Showing posts with label Carol Oates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carol Oates. Show all posts

Sunday, October 14, 2012

{BLOG TOUR} IRIDESCENT (EMBER #2) by CAROL OATES

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Iridescent Blog Tour! Iridescent is book tour in the Ember Series by Carol Oates. The tour is being hosted by AToMR Tours, and you can find the complete tour page here. My stop includes my review of Iridescent, and a tour giveaway


IridescentSeries: Ember #2
Genre: Paranormal YA
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publication Date: Oct. 16, 2012
Format: eARC
Pages:
Source: Received from publisher for review.



Candra Ember used to dream of saving the world one person at a time. She never expected to become an angelic weapon and the last hope in the battle against ultimate darkness.

Falling for a Nephilim wasn’t part of Sebastian’s plan. Distraction is something he can’t afford when his rival, Draven, wants what Sebastian has.

Lies, manipulation, and corruption are twisting the lives of the citizens in Acheron. The Arch is missing from Heaven, and a demon is intent on claiming the city. At a time they should be growing closer, grief and paranoia is driving Candra and Sebastian apart.

If the price of restoring the Watchers to Heaven is a human soul, who deserves to be saved?
 

Why I Chose to Read Iridescent: I've been anxiously awaiting this book since the moment I finished book one, Ember (my review). I needed to know what happens next for Candra, Sebastian and Draven.

It's a battle between Heaven and Hell, Good and Evil...and one girl will be the most dangerous weapon of all.

My. Heart. Iridescent almost killed me! This books was so intense, emotionally and physically, that I could hardly keep up. There was just so much going on in Iridescent: Candra and Sebastian's relationship, Draven's feelings for Candra, Ananchel (HATE HER!), the battle for control between good and evil... Because I enjoyed Ember so much, I was really excited to have the opportunity to read an early copy of this story, and it certainly lived up to my hopes.

Iridescent picks up almost immediately after Ember's dramatic ending. Candra is reeling from everything that has happened. Devastating loss, learning about her heritage, being torn by Sebastian and Draven, taunted and manipulated by Ananchel all takes it's toll on her. She and Sebastian are trying to hold onto the security of their love, but his own doubts, self-loathing, and need for atonement may be enough to drive them apart.

Throughout Ember, I struggled to choose between Sebastian and Draven. Neither of the two was all good or all bad. Both made some big mistakes and provided true swoon-worthy moments. In Iridescent, that struggle isn't the focus on the story. The three are all working to stay alive and save each other. A sad, yet understandable decision does drive a wedge between Candra and Sebastian, and gives Draven an opportunity to prove his worth. Love triangles don't always work, but in this case, with two worthy choices, the triangle is fantastic.

Iridescent was a bold sequel to Ember. The story went to dark, sad, scary places that I never expected. I spent a good portion of the story worried, swooning, and crying. The resolution was shocking, breathtaking, and ultimately triumphant. Iridescent was a wonderful story that tied this series up beautifully.

If you enjoy Paranormal Young Adult with a angels, demons and drama, Iridescent should hit the spot.


Favorite Quote:

  "She had always known Sebastian might be dangerous. Something always simmered below his skin, a scorching, righteous passion forever on the verge of exploding into an inferno with the slightest provocation. He was a force of heaven with an exquisite, virile presence." (eARC, pg 59)


  "He wanted to kiss her. She was sure of it and she wanted him to. She was so sick of running, sick of pretending she was strong for everyone. She wanted to disappear inside something bigger than her. Something that would consume her from the inside out and make her forget everything."  (eARC, pg 188)

Tour Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Sunday, August 12, 2012

COVER REVEAL ~ IRISDESCENT (EMBER #2) by CAROL OATES

I have another great cover reveal to share with you. Last year I read and participated in the blog tour for Ember by Carol Oates (my review) . I absolutely loved the story and am anxious to read book two, Iridescent, when it releases in October. But for now, the cover of Iridescent...

Candra Ember used to dream of saving the world one person at a time. She never expected to become an angelic weapon and the last hope in the battle against ultimate darkness.

Falling for a Nephilim wasn’t part of Sebastian’s plan. Distraction is something he can’t afford when his rival, Draven, wants what Sebastian has.Lies, manipulation and corruption are twisting the lives of the citizens in Acheron. The Arch is missing from Heaven and a demon is intent on claiming the city. At a time they should be growing closer, grief and paranoia is driving Candra and Sebastian apart.

If the price of restoring the Watchers to Heaven is a human soul, who deserves to be saved?
Isn't the cover gorgeous?? I can't wait for October!

You can connect with author Carol Oates at:
her website  |  Facebook  |   Twitter

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Blog Tour: Ember by Carol Oates + Giveaway!




Ember

When Candra Ember wakes up in hospital after a dangerous encounter with a red-haired woman, she is shocked to discover that seeing a winged boy wasn’t her imagination. Candra is exposed to a world of rivalry and sacrifice she never knew existed, and the aftermath of a war to save humanity thousands of years ago. Soon she finds herself relentlessly stalked by Sebastian, a beautiful and arrogant Watcher Angel and romantically pursued by his darkly seductive rival, Draven. Ultimately, dubious about her own goodness, Candra’s very existence compromises a tentative peace in the city of Acheron. (From GoodReads)


My Review

My first thought after reading Ember? Wow, just Wow.

My next thought? Seductive. And when I say seductive, I don't necessarily mean sexual. Ember is a book that, at times, felt extremely sensual. Author Carol Oates wrote very sensual scenes, that were hot and heavy without a single kiss or removal of clothes. Those romantic, seductive passages were all about the subtle gestures. The soft touch of a wrist, the heat in a gaze. Writing sensual scenes without the overtly sexual tone takes true skills from an author. In my opinion, Oates writing was simply fabulous. I read Ember within a few hours, often feeling as if I were in a trance. I simply devoured it.

Ember is a book filled with enthralling characters, who make you love them one minute and curse them the next. Except for Candra, I never cursed her. Candra was an engaging heroine. She has a quiet determination. She is unwilling to accept anything less than the whole truth. She does not rely on someone else to save her, she takes her fate (and other's) in her own hands. Candra has a beautiful selflessness about her. She is resolved to give up everything to protect those she cares about.

As for the men of Ember, I have one word: Swoon. Sebastian is full of self-torture and self-loathing. He is unable to put his violent, disgraceful past behind him. But, and I hardly believe it myself, he's still lovable. The author managed to make him a sympathetic character even when it seems he's done horrendous things.

Draven (by the way, awesome name!) is handsome and alluring. He is self-assured and has swagger. And, the guy is a master manipulator, always playing all angles.

 Sebastian and Draven are both sexy and dangerous. And I wasn't sure who was good or bad until the very end of the book. Just the way I like my guys!

In Ember, Carol Oates has written one gorgeous book. The book could definitely be a stand-alone, but for all our sake's, I hope there will be many more tales of Candra, Sebastian and Draven.
Favorite Quotes:

"You see this body and this face, but you can't see the ugliness that's inside. I've been a black cloud over everything and everyone I've ever come into contact with through my entire existence. You see a storm as a shelter."

"Something inside her called out to him as the moon called to the tide, dragging it forward to crash and break apart against an unyielding shore."

Paperback, 237 pages
Published July 19th 2011 by Omnific Publishing
You can find Ember at:
You can find author Carol Oates at her website.


Want to win an ebook of ember? All you have to do is leave a comment on this review. Be sure to leave an email address so you can be contacted.


Be sure to Check out the Blog Tour Schedule and comment on all the blog tour stops to be entered into the EMBER giveaway.

Grand Prize: A silver butterfly necklace, an EMBER canvas tote, and an ebook of EMBER.
Runner-up Prize: A canvas EMBER tote and a print copy of EMBER.


Winner will be announced September 21, 2011. Good Luck!

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