sort of high speed chase or magic flinging battle ensued to keep my mind occupied.

The romance had to be one of the best aspects of this novel. Thankfully, there was no Insta-Love connection where the two main characters felt that they were destined to be together, because the fates said it was so. In the beginning, they actually hated each other in a way, or if not hate, at least secretly despise. But as they journeyed on into uncharted waters, their trust in each other grew and they learned to rely on each other if they ever came across trouble. Their once acquaintance labeled relationship turned into friendship which gradually morphed into love.

Overall, Kelley is a truly talented author that I will be looking out for in the future. I can't believe that this is only her debut novel! With the style of writing she used and the amount of character development she incorporated into her story, she could be mistaken for a much more experienced author. I would recommend Fraction of Stone to anyone who enjoys strong protagonists, magic filled adventures, and thought provoking stories.

                           *An ebook copy was provided by Xpresso Book Tours 

                                                    in exchange for a honest and thoughtful review.

Heroine- 5/5
Hero- 4.5/5
Romance- 5/5
Action- 5/5
Comedy- 3.5/5
Overall- 4.5/5                                

                                        Click to Watch Book Trailer

About The Author:

During Kelley Lynn’s last year at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, while pursuing her degree in Chemical Engineering, the voices in her head got the best of her. Surprisingly, they didn’t want to talk about process flow diagrams and heat capacity. They preferred the fantastical. So instead of turning to her Thermodynamics book, Kelley brought up a blank page on her computer screen and wrote.

Come graduation, not only did Kelley have a diploma and, thankfully, a wonderful job, but she had a new obsession as well. Amidst the order and exactness that came with the nine to five, Kelley found a way to create; to determine the rules of a world and take her characters to the limits of what was possible. Perhaps she has a slight control complex.

The first in the series, Fraction of Stone, was born on an airplane and took ten days to write. It probes the question, should the world be saved if there’s no one in it worth saving?

When briefly managing to quiet the voices, Kelley participates in softball, soccer and volleyball. (You probably don’t want her on your volleyball team. Unless you want to laugh.) She lives with her sister and her dog who can attest to the chair that has Kelley’s butt print permanently pressed into it. Depending on the weekend, you might be able to hear Kelley sing for an area classic rock band.

Kelley Lynn is a member of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators.

Find The Author:

( Goodreads ! Website ! Twitter ! Facebook )

Giveaway (5 Ebook Copies)

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Blog Tour: Shooting Stars by H. D. Gordon

Once upon a time, a common boy fell in love with a princess. It was a hopeless, forbidden love, grown in a world where sorcery and magic rule over all. Now, dark times are brewing, and destiny will bring them together, while fate works to keep them apart. Extraordinary battles will be fought, and extraordinary choices made. Join the author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga for the beginning of a tale of star-crossed lovers and magic, of hope and love and loss, of desperate wishes made on stars.

Find The Book:

( Goodreads ! Amazon ! Barnes and Noble )

1. Have you always dreamed of becoming an author? 

If not, what inspired you to become one?

I have always been a writer, if that’s what you mean. I love to write, and feel like it’s in my DNA. I wrote before I ever even considered making money off of it. My mother always told me I could do it for a living, but I thought nothing of that, because to me it was like telling me I could make money from breathing- what I mean is that I thought, yea sure, that’d be great, but I’m gonna do it with or without being paid for it anyway. So yes and no. I was already an author, and have never felt the need to be validated by others. I just recently found out that I could make a living doing it. It was a nice surprise, to say the least.

2. What were your favorite books growing up as a child? 

Have your tastes in books changed since then?

I loved the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine, and the works of Edgar Allen Poe. My mother didn’t believe in restricting reading material, so I was handed very mature works at a very immature age. I think I gravitate toward the macabre, and still do, as my all-time favorite author is Stephen King. I like any story that is told well, though. I like love and heartache, pain and peace, just as long as the words fall right.

3. Are any of your characters based off of people in real life?

 Like yourself or friends?

All of them. Many of them are just different parts of me, as we all go through so many changes in our lives that we can be a completely different person than we were a year ago, or a month ago, or a day. I pick out interesting people, and study them in an almost creepy manner. I take traits from everyone I know, and my family who reads my books notice it all the time. Everyone is subject to end up in a book, myself included.

4. When you get writer's block, if you get it at all xD, 

what do you do for fun to get inspired?

I call my mom first. I complain to her about how depressed I am, tell her that I’m not built for this, that the world is ending and for her to cry for me when I fade away into horrible oblivion. She listens, then tells me how I’m always this way and she’s worried. To which I become indignant, saying I’ve given her no reason to worry, I’m perfectly fine. Then she tells me to go write, that writing is the only way to fix it, and I listen to what I’m told. She helps me through all of my stories. She helps me so much that I’m not sure I could do it without her. She is my Ideal Reader. The one I still call from across the country and make listen to whatever I’ve written. She never steers me wrong. She reads more than anyone I know-and I know a lot of readers- and she reads everything. I’m probably gonna help her self-pub a book soon, and you should look out for it if you like my work at all, because she is the one who nurtured my writing.

If that doesn’t work, I go watch shitty TV shows and kill zombies on Call of Duty. And I read, of course. Reading is a sure way to recharge creative batteries.

5. I've heard that the Surah Stormsong novels are a spinoff of your bestselling Alexa Montgomery series, is that true? 

If it is, can you tell us the differences and similarities between the two?

It is true. And it would be easier to list the similarities, because the two are nothing alike. Surah has a lighter feel, one that’s not so heart-wrenching from start to finish, maybe not as dark. I really wanted to give my readers a breather, let them lick their wounds before I shoved my hand through their chests and ripped their hearts out again. Shooting Stars is a love story at its core. And this book is just the beginning. I wanted it to be about two people whose love was so great that they could (hopefully) overcome incredible odds. I think the readers will be pleased with this one, especially as the story continues into book two and three.

As far as the main character goes, Alexa and Surah are very different. Surah is more controlled, wiser, thinking before acting, but she is no less strong or fearsome. I’ve grown very fond of her already.

6. If you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

It would have to be American food. I love steaks and burgers and hotdogs and simple stuff like that. Also, American food is really just a melting pot of all the other cultures, so I would still get everything.

Speed Round:

Werewolf or Vampire? Depends on personality.

The Hunger Games or Twilight? 

Oh, hard one. I loved Twilight when I first read it, and Hunger Games too..Hmmm, tie.

Day or Night? Night.

Winter or Summer? I need both. By the middle of each, I always miss the other.

Rainy Day or Sunny Day? Again, both. I love to be out in the sunshine, but there’s nothing better than curling up with a good book on a rainy day.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. :D

Can't wait to read Shooting Stars!

Thank you for having me! 

It was a pleasure!

Blog Tour: Black Moon by Jessica Mcquay

About The Book:

Release Date: October 2012
Genre: YA/NA Paranormal Fantasy Novel
Series: Book One in the Paige Tailor Series

"Am I losing my mind?"

Paige couldn't help but question her sanity. What other explanation could there be for her hearing a conversation held barely above a whisper in the back of a classroom full of students? What about coming home to find one of those very classmates lying in wait in the darkness of her home, ready to attack her?

Confused, frustrated and feeling every ounce of her social ostracism, Paige confides in the one person she's always been able to count on: her mom. But when her mom reveals a deeply rooted, unbelievable family secret, Paige discovers her world is filled with more than she ever imagined possible. A world where fairytales live alongside nightmares and secrets are the glue that binds them together. Suddenly no one is who they seem and Paige is faced with more questions than answers. Can she survive in a world filled with creatures scarier than anything she could imagine and where deceit runs as thick as blood? Or will the truth send her over the edge?

 

Find The Book:

( Goodreads ! Amazon ! Barnes and Noble ! Kobo)

 

About The Author:

There were only three things Jessica loved to do growing up; reading, writing and playing music. She discovered her love for writing at a young age, when she realized she could create anything she wanted with words.

Jessica lives in Sacramento, CA with her husband, four children, goldfish named Sparkle and her cat, Talula. When she isn’t working on the next Paige Tailor novel, taking her children to one activity or another, or folding the never ending laundry of a six person family, Jessica enjoys playing her clarinet in the community band or dancing like there is no tomorrow at Zumba.

Find The Author:

( Goodreads ! Website ! Blog ! Facebook )

  

Excerpt:

Five minutes later, I lifted my head and grabbed the pen and paper. I scrambled to get my formulating thoughts out in writing before they were lost to me. Once I was done I put the pen down and read what I’d written back to myself. There was no other explanation for what happened in science class. I didn’t have the slightest idea about the white light and weird sensation from the last two mornings. But today, in class, I was ninety-nine percent certain I was on the right path as I read my own words scribbled across the lines. I heard Matt’s thoughts.

Giveaway:

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Blog Tour + Excerpt: Terra by Gretchen Powell

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 286 Pages
Release Date: December 12, 2012
Publisher: Hopewell Media
Narration: First Person: Terra
Genre: Dystopian / Sci Fi
Source: CBL Book Tours

Terrestrials Series
Book One: Terra

Order On Amazon: Paperback
                               Kindle
Order On Barnes and Noble:
Nook

Author's
( Goodreads ! Website ! Twitter )

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the distant wake of a plague that has decimated the Earth's population, humanity is split in two. The rich and powerful live in skycities that float overhead, while those who remain on the ground have gathered in settlements strewn across a dying planet. Eighteen-year-old Terra Rhodon makes her living as a scav, scouting the earth for discarded scraps and metals to recycle for profit. While on a routine scavenging run, she discovers something that shocks her home settlement of Genesis X-16.

Terra suddenly finds herself asking questions no one will answer. Fueled by curiosity, her search for the truth ultimately leads her to Adam--a beguiling boy with a secret that has the power to change humanity's existence forever.

My Review:

When I first read the synopsis, I didn't think that Terra would be anything special. Let's face it. After The Hunger Games went viral, the majority of YA authors followed in Suzanne's footsteps in hopes of becoming the next big thing. And sooner rather than later, a whole plethora of Dystopian novels, with admittedly slight variations, were born. After reading so many copycats of the original dystopian novel that kickstarted it all, I wasn't expecting anything unique or innovative. I was so wrong! Although there were a couple of similarities between Terra and The Hunger Games in the beginning, Terra soon took a completely different path altogether! I immediately fell in love with the dangerous and desperate world Gretchen created, as well as all the characters surrounding it. 

As soon as we crack open the novel, we meet Terra Rhodon, a eighteen year old girl who scavenges for things such as recyclable plastic and metal parts for a living, in order to make enough credit to buy food, if you can even call what they eat food, for herself and her younger fourteen year old brother Mica. I have to say, the whole scavenging concept was the main reason why I enjoyed this novel. Although there are many people who think that this idea was stolen from The Hunger Games, I really don't see the connection whatsoever. Maybe I need to reread it, but from what I remember of The Hunger Games, the only part that was even remotely close to scavenging was when Katniss was searching for items in the arena. Anyways, so yeah, the whole idea was fascinating to me! After reading the first page, I knew that my butt was going to stay glued to my chair until I finished it. 

Although there were a few points in the novel when I got upset with Terra's actions or thought process, these moments were scarce, and the majority of the time I found Terra to be a very likable character. She was a strong, independent young girl, forced to grow up at a young age due to her mother's death and her father's incompetence to take care of his children. After she met Adam, the blue eyed love interest, she did some....questionable things. I understood why she took those certain actions, but at the same time I wanted to reprimand her for it. In the end, I finally concluded that although I wouldn't do what she did in the exact same way, her heart was in the right place, because she was thinking about the wellbeing of her brother rather than her own needs.

Adam was absolutely adorable. Even though Terra was snappy and feisty when they first met, he was nothing but polite and understanding. The romance they both kindled veered towards the sweet and cute side rather than the hot and steamy, which I'm totally fine with! Both types are great to read about, and since most YA novels curve towards the steamy side, it's refreshing to see a delightfully awkward yet undeniably sweet romance for once. There was this one particular scene when Terra was in the shower and Adam....well for those of you who read the novel, you'll know what I'm talking about. For those of you who haven't, you'll have to get the book yourself, because I'm not too keen on giving away spoilers. xD Anyways, just the way that Gretchen described how it happened induced a "Awwwww" moment from me. xD However, that one....secret that was revealed near the end of the book about Adam, was a bit out of place. I wish Gretchen kept up with the whole Dystopian theme instead of bringing Sci Fi into this.

The action was well paced, because as I stated several times before, I was interested with the whole idea of scavenging for a living. I never once felt bored, and since this book only spanned about 250 pages, it was a quick and easy read for me. The thorough descriptions and details Gretchen used made the novel more enjoyable to read and didn't detract from the pace at all!

Overall, if your looking for a intriguing dystopian to breeze through, Terra is a worthy contender. It's perfect for anyone who wants to be able to finish a book in a short period of time. Although I wasn't all too happy with the Sci Fi twist that was incorporated into Terra, I'm still interested in reading the sequel to see what happens next.

Cover- 5/5
Heroine- 4/5
Romance- 5/5
Action- 5/5
Comedy- 3.5/5
Theme- 3/5
Overall- 4/5


About The Author: 

Gretchen Powell grew up in far-off places. She is 24 years old, half-Chinese, and the owner of two adorable miniature schnauzers. They wear many sweaters.

By day, she types and types (and types and types) for personal, professional, and cathartic purposes.

By night, she binges on episodes of Doctor Who and sleeps fitfully.

Sometime in the mid-afternoon, she writes a blog, called "Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen!" about food, fitness, and her life.

She loves words. And Harry Potter. And especially the words IN Harry Potter.

 Find The Author:

( Goodreads ! Website ! Blog ! Twitter ! Facebook )

 

Excerpt:

 

The crunch of multiple footsteps sounds in my ears, and I know the unseen speaker is not alone. With achingly slow speed, I bend my knees to pick up my bag and pivot in the direction of the voice.

 

Three huge men stand about a yard in front of me, lined up in a row. All three of them sport shaved heads, making them almost indistinguishable from one another, save for their differing skin tones. Their long brown coats hang open, revealing bare chests covered with tattoos that creep from below their waistlines all the way up to their chins.

 

Raiders.

 

The man in the middle has a chain of thick golden links hanging around his throat. As I watch it bounce against his dark chest, I realize I’ve never actually seen raiders up close before. All that time spent thinking about Lee’s final moments, what his murderers had looked like. Turns out I had it pictured all wrong.

 

How did I not hear them coming? I always hear them coming.
 

Sample Chapters

 

Enter This Giveaway

Blog Tour: Review + Guest Post: Persistence Of Vision by Liesel K. Hill

Reading Level: Ages 13 and up

Paperback: 386 Pages

Release Date: January 29, 2013

Publisher: Tate Publishing

Narration: Third Person: Maggie,

Marcus, Other Minor Characters

Genre: New Adult/Sci Fi

 

Interchron Series:

Book One: Persistence Of Vision

Book Two: Unknown

Book Three: Unknown

 

Order On Amazon: Paperback

                                Kindle

Order On Barnes and Noble:

Paperback and Nook

 

Author's

( Goodreads ! Website ! Blog ! Twitter ! Facebook )

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

In a world where collective hives are enslaving the population and individuals have been hunted to the verge of extinction, Maggie Harper, and independent 21st Century woman, must find the strength to preserve the freedom of the future, but without the aid of her memories.

After experiencing a traumatic time loss, Maggie is plagued by a barrage of images she can't explain. When she's attacked by a creep with a spider's web tattoo, she is saved by Marcus, a man she's never met, but somehow remembers. He tells her that both he and her creepy attacker are from a future in which individuals are being murdered by collectives, and Marcus is part of the rebellion. The collectives have acquired time travel and they plan to enslave the human race throughout all of history. The flashes Maggie has been seeing are echoes of lost memories, and the information buried deep within them is instrumental in defeating the collective hives.

In order to preserve the individuality of mankind, Maggie must try to re-discover stolen memories, re-kindle friendships she has no recollection of, and wade through her feelings for the mysterious Marcus, all while dodging the tattooed assassins the collectives keep sending her way.

If Maggie can't fill the holes in her memory and find the answers to stop the collectives, the world both in her time and in all ages past and future will be doomed to enslavement in the grey, mediocre collectives. As the danger swirls around her and the collectives close in, Maggie realizes she must make a choice: stand out or fade away...

 

My Review:

 

Wooot! First Blog Tour Ever! Huge thank you to Liesel Hill for inviting me to be a part of her tour and providing me a copy of her debut novel, Persistence of Vision! :D

 

*Does Happy Dance*

 

 

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, let's move onto the actual book, shall we? Persistence of Vision was definitely something I have never encountered before! I'm usually a pretty eclectic reader when it comes to books, but the Sci Fi/Time Travel genre has never been of interest to me. I've tried reading books like Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris (which is related to the Time Traveling theme if you don't know), but throughout most of that book, my reactions and thoughts basically equated to, "Uhhhh what the heck just happened?" All of the sciencey terms and equations they used had my head reeling! Although there were certain points in Persistence of Vision when I was confused as to how something worked or how something came to be, unlike Unraveling, those moments weren't very often and the majority of the explanations were very straightforward.

 

In this story, we follow Maggie and her journey into discovering who she truly is and where she really came from. Ever since she and her brother lost 12 hours of time and woke up confused in a locked hotel room, Maggie has always felt like something was missing. Even when her brother, Jonah, moved on and wrote off the incident as a freak accident, Maggie could never get it off her mind. She always felt out of it, as if she didn't belong where she currently resided. She constantly had the same flashes of random events but never understood their meaning. When a stranger drops by her doorstep one afternoon, everything she ever knows changes within a blink of an eye. Maggie soon finds herself caught between two life changing choices: To either leave with a complete stranger who seems to know things about her that she hasn't even admitted to herself.....or ignore his warnings and stay at home...even with the possibility that someone's coming for her. Someone who means to kill her. Or Worse. 

 

Maggie was a great character most of the time! She wouldn't hesitate to risk her life in order to save someone she didn't even know. She was compassionate towards others and was an admirable character to read about. Generally, she made realistic decisions. Like when she was questioning Marcus and Doc about who they were and what their purpose really was. She asked the exact same questions I would've asked if I was in her position. Also, when she was told that she and Marcus were romantically involved, she didn't immediately swoon over him. Her reactions were sensible and although their conversations flowed easily when they had a topic to talk about, she felt awkward because she didn't remember anything about their love for one another. Which is understandable. However, there were also times when I felt like she trusted others a little too easily and ignored VERY important LIFE CHANGING revelations.

 

Marcus was a great character as well! Although he wasn't swoonworthy, he was sweet, thoughtful, and kind. Even though he remembered everything about Maggie and the romance they once kindled, he didn't push her to remember him or try to force a relationship upon her. He gave her space to breathe, and if things got to uncomfortable between them, he would find a way to excuse himself in order to not cause her any discomfort. Marcus did whatever it took to protect her even if it meant sacrificing his life in the process.

 

Since Persistence of Vision wasn't in the Young Adult category but instead was classified as a New Adult novel, I feared that there would be some....inappropriate material not suited for people under the age of 18. xD But rest assured! The romance was as clean as can be and the most that ever happened were a few kisses here and there. Actually, to be honest, it was cleaner than most YA novels. There was a slight love triangle, but since the two main characters were around 20, there wasn't as much teenage angst. So for those of you who flinch at the very mention of love triangles, be warned, but I don't think you'll have any issues with it.

 

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there were barely any grammatical errors at all! If you've read my previous reviews, you would know that I am grammatically challenged, but from what I could see, there were only a few slight problems with missing words here like "the" or "a". However, even though there were a few minor errors here and there, you could still clearly see what the author was trying to say. The other grammar/spelling mistakes I did find were tiny and didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel.

 

The pacing was slow in the beginning. I was bored, but not to the point where I was flipping pages in order to find something better on the next page. However, when I hit around the 35% mark I think it was? It started to get a lot more interesting, and I was soon sucked into the world Liesel weaved! :D

 

Overall, the premise of a futuristic world when people are being absorbed into "Collectives" and controlled by higher beings is super unique! I've never read any book with a theme remotely close to this, but since I'm not usually into the whole Sci Fi theme, I don't know if my word means much. xD The characters were very likable, and I really connected with them, despite the fact that they were slightly older than I'm used to. If you enjoy stories related to mind control, Sci Fi, and superpowers, you'll definitely want to see what Persistence of Vision has to offer!

 

Heroine- 4/5

Romance- 4.5/5

Action- 3/5 Little slow in the beginning, but it picked up near the middle.

Comedy- N/A There were a couple of funny moments but not enough to rate.

Overall- 4/5

Guest Post by Liesel K. Hill on

                   Books and Technology:

 

 

As all things in our world go digital, and the age of Star Trekkian technology bounds toward us, there’s a lot of debate about digital books versus physical books.

 

There are those that embrace the digital age whole-heartedly and those who refuse to go digital on principal. Most people are a hybrid of the two. They still buy hard copy books, but also own a digital reader.

 

I’ve found digital readers can be much more convenient at times, especially when the need to travel arises. Of course, I still have shelves full of books I don’t intend to dispose of anytime soon.

 

So what’s my advice? Don’t be afraid of technology. At the rate digital technology is growing, it can only help the spread of great books. Besides, technology isn’t disappearing anytime soon. If you refuse to get on the bandwagon, chances are you’ll be left behind.

 

Did you know that things like Star Trek’s replicator and cloaking devices have, for all intents and purposes, already been invented? It’s true! The technology simply isn’t in a place yet where it can be widely used and distributed. They’re well on their way to inventing the medical tri-corder as well.

 

According to the Google Execute Chairman, “From the very beginning of time until the year 2003, humankind created five exabytes of digital information. An Exabyte is one billion gigabytes—or a 1 with eighteen zeroes after it. Right now, in the year 2010, the human race is generating five exabytes of information every two days. By the year 2013, the number will be five exabytes produced every ten minutes.”

(Source: Peter Diamandis, Abundance)

 

So, if you want to read and write and keep up with the world, I suggest you jump on the bandwagon of technology. There’s no better way for writers to spread their stories, readers to access them, and book lovers to share their passion.

 

Happy reading, Everyone, in whatever format you choose. :D

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed my review and Liesel's intriguing guest post!

Thanks for dropping by! :)