Spotlight Post: Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein (eBook Deal Blast + Giveaway)

Hey everyone! Today, I’m really excited to share with you the eBook deal for Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein! I LOVED this book – you can check out my review here! – and I’m pumped to share all the details with you!

First, here’s more about the book!

Named “One of the Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror of 2015” by VOYA Magazine

Azra has just turned sixteen, and overnight her body lengthens, her olive skin deepens, and her eyes glisten gold thanks to the brand-new silver bangle that locks around her wrist. As she always knew it would, her Jinn ancestry brings not just magical powers but the reality of a life of servitude, as her wish granting is controlled by a remote ruling class of Jinn known as the Afrit.

To the humans she lives among, she’s just the girl working at the snack bar at the beach, navigating the fryer and her first crush. But behind closed doors, she’s learning how to harness her powers and fulfill the obligations of her destiny.

Mentored by her mother and her Zar “sisters,” Azra discovers she may not be quite like the rest of her circle of female Jinn . . . and that her powers could endanger them all.

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“This well-written title . . . will not stay on the shelf.”
— VOYA Starred Review

“The only thing it left me wishing for was the sequel!”
— New York Times best-selling author Anna Banks

“A fresh, gently subversive tale with a new strain of paranormal problems at its core.”
— B&N Teen Blog

“[Azra’s] struggles with family and impending adulthood ring true and will likely cultivate a loyal, sequel-hungry audience.” ―Booklist

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The sale began on February 29, 2016 and will run until April 4, 2016. For the duration of the sale, the Becoming Jinn eBook will be $2.99 across all e-retailers!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

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The sequel, CIRCLE OF JINN, releases May 17, 2016 and is available for preorder now!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

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PLUS, there’s a free E-Short Story, a prequel to Becoming Jinn, available across all e-retailers, starting March 15, 2016!

About Genius of Jinn, a prequel to Becoming Jinn:

In this prequel to BECOMING JINN and the upcoming sequel CIRCLE OF JINN, thirteen-year-old Azra and her nemesis Yasmin are whisked away to a mysterious land with a special language, awe-inspiring architecture, and quirky toilets: France. As the enchanting French Jinn Tayma guides them through the streets of Paris, they discover not only a book of spells, but a truth neither of them is prepared for: that in their inevitable transition to becoming Jinn, their shared genie ancestry may just make them stronger together than they are apart.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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And now for the giveaway! One Winner will get a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card!
Open Internationally | Must be 13 + To Enter | Sweeps/Giveaway accounts are NOT eligible to participate.

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Spotlight Post: The Eye of Midnight by Andrew Brumbach

Mar12

Happy Belated Book Birthday to Andrew Brumbach and The Eye of Midnight (March 8, 2016, Delacorte Books for Young Readers)!

A cross between Indiana Jones and The DaVinci Code for kids, you won’t be able to put down this classic adventure set in 1920s New York City with an Arabian twist!

On a stormy May day in 1929, William and Maxine arrive on the doorstep of Battersea Manor to spend the summer with a grandfather they barely remember. Whatever the cousins expected, Colonel Battersea isn’t it.

Soon after they settle in, Grandpa receives a cryptic telegram and promptly whisks the cousins off to New York City so that he can meet an unknown courier and collect a very important package. Before he can do so, however, Grandpa vanishes without a trace.

When the cousins stumble upon Nura, a tenacious girl from Turkey, she promises to help them track down the parcel and rescue Colonel Battersea. But with cold-blooded gangsters and a secret society of assassins all clamoring for the same mysterious object, the children soon find themselves in a desperate struggle just to escape the city’s dark streets alive.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Book depository | IndieBound | Kobo

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About the Author:

Andrew Brumbach grew up square in the hippie community of Eugene, Oregon, surrounded by artists and musicians and storytellers. He studied art in Texas, traded options in Chicago, and spent a few years lost in the neon neighborhoods of Tokyo. Somewhere along the way, he married the girl of his dreams and had four practically perfect kids, but he never overcame his weakness for the power and transport of story. Now he lives in suburban Illinois but secretly daydreams of chasing bandits across the desert with Lawrence of Arabia and Gertrude Bell under cloudless, starry skies.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Review: Firstlife by Gena Showalter

Mar11

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Everlife by Gena Showalter
Series: Everlife #1
Published by Harlequin Teen on February 23, 2016
Pages: 480
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

ONE CHOICE.
TWO REALMS.
NO SECOND CHANCE.

Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live—after she dies.

There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.

In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t home to the boy she’s falling for? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…

When I first started this book and found the opening pages (filled with emails between certain characters) absolutely hilarious, I was convinced this would be the book to get me out of my reading slump. It was definitely a unique, intriguing read on many levels. Despite that, I still had a small number of issues with it. And though it didn’t necessarily get me out of my slump, I did really enjoy it.

So, like I said, the opening pages consist of a series of emails between certain characters. These emails pop up a few times throughout the book. Everything about them – the subject lines, the content, everything – was hilarious! It was a fun, creative way to introduce us to the characters. And I definitely loved the characters (for the most part)!

Tenley “Ten” is hilarious, defiant and a spitfire. I loved the way she refused to cave and make a decision out of fear or force. She was also a pretty great fighter, refusing to let people fight her battles. However, after awhile, her indecision did become annoying and repetitive: “That’s a point for Troika. But maybe Myriad is better. But I refuse to do what my parents tell me. But I’ve thought about Myriad since I was a little girl but maybe Troika is the better place…” I mean, seriously. I hit my boiling point around page 300. Plus, how many times can one girl get knocked out, poisoned, stabbed, etc and yet keep getting saved and come back from death? Like… Really?

Sloan was incredibly annoying in the beginning, embodying a version of the dreaded “mean girl” trope. As the story went on, though, I really liked her and the relationship between her and Ten. The ending shocked the crap out of me, though, and and I was super disappointed. I understand the WHY, but I just still didn’t like it.

I loved both Archer and Killian. There’s a thing that happens in the beginning with Archer – I can’t explain it without spoilers, but it was HILARIOUS! He was like the Protector. And Killian was over-confident and cocky, but he often showed a softer, vulnerable side, which I loved. They both had their faults, but overall, I just adored them. As for them being Ten’s love interests… I got more of the friend vibe from Archer. But I seriously shipped Ten and Killian, like, a lot. But then again, I’ve always had a soft spot for the bad boys! Both boys were seriously hilarious, adorable and epic. I’m REALLY upset about Archer’s fate and I’m worried what Ten’s decision will mean for her and Killian going forward.

There were a lot of secondary characters, so I’ll just mention a few briefly: Ten’s parents were awful to her, but especially her dad. Her mom kind of redeemed herself in the end. Her father didn’t, though his fate was still shocking. I wanted to punch Vans the entire time! And Pearl. And James.

This was my first Gena Showalter book and the writing and tone were INCREDIBLE. Showalter is HILARIOUS. I especially loved her dialogue! I mean.. ‘whore galore,’ ‘He-slut’ ?!? Bahaha!!!! I was cackling out loud as I read this book! I couldn’t help it! I mean, I dare you to read the below quotes without laughing out loud:

“I didn’t fail with her, puppy, I cleared the way for you. You’re welcome.” – Levi to Archer

“Persuade the girl to make covenant with us, but keep your pants zipped while you do it.” – Pearl to Killian

Ten: “You leak liquid glitter when you’re injured!”
Killian: “Glitter? How dare you. My manliness is offended.”

Now, a few complaints I had… Unfortunately, I definitely think this book was too long. Certain scenes felt dragged out and some felt unnecessary. As I mentioned, Ten’s constant Troika vs. Myriad back-and-forth was REALLY repetitive. And that added to the too-long dragging of this book. My other complaint is that, I couldn’t nail down the exact traits for Myriad or Troika. Mostly because, depending on who Ten was talking to, either place could be the equivalent of heaven or hell. I think, by the end, I had each place pretty much figured out, but it was a bit frustrating how confusing it was in the beginning.

The ending was INTENSE. So much happened and I STILL can’t wrap my mind around it all. So many thoughts and feels and I don’t know how I feel about everything that happened. I’m REALLY excited for the second book and can’t wait to see what happens next! I have a feeling book two is going to be action-packed, since the end is just the beginning for these characters! (See what I did there? Hehe!).

Overall, I really loved this book. Though it was too long and Ten’s indecision added to that feeling, the plot was intriguing, the characters were amazing and the writing was epic! I highly recommend this one!

Release Day Launch: Love and Decay: Revolution, Episode Six by Rachel Higginson (Giveaway)

Mar11

L&D Revolution Epi 6 RDL Ban
Today is the release day of Rachel Higginson’s Love and Decay: Revolution, Episode Six. This is a serial novella, and completely standalone in the Love & Decay universe. I am so excited to share this with you!! Be sure to enter Rachel’s giveaway as well and grab your copy today!

It’s not easy being a badass Zombie killer. But somebody’s got to do it.

Page Parker is on the brink of the fate she’s claimed. With her toes pressed against the Mexican/American border, she’s ready to wage the war she’s been waiting for.

Matthias Allen and the Colony are waiting for her on the other side. She just has to step across.

Only it’s not that simple. She has a family to protect and loved ones to think about. She’s responsible for lives and families. She has a boy at her side willing to fight with her, but Miller is battling darker demons than Zombies and tyrants. There is something inside him that terrifies her… warns her to keep him as far from his dad as she can.

Her life swirls around her in chaos and confusion. But one thing remains clear, Luke is waiting for her. She’s vowed to free the people of her homeland and she cannot go back on that now.

But at what cost?

Will destroying the Colony come at the price of destroying her family?

Destroying Miller?

Love and Decay: Revolution is a Dystopian Romance Novella Series about Zombies, the end of the world and finding someone to share it with. Every episode is approximately 20,000 words long and released every two weeks. Look for Love and Decay: Revolution, Episode Seven coming March 25th, 2016.

are you ready promo

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Catch up on the Revolution!

Episode 1: Amazon | BN

Episode 2: Amazon | BN

Episode 3: Amazon | BN

Episode 4: Amazon | BN

Episode 5: Amazon | BN

Volume 1 (episodes 1-4) Amazon | BN

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About the Author:

Rachel Higginson is the author of The Five Stages of Falling in Love, Every Wrong Reason, The Star-Crossed Series, Love & Decay Novella Series and much more!

She was born and raised in Nebraska, and spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka, but came back home to marry her high school sweetheart. Now she spends her days writing stories and raising four amazing kids.

Author Page | Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Enter Rachel’s giveaway!
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Review: A Drop of Night by Stefan Bachmann

Mar9

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: A Drop of Night by Stefan Bachmann

A Drop of Night by Stefan Bachmann
Published by Greenwillow Books on March 15, 2016
Pages: 464
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

Seventeen-year-old Anouk has finally caught the break she’s been looking for—she's been selected out of hundreds of other candidates to fly to France and help with the excavation of a vast, underground palace buried a hundred feet below the suburbs of Paris. Built in the 1780's to hide an aristocratic family and a mad duke during the French Revolution, the palace has lain hidden and forgotten ever since. Anouk, along with several other gifted teenagers, will be the first to set foot in it in over two centuries.

Or so she thought.

But nothing is as it seems, and the teens soon find themselves embroiled in a game far more sinister, and dangerous, than they could possibly have imagined. An evil spanning centuries is waiting for them in the depths. . .

A genre-bending thriller from Stefan Bachmann for fans of The Maze Runner and Joss Whedon’s The Cabin in the Woods.

You cannot escape the palace.

You cannot guess its secrets.

I’ve seen some pretty meh reviews for this book. But honestly, I loved it! It reminded me of The Breakfast Club meets House on Haunted Hill. Depending on how you feel, that either sounds incredibly epic or incredibly horrible. But I can assure you it – at least in my opinion – was incredibly epic. This book is a complete mindf*ck. It was twisted, intriguing and kept me guessing, plus it had awesome characters and great writing.

Normally, I do an in-depth character discussion in my reviews. And, don’t get me wrong, I loved these characters! But it was also one of those situations where, I didn’t know what would happen to them. I didn’t know if they’d all survive. So I had this indifferent attachment to them. I cared as much as I dared to, but I kept my distance in case they didn’t all make it to the end in one piece. So I’ll just briefly discuss some of the characters.

Anouk was spunky and cold but in an.. intriguing way. I don’t think that’s the right word, but I can’t think of a better one. She embodied the whole “you do you” sentiment that Uncle Zac is always talking about. Jules was friendly, quiet and stand-offish, as was Will. Will was also a little bit socially awkward. Hayden was pretty much just a jerk who looked down on everyone, but he had a small handful of redeeming moments throughout the book. Lilly was bubbly and talkative and probably my second favorite character. She had her faults (who doesn’t?), but she also had some truly epic moments!

The thing I loved the most? The flashback scenes. They were incredibly intriguing and I loved the characters from these scenes, as well! I actually wish we’d gotten MORE flashback scenes. Here’s hoping we maybe get a prequel or prequel novella – SOMETHING!

This book kept me guessing like nobody’s business! I had all these theories and yet no theories at all and the theories I had kept changing every few minutes. The only part of this book that bugged me was the ending. Specifically the epilogue. It was a bit anticlimactic. I was hoping for a twisty, creepy ending. Something.. MORE than what we got… I can’t exactly articulate what that “more” is that I wanted to see. Just.. More!

Overall, this book was intriguing and intense. Though the ending was a bit of a letdown, the rest of the book was epic beyond words. It kept me guessing – and kept my heart in my throat – until the end. I HIGHLY recommend it for those who love psychological thrillers, as well as for those who love books with “it might be supernatural, it might not be supernatural” twists!

Television Tuesday: Fuller House Season One Review

Mar8

Television Tuesday is a new feature in which I chat with you about all things television!

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Hey everyone! For today’s Television Tuesday, I’m going to be reviewing Fuller House season one! Spoiler Warning!!! I couldn’t do a full review without sharing ALL my feels and that means spoilers! So if you haven’t watched it yet, don’t read on!!

via GIPHY

Final Spoiler Warning… Okay, review time!

I decided to break my review down into Atmosphere, Cast, Cheeseball Vs. Nostalgia and Overall Thoughts.

Atmosphere:
Starting from the very beginning: I LOVED the opening credits and the way they threw back to the original! It gave me SO MANY FEELS!!! And I know some people are torn about Carly Rae Jepsen singing the theme song, but I actually really liked it – she did a brilliant job, making it feel fresh but also keeping the feel of the original.

Now, onto my biggest pet peeve: The house. As a super fan of the original show, some of the house inconsistencies drove me crazy. Like in the attic, the room they kept saying used to belong to Nicky and Alex was actually the closet in the original show! In Full House, the twins’ room was located by the stairs, next to the bathroom. How did they not catch that MAJOR inconsistency?!?! And the room that was Stephanie and DJ’s? I’m almost positive it was bigger in the original, whereas the room that used to be Jesse’s seemed to be bigger than it originally was. Things like that had me like

via GIPHY

Cast:
I’m going to break this down by actor/actress. In some cases, I’ll be talking more about the character than the actor/actress (or vice versa). It’s just easier! So:

Candace Cameron Bure: Oh, DJ… I liked DJ in the original and I always thought Candace Cameron was the best actress of the three kids. But she always had a habit of raising her voice at the end of a sentence, like she was asking a question. And that was even more painfully obvious now that she’s an adult and it really got annoying after awhile. Honestly, her acting was pretty atrocious, which surprised me – again, I liked her when she was younger and she wasn’t a bad actress then! So.. what happened?!? Her acting was awkward and forced. It was almost like she didn’t want to be saying or doing certain things, like she was uncomfortable. Overall, I did like DJ’s storyline. It was hilarious how she was so Danny-like in her behavior and I loved that she became a vet – though NOTHING from the original show EVER hinted at her wanting to be a vet. So that felt like it was out of nowhere.

Jodie Sweetin: Stephanie has always been my favorite of the daughters and I love the way her story has gone. She’s like the new Uncle Jesse – carefree until she realizes how much she loves being an aunt. It just felt very fitting for her. There was one thing she told DJ that made me cry; I felt SO bad for her. Sweetin’s acting was pretty good – not amazing, but slightly improved from when she was a kid.

Andrea Barber: Andrea Barber was hilarious and on point as Kimmy. Her acting wasn’t necessarily the best, but it was like she’d never stopped playing Kimmy – like no time had passed. Plus, Kimmy was always a cheeseball character, so the cheesiness of the show (I’ll get to that soon) was least noticeable with her.

Scott Weinger: Steve was terrible. I loved him and DJ together in the original. But he was pushy, needy and stuck in his high school glory days. Weinger’s acting wasn’t terrible, all things considered. Like with Andrea Barber and Kimmy, it was like no time had passed since he was last on set as Steve.

John Brotherton: Brotherton was epic as Matt!! He was hot, a dog lover, and perfect for DJ. I could feel the chemistry and sexual tension! They worked so well together and they really bounced off each other (um.. is that the right phrase??) in their scenes. Brotherton was hilarious and had GREAT line delivery and comedic timing.

Juan Pablo Di Pace: Fernando – the actor and the character – was hilarious and I loved him and Kimmy and their chemistry. His acting and comedic timing was perfect. He was like the Fez of the show, but hotter!

The New Kids: Ramona (Soni Bringas) was great and I loved her and Jackson (Michael Campion) and their scheming. Max (Elias Harger) was kind of annoying (what is it with little kid actors and SCREAMING their lines???) but he had great comedic timing.

The Original Cast Adults: The original cast was… Just okay. Ever since I saw Bob Saget’s comedy routine, I can’t get it out of my head. So now I see him as Danny and he gives me the creepy vibe… Plus, why does he look shorter…? And why is his voice so weird? Joey (Dave Coulier) was okay but it felt like his whole role was forced, like there was no point to his return. He didn’t do much except appease the fans (because, if the WHOLE original trio hadn’t returned, I think fans would have been upset). John Stamos was epic – Uncle Jesse’s still got it! But there was something.. Off?… About Lori Loughlin a Becky. Her character was SO baby obsessed, which was cute at first, then became creepy and annoying. And her acting made it seem like she didn’t even want to be there to begin with..

I know I’m probably missing a few cast members in there (like Nicky and Alex, who were hilarious, but barely in the show, so don’t require much comment) and Danny’s new wife (random, much?). But I basically just wanted to cover the original and main cast members.

Cheeseball Versus Nostalgia:
Overall, this was not an amazing, incredible, epic show. The original did a lot of things WAY better. There were a LOT of cheeseball moments between certain lines and certain plots. However, there was also a TON of nostalgia, between references to the original show and general 90s references. The nostalgia – for me – more than made up for the cheeseball stuff. And, really, as awesome as the original Full House was, it was still filled with a LOT of cornball jokes/scenes/plots and cheesy/sappy moments. So if you’re a fan of the original, you won’t care that much of Fuller House is cheeseball. And you’ll DEFINITELY appreciate the nostalgia!

Overall:
If you were a fan of Full House, prepare for major nostalgia feels with Fuller House! If you weren’t.. You might not enjoy it as much or catch all the references. But in my opinion, this DEFINITELY deserves a season 2 (and, from what I last heard, it WAS renewed for a second season!!)! There are so many questions I want answered!!! And I’m REALLY excited to see where the show goes next!

Favorite Moments (MAJOR SPOILER WARNING):
This next section is just a quick list of some of my favorite moments – whether because they were hilarious or because they were nostalia-inducing. Some of these are MAJOR spoilers, though, so I HIGHLY encourage you to NOT READ the next section if you haven’t watched the show!!!

Stephanie singing and dancing: I always thought Jodie Sweetin was a great dancer, even when she was a kid, but I never realized she was a great singer, too! I know some people HATED the seemingly random song-and-dance moments, but I loved them.

Matt/Steve kiss: This moment was BEYOND hilarious! The actors NAILED it!

Stephanie/Kimmy kiss: Again, BEYOND hilarious! This whole scene was hilarious, but the kiss had me lmao!

The sly references to Michelle and the breaking down of the “fourth wall.”: A lot of people were annoyed by this, but I thought it was hilarious. It was like they were making fun of themselves and acknowledging that certain things were being done purposely or for the sake of logic (this is especially true for the Michelle stuff).

The parallels/references to the original: Nostalgia galore! Need I say more??

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So, what are your thoughts on Fuller House? Did you like it? love it? Hate it? Share your thoughts in the comments below! If you weren’t a fan, try to keep it civil, please!

Review: Firewalker by Josephine Angelini

Mar8

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Firewalker by Josephine Angelini

Firewalker by Josephine Angelini
Series: The Worldwalker Trilogy #2
Published by Feiwel & Friends on September 1, 2015
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-stars

“I’m a witch, and witches burn.”

Lily Proctor has made it back to her own universe, and she’s ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the pyre that fueled their escape, and they must hide her new magic or risk endangering the world, but compared to fighting the monstrous Woven and leading armies in the alternate Salem, life is looking good.

“You think I’m a monster, but…my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified.”

Unfortunately, Lillian, malevolent ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. Lily is the closest version of herself she’s ever seen in all her worldwalking, and Lillian’s running out of time. If she can’t persuade Lily and Rowan to return to her world, she’ll have to find a way to make them come back.

Picking up right where Trial by Fire left off, Firewalker is another sexy, fast-paced thrill ride from author Josephine Angelini!

Well. This book surprised me. After the disaster that was Trial by Fire, I went into this with carefully controlled hope. I had my fingers crossed it would be better, but I wasn’t keeping my expectations high. Though there were some moments that were just as bad as they were in Trial by Fire, this book was otherwise MUCH improved. The plot was more intriguing, the pacing was better, the characters were more dynamic and likable and the offensive things from Trial by Fire were mentioned less in Firewalker (though, when mentioned, they were still offensive).

Let’s start with the characters. Though they still had their faults, they definitely improved from Trial by Fire. I still like Lillian more than Lily. Lillian’s story is much more intriguing. She’s the character you love to hate, who you know should be the villain but you just can’t see her like that. I loved that we saw more of her world and her backstory. I’m still a big Juliet fan, no matter what world she’s from.

I still don’t like Rowan. He improved for awhile and then his behavior at the end of the book made me hate him again and this time, I don’t think I can forgive him. Lily’s Tristan really grew in this book and I really started to like him. I think Lily forgave him way too easily, but I also liked them being friends again, so I was willing to overlook that. I HATE how his story ended, though. I really liked Una and Breakfast and their dynamic with Lily and Tristan, though the whole story surrounding them felt way to convenient – but again, I liked it, so I’m willing to overlook it.

I liked Rowan’s Tristan and Caleb, but we didn’t see a lot of them this time around and I wish we had. Also, the two Tristan thing was confusing! I still can’t stand Carrick – he did some exceptionally evil things in this book and I know he was working on Lillian’s behalf, but I feel like he also did certain things without her permission, so he’s a rogue warrior and beyond redemption.

The pacing in this book was WAY better than the pacing in Trial by Fire. Except things started to slow down after page 200 and I struggled to finish reading. I don’t know if that was the book or just me, as I’ve read several meh books in a row and was so disappointed with Trial by Fire and just wanted to be done with Firewalker. I think it was a little of both, honestly.

I also want to mention that, whenever someone shares a memory with Lily, Josephine Angelini writes the memory in first person (as opposed to third person). And I must say, her writing is much stronger in first person and I really enjoyed those parts! I think she should write in first person more often!

The racist remarks used to describe the Outlanders were fewer in this book, but still offensive when mentioned (specifically, when they were referred to as savages). Again (as I mentioned in my Trial by Fire review), I don’t feel I have the authority to say more on this, as a white woman, but I just found it very offensive, so I can’t imagine how those who identify as Native American and POC feel.

The over-sexualized willstone stuff was still there, but not mentioned as much. However, Lily’s time in the oubliette with Carrick and Carrick touching her willstones was compared to rape (with Lily saying what happened was her fault and Rowan calling her a survivor). This was offensive and frustrating.

So, overall, this book was MUCH better than Trial by Fire, but it still had plenty of faults. At this point, I’m still going to read the third book, Witche’s Pyre, because I want to see how the series ends. But I’m not going to get my hopes up for an epic ending to this meh trilogy. The end of Firewalker was kind of weird and they killed off some of the only characters I truly liked. So while I’m definitely reading book three, I’m not jumping for it or dying to read it. And I don’t know if I’d recommend Firewalker or not. Maybe if you enjoyed Trial by Fire or if you adore Josephine Angelini? But if you weren’t a fan of Trial by Fire, then I’d say think carefully before diving into Firewalker. It was better, but not by much.

Blog Tour: Amid Wind and Stone by Nicole Luiken (Excerpt + Giveaway)

Mar7

Hey guys! Today, I’m excited to share with you an excerpt from Amid Wind and Stone by Nicole Luiken (March 7, 2016, Entangled TEEN)! There’s also an epic giveaway for you to enter! First up, here’s more about the first book in the series, Through Fire & Sea:

There is one True World, and then there are the four mirror worlds: fire, water, air, and stone. And each has a magic of its own…

In the Fire World, seventeen-year-old Leah is the illegitimate daughter of one of the realm’s most powerful lords. She’s hot-blooded—able to communicate with the tempestuous volcano gods. But she has another gift…the ability to Call her twin “Otherselves” on other worlds.

Holly resides in the Water World—our world. When she’s called by Leah from the Fire World, she nearly drowns. Suddenly the world Holly thought she knew is filled with secrets, magic…and deadly peril.

For a malevolent force seeks to destroy the mirror worlds. And as Leah and Holly are swept up in the tides of chaos and danger, they have only one choice to save the mirror worlds—to shatter every rule they’ve ever known…

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
Kobo | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Entangled Book Profile

And now here’s more about the second book, Amid Wind and Stone:

There is one True World, and then there are the four Mirror Worlds: Fire, Water, Air, and Stone.

Audrey and Dorotea are “otherselves”—twin copies of each other who live on different Mirror Worlds.

On Air, Audrey has the ability to communicate with wind spirits. As war looms, she’s torn between loyalty to her country and her feelings for a roguish phantom who may be a dangerous spy.

Blackouts and earthquakes threaten the few remaining humans on Stone, who have been forced to live underground. To save her injured sister, Dorotea breaks taboo and releases an imprisoned gargoyle. Brooding, sensitive Jasper makes her wonder if gargoyles aretruly traitors, as she’s always been told.

Unbeknownst to them, they both face the same enemy—an evil sorceress bent on shattering all the Mirror Worlds.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
Kobo | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Entangled Book Profile

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And now here’s the excerpt! Enjoy!

Stone World

The lights went out, plunging the cave into absolute darkness.

Dorotea froze on her hands and knees in the tunnel. Behind her, Marta wailed. Dorotea reached back and found her little sister’s hand. “It’s all right. The lights will come back in a moment.” Despite her reassuring words, worry wormed its way into her stomach. It wasn’t unusual for one or two of the light squares embedded in the walls to burn out and stay black for a few weeks before being replaced, but every light in the whole tunnel had winked out at the same instant as if it were False Night instead of an hour short of noon.

Instinct prodded at her. Something’s wrong.

Marta squeezed her hand with six-year-old strength. “I’m scared! Make the lights come back.”

As if being eleven years older conferred magic powers. “The Elect will fix it. All we have to do is wait.”

“I’m so scared,” Marta whined.

“Crawl up closer to me,” Dorotea said. “The tunnel’s wide enough here.”

Marta squirmed up. Dorotea lay on her side and cuddled her sister’s small body. The contact comforted Dorotea, too. Marta’s presence meant Dorotea couldn’t panic.

Her eyes remained open, uselessly straining to see in the utter darkness. She’d never experienced anything like it. During False Night, each cavern had a few lights that remained on so people could find their way to the privy. This darkness was blacker than the inside of a coal seam.

Maybe only the tunnel’s lights had gone out. Maybe there was still light in the main caverns.

“I’m scared of the dark,” Marta whimpered again. “What if the gargoyles get us?”

Dorotea’s heart jumped into her throat at the thought of hands reaching up through solid stone, but she made her voice calm. “Don’t be silly. All the gargoyles are safely locked up in the Cavern of Traitors.”

“But what if they tunneled through the floor?”

“They can’t,” Dorotea said shortly. “They’re frozen in place. Why are you scared of gargoyles? You’ve never even seen one. They were imprisoned before you were born.” They didn’t kill your father, like they did mine. Marta’s father, Martin, was annoyingly alive.

Dorotea had been younger than Marta when the gargoyles rebelled. She barely remembered them except for fuzzy images of her father’s gargoyle: a very tall, silent man made of gray stone with a craggy, rough-hewn face.

The gargoyles couldn’t have caused the blackout. Could they? Surely not, but anxiety still twisted inside her, keying her nerves to a higher pitch. She shivered in the clammy embrace of the stone tunnels. The rough trousers and tunic she’d donned for weeding were better suited for crawling than her usual robes, but the material was also thinner.

Something’s wrong. Something more than a Tech malfunction.

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And now for the giveaway! One winner will receive a Red Jasper Pendant inspired by Jasper from Amid Wind & Stone (US & Canada Only). To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author:

Nicole Luiken wrote her first book at age 13 and never stopped. She is the author of nine published books for young adults, including Violet Eyes and its sequels Silver Eyes and Angels Eyes, Frost, Unlocking the Doors, The Catalyst, Escape to the Overworld, Dreamfire and the sequel Dreamline. Through Fire & Sea, book one of Otherselves, and Amid Wind & Stone, book two of Otherselves, are her most recent releases. She also has an adult thriller, Running on Instinct, under the name N.M. Luiken and a fantasy romance series, Gate to Kandrith and Soul of Kandrith.

Nicole lives with her family in Edmonton, AB. It is physically impossible for her to go more than three days in a row without writing.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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The Tour:

March 7^th

YaReads– Review Book #1

RoloPolo Book Blog – Promo Post

Pandora’s Book Reviews – Promo Post

March 8^th

The Perks of Being a Book Girl – Review Book #2

Literary Chanteuse – Promo Post

March 9^th

Bibliophile Mystery – Guest Post

Just One More Chapter – Promo Post

Rachel’s Book Reviews – Author Interview

Long and Short Reviews – Guest Post

March 10^th

Roxy’s Book Reviews – Promo Post

The Book Beacon – Review Book #1

March 11^th

Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books! – Guest Post

Phenomenal Reviews – Promo Post

March 12^th

Elizabeth Delana Rosa – Promo Post

Nicole Olea – Review Book #1

Happy Tails and Tales – Review Book #2

March 13^th

YaReads – Review Book #2

The Book Beacon – Review Book #2

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Review: Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini

Mar7

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini

Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini
Series: The Worldwalker Trilogy #1
Published by Feiwel & Friends on September 2, 2014
Pages: 374
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
two-stars

The exhilaratingly seductive new series from the author of the bestselling Starcrossed series

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

PLEASE NOTE: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. Because I need to rant and I can’t rant without spoilers. You’ve been warned.
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I think I read this out of some twisted sense of loyalty to Josephine Angelini because I loved her debut trilogy, Starcrossed, and because I LOVE the Salem Witch Trials. But this was PAINFUL to get through. Angelini was so focused on world-building that the plot was lost along the way. The characters were impossible to connect with. And the parts of the story pertaining to the willstones (I’ll explain later on in the review) were so over-sexualized, it was actually uncomfortable (and I’m no prude, but I’m telling you, it was uncomfortable). And the racism (Native American’s being called savages, etc) was disgusting.

I don’t even know where to start, to be honest, so I guess with the few things I did like? I actually liked the world-building in the beginning. I didn’t realize this was a multiple universes/parallel universes kind of thing – what even do you call that? What’s the difference? – and I’m not sure how I feel about it; however, the world Lily was pulled into was intriguing. At first.

I really liked Lillian in the beginning. We had barely even MET her and I knew liked her more than Lily, at least. She’s the villain who has your sympathy. I found myself drawn to her and her story and wanting to know more. I also liked her world better than Lily’s (as I mentioned above). And I liked Juliet – one of the few characters I really, truly liked. There were some moments that made me chuckle and smirk (dialogue between characters, in particular), but they were few and far between. The one thing I loved beyond a doubt was Angelini’s writing – her writing is what dragged me into Starcrossed and what had me dying to dig into Trial By Fire. I will say that the ending held promise for book two.

Now the things I didn’t like. Except for the few moments when I liked Lillian and Juliet, I really didn’t like these characters. They were flat and one dimensional and didn’t grow a lot over the course of the book. The men in this book, in particular, were basically all jerks and worse names that I’ll refrain from using. In particular, I couldn’t stand Lily’s Tristan and I couldn’t stand Rowan, Gideon or Carrick. Caleb wasn’t as bad as the others, but we got to know him the least.

I couldn’t stand the stuff with the willstones. The willstones were like a combination of the source of a person’s power and an amplifier of their power. And everything to do with the willstone was sexualized in the weirdest, most awkward and uncomfortable way. When a witch claims a willstones, the process is compared to/described as being birthed. And touching someone’s willstone can either be painful to them or positively orgasmic – seriously, that word wasn’t used but it was implied. And all the stuff with the mechanics being claimed by witches made them seem like objects, not people. Being claimed by a witch was akin to having sex.

Like, these are actual quotes:

“After dinner, Lily claimed Tristan.” = And… No one thought that sounded problematic?

“Fondle a witches willstones…” = … Umm… I…

“So it’s like sex?” = Like, Lily ACTUALLY straight-up asks this

“Well, I’ve never done this with a girl.” = I’m not kidding, this is said in relation to a claiming.

Also, Lily had to get naked in front of Rowan and Tristan for a certain spell. Umm.. Why? Why did she have to be naked??

A potential or implied date rape also happened. WHY?!?!? THIS IS THE SECOND BOOK I’VE READ IN A ROW WITH THAT! WHY WHY WHY?!?!? SOMEONE TELL ME WHY!!! AUTHORS, STOP DOING THIS!!!!

There were also a lot of racist remarks when it came to the Outlanders, who were described often as being Native Americans, savages, mixed races, darker colors, etc. And, of course, they were the non-citizens who were forced to live unprotected outside the cities, but who could still be jailed, tried and executed for breaking the laws. Because of course. I don’t feel I have the authority to say more on this, as a white woman, but I just found it very offensive, so I can’t imagine how those who identify as Native American and POC feel.

I don’t know if the pacing itself was off or if it was just all the problems I had with this book, but the pacing was sooo slow. Again, I loved the world-building (in the beginning and for the most part, that is), but I think the plot got lost in all the world-building and that made me question what the point of this book even was. So that made it even harder to push through it.

Despite all that, the ending held some promise and I will still be reading book two – if only because I foolishly bought it, assuming I’d LOVE book one. Because I loved Angelini’s first trilogy and I love the Salem Witch Trials, I assumed this book was an instant 5-star read. Boy, was I wrong.. *head desk.*

Blog Tour: The Almost Girl by Amalie Howard (Guest Post + Dream Cast)

Mar6

Hey everyone! I’m super excited to be on the blog tour for Amalie Howard’s The Almost Girl! Amalie is amazing, and so is this book! You can check out my review here! Today, I’ve got a guest post from Amalie to share with you, in which she discusses her character inspiration for The Almost Girl! First, here’s more about the book:

17 year-old Riven comes from a world ravaged by a devastating android war, a parallel world to Earth. A Legion General, she is the right hand of the young Prince of Neospes. In Neospes, she has everything: rank, responsibility and respect. But when Prince Cale sends her away to find his long-lost brother, Caden, who has been spirited back to modern day Earth, Riven finds herself in uncharted territory.

Thrown out of her comfort zone but with the mindset of a soldier and in a race against time to bring Caden home, Riven has to learn how to be a girl in a realm that is the opposite of what she knows. Will Riven be able to find the strength to defy her very nature? Or will she become the monstrous soldier she was designed to be?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Book Depository | IndieBound | Books-A-Million

PRAISE FOR THE ALMOST GIRL:

“A high-octane thriller. SF and dystopia fans will be right at home with this book and its fierce, capable heroine.” ~ Publishers Weekly

“Amalie Howard writes a fast paced and thrilling story with a kick butt, authentic heroine and a brilliantly crafted world.“ ~ Eve Silver, author of Rush

“The Almost Girl is a feminist tour de force. It is filled with powerful, interesting female characters. Riven is one of my favorite fictional characters ever; she is fierce, passionate, funny and smart. This sexy, fast-paced story is impossible to put down. A must read! Fans of Divergent will love it!“ ~ Kim Purcell, author of Trafficked

“A riveting union of science fiction thriller, romance, family drama, and conspiracy theory, The Almost Girl had me wishing I could crawl inside the pages and join Riven on her epic journey between parallel worlds. Amalie Howard’s writing is sharp and smart. I’m definitely craving the next installment!” ~ Page Morgan, author of The Beautiful & The Cursed

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Guest Post: Character Inspiration & Dream Cast for The Almost Girl
By Amalie Howard

When I was initially doing the character study for Riven (whose name means ripped apart), I knew that I wanted her to be fierce. After all, she becomes a General of an army at fourteen and she comes from a very tough universe, so she has to be the result of that. In Neospes, there’s no room for softness and emotion. Those are the things that can get you killed. As a result, Riven is the perfect product of her environment. She’s a very intense character. I needed her to be powerful, highly skilled, focused, and mature.

My inspiration for Riven’s character came from a few different sources. The first was Max from Dark Angel TV series. I loved the fact that Max was so capable and fierce, but was also so guarded. I wanted my character to be similar—especially as she navigates the new terrain of a parallel universe that is the complete opposite to her own. Like Max, Riven has to learn how to trust and how to love while still being strong and lethal. My second source of inspiration was Leeloo from the movie The Fifth Element, one of my all time favs (and yes, I know I’m a total nerd). I love that scene where Leeloo takes out the Mangalores singlehandedly. She, like Max, is fierce, but in a different way. She’s built to be the Earth’s defender—the fifth element—and she has to learn about who we are as humans before she’s able to do the job she was created to do. I liked her inner fragility when it came to learning about love, and I wanted Riven to have the same sort of feel—hard and unapproachable on the outside, yet soft and curious on the inside. Last but not least, there’s definitely some Ellen Ripley in there, but it’s the Ripley from Alien Resurrection, where she has inherited some of the alien traits. She’s so awesome during that basketball scene in the mess hall on the ship. I loved her innate confidence and unflappable nature. I wanted Riven to have some of those qualities. Highly trained, she knows who she is and what she can do.

Like all of these amazing, multi-faceted heroines, I wanted to create a dynamic character who is forced to question everything she is and everything she knows. A soldier first, Riven is hard on the outside but still vulnerable on the inside—I wanted readers to relate to her struggle throughout the novel to let go of all her rules and be a girl. We build so many walls to keep from being hurt that we don’t allow ourselves to connect with others. As a character, Riven has to dig down deep to embrace her emotions against everything she has been taught. In the end, is she brave enough to learn how to trust her heart? Will she always be the tough, invulnerable soldier? Or will she find a balance between the two?

DREAM CAST

RIVEN – Astrid Berges OR Imogen Poots

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CADEN – Brenton Thwaites or Nicholas Hoult

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SHAE – Sienna Guillory

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AURELA – Charlize Theron

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Riven’s Father – Michael Fassbender

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Era Taylor – Famke Janssen

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About Amalie:

AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island (Trinidad & Tobago) where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts.

An aspiring writer from a young age, Amalie’s poem “The Candle,” written at age twelve, was published in a University of Warwick journal. At fifteen, she was a recipient of a Royal Commonwealth Society Essay Award (a global youth writing competition). A Colby College graduate, she completed simultaneous Honors Theses in both French and International Studies, and graduated Summa Cum Laude/Phi Beta Kappa. At Colby, she was cited for research and criticism in Raffael Scheck’s article, “German Conservatism and Female Political Activism in the Early Weimar Republic,” and his subsequent book, Mothers of the Nation. She also received a distinction in English Literature from the University of Cambridge (A-levels) as well as a certificate in French Literature from the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, France. Traveling the globe, she has worked as a research assistant, marketing representative, teen speaker and global sales executive.

She is the author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller and a Seventeen Magazine Summer Read. She is also the co-author of the adult historical romance series, THE LORDS OF ESSEX. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children.

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