{REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY} EVE OF CHAOS (MARKED #3) by SYLVIA DAY

Series: Marked #3
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Date: 2/26/13
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Source: Received from publisher for review

How do you tell Satan that you ran over his hellhound? Evangeline Hollis has no idea and she doesn't want to find out. Living with the Mark of Cain -- and the two sexy brothers who come with it -- is trouble enough. She doesn't need to borrow more. Too bad Satan is too pissed to oblige her. Incensed at the loss of his pet, Satan has put a bounty on Eve's head, and Hell's denizens are converging en masse. The proliferation of Infernals is complicating Eve's hunts and creating chaos in her once orderly life. They've also brought her to the attention of an overzealous reverend who is certain she's Jezebel reincarnate.
How can a Mark drafted by God strike a bargain with the Devil? Eve's about to find out...

Wow. At this point, it is so hard to review this series without spoilers for those who either haven't started or aren't caught up in the Marked series. But let me just say, I freaking love these books!

In the Marked series, Sylvia Day has basically taken the story of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel... and has created this insanely imaginative and intense series. I love that I have a basic knowledge to reference these characters and their backgrounds on. I love that Day has forced me to stop, take a step back, and look at the oldest story ever through new eyes.  And maybe I'm over thinking things, but I love that I am seeing these characters and their stories, their pains and frustrations, and their choices, through a whole new perspective. 

Now for the characters. Eve is a badass. I love how pragmatic she is. I know that it would be completely realistic and understandable if she was a character who hated her life and whined about it all the time; I know I would. But I love how she has mostly accepted that the insanity is her life, for now, and she has gotten busy with getting the job done. Of course, the insanity is an easier pill to swallow when you have both Cain and Abel willing to lend a hand...

And seriously, these two are just about the sexiest heroes I've ever read. For all of Eve of Darkness and most of Eve of Destruction, I was firmly on Team Cain. He and Eve have a long sexy history and I love them together. The way they "interact" both in and out of the bedroom is steamy and fun. But something BIG came between them in Eve of Destruction, and it pushed her and Abel closer together. Now, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't kick Abel out of my bed (or stairwell) but he's not Cain! He's aloof, well-polished, and doesn't seem to care about Eve... until this book. And now that Eve has gotten to know him better, I'm torn. Both brothers are gorgeous, seductive, protective, smart and dangerous. Both hold a piece of Eve's heart, but only one can win. Who. Will. It. Be?!?

Eve of Chaos was a great addition to the series. There were so many crazy intense scenes, twist and turns in the plot, and insane revelations in the story. This is the ultimate story of Good vs. Evil, with some brilliant shades of grey thrown in. I can't wait to continue this brilliant series.


Favorite Quote:

  "....I should be listening to your body language and not the crap coming out of your mouth. I should toss your ass over the arm of the couch and nail you. Then you'd know this brush-off sh*t doesn't work with me."
  "I wouldn't f*#k you if you were the last man on earth."
  Reed held a hand to his ear. "Did you hear that? That was the sound of the gloves coming off."
  ~pg 80


  He was spurred by the knowledge that this was Eve, the woman he wanted for reasons unrelated to sex. Now she was right where he wanted her--spread and willing, mewling with helpless pleasure. They were in the moment together, connected body and mind. He hadn't known he was alone--an angel who stood apart--until he wasn't alone any longer.  ~pg 135

The Marked Series

(click on cover for GoodReads page)

My Reviews of Eve of Darkness & Eve of Destruction

 

 

Purchase the books at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

 

 

About the author

Sylvia Day (aka S. J. Day and Livia Dare) is the #1 New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of more than a dozen award-winning novels translated into over three dozen languages. She has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Author and her work has been honored as Amazon's Best of the Year in Romance. She has won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award and been nominated for Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA® award twice.

Connect with Sylvia at her website

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY

 

I have a giveaway for you, courtesy of Tor Books. One winner will win their choice of Eve of  Darkness, Eve of Destruction, or Eve of Chaos.

Open US Only

Must be 17+ years of age to enter.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS BLOG TOUR ~ EXCERPT, Q&A, and GIVEAWAY

 

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on An Natural History of Dragons Blog Tour! My stop includes an excerpt from the book, a Q & A with author Marie Brennan, and a giveaway!

 

I would like to note that all artwork is credited to Todd Lockwood.

 

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

Publication Date: 2/5/13

You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon’s presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one’s life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . . All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day. Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever. Marie Brennan introduces an enchanting new world in A Natural History of Dragons.

 

 

Excerpt

 

Closing the book, I turned in my seat and reached over the back of the wagon-bench to stow it in a pack that would all too soon prove whether it was as waterproof as advertised or not.

            As I did so, a gust of shockingly cold air pulled at my sleeves, and ice stung my face. Wondering if we were in danger of hail, I looked up.

            I have little recollection of the next several seconds. Just a moment of frozen staring, and then -- with no transition -- my voice shrieking “Get down!” as I wrapped my arms around my husband and dragged him forward, off the wagon bench.

            Two other screams overlaid my own. One, high-pitched and awful, came from our driver as claws snagged him off the wagon and into the air. The other, lower but more terrible, came from above, as the dragon plummeted from the clouds and raked over our heads.

            Jacob and I landed in the wagon traces, the reins and harness tangling our limbs while the horses shied and whinnied their terror. Being on the outside, I tumbled free first, and cried out to see the wagon lurching forward, my husband still caught within. He fell a moment later, directly beneath the wagon, and the wheels passed close enough to leave a track across his coat.

            I crawled toward him, hearing shouts from all around us. Frantic glances skyward showed me nothing; the dragon had vanished again. From the slope ahead, though, came the agonized groans of our driver. Just as I reached Jacob, a loud noise cracked the air: a gunshot, as one of the other drivers fired off the rifle he carried against highwaymen or wild animals.

            Wild animals. I had not, until that moment, put dragons in that class. I had thought them something apart.

            “Stay down, Isabella,” Jacob said, shielding me with his own body. I crouched in his shadow, and realized quite irrelevantly that my bonnet had gone astray. The wind was very cold in my hair.

            A great flapping, as of sails: the dragon, though we could not see it. Looking under Jacob’s arm, I saw Lord Hilford put out a hand and stop his driver, who would have fired at the sound. With nothing to see, there was no point in wasting the shot.

            Then suddenly there was something to see. Several shots rang out, and I swallowed the protest that tried to leap free of me. This was no vulnerable runt in a menagerie. The dragon was huge, its wingspan far larger than a wagon, with stone-grey hide and wings that kicked up dust with every beat. The guns fired, and the beast made a dreadful noise, aborting its stoop on us and climbing rapidly for the sky. Clouds enveloped it once more, and we waited.

 

 

ARTWORK FROM THE BOOK

Credited to Todd Lockwood

 

 

 

 

 Purchase A Natural History of Dragons at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Books a Million  |  Powells  |  Indiebound  |  Walmart  |  Overstock
 

Q & A with Marie Brennan

Print or ebooks?

MB: If I get a tablet computer soon, I’ll probably start loading up e-books for when I travel, but apart from that, print. I like having shelves full of books, even if they take up a lot of room. And the archaeologist in me points out that physical books are much more durable than an electronic file . . . .

Television or Movies?

MB: Is there a reason I have to choose? I’m much pickier about TV than I am about movies, but I adore a good arc plot, which TV can do really well.

 

Comedy, Romance, or Drama?

MB: Individually, drama. But I like it best with both comedy and romance mixed in.

 

Leading Men: Broody or Funny?

MB:  See above; it’s best when they’re both! But I’m a sucker for a good bit of brooding, provided it doesn’t translate into the guy being a jerk (which is a common failure mode).

 

Music: Radio or Playlist?

MB:  I almost never listen to the radio, except when my husband’s driving the car. So playlist, all the way.

 

Coffee or Tea?

MB:  Hot chocolate!

Milk Chocolate or Dark?

MB:  Mmmmmm, dark. Especially Burdick’s dark hot chocolate. It’s amazing stuff.

 

Favorite Holiday?

MB:  Christmas. My family has a lot of personal traditions around it, which just make me feel all warm and fuzzy.

 

Are you an Early Bird or a Night Owl?

MB:  I am, perversely, a solar-powered night owl. I need sunlight to function, but I work best late at night.

**Thanks to Marie for taking the time to answer my questions**

 

 

About the author:

 

Marie Brennan is a former academic with a background in archaeology, anthropology, and folklore, which she now puts to rather cockeyed use in writing fantasy. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to many short stories and novellas, she is also the author of A Star Shall Fall and With Fate Conspire (both from Tor Books), as well as Warrior, Witch, Midnight Never Come, In Ashes Lie, and Lies and Prophecy. You can find her online at SwanTower.com.

GoodReads  |  Twitter

Giveaway
 

I have one copy of A Natural History of Dragons to give a lucky winner.

Fill out the Rafflecopter form.

 

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{BLOG TOUR} THE RISE OF RANSOM CITY - INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on The Rise of Ransom City Blog Tour. Today's stop includes an interview with author Felix Gilman and a giveaway. I would like to the lovely folks at Tor Publishing for asking me to join the tour!

Series: Companion to The Half-Made World
Genre: Sci Fi/Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Publishing
Publication Date: 11/27/12

This is the story Harry Ransom. If you know his name it’s most likely as the inventor of the Ransom Process, a stroke of genius that changed the world.

Or you may have read about how he lost the battle of Jasper City, or won it, depending on where you stand in matters of politics.

Friends called him Hal or Harry, or by one of a half-dozen aliases, of which he had more than any honest man should. He often went by Professor Harry Ransom, and though he never had anything you might call a formal education, he definitely earned it.

If you’re reading this in the future, Ransom City must be a great and glittering metropolis by now, with a big bronze statue of Harry Ransom in a park somewhere. You might be standing on its sidewalk and not wonder in the least of how it grew to its current glory. Well, here is its story, full of adventure and intrigue. And it all starts with the day that old Harry Ransom crossed paths with Liv Alverhyusen and John Creedmoor, two fugitives running from the Line, amidst a war with no end.

 

INTERVIEW

 

Describe The Rise of Ransom City, Twitter-style.

Felix:  #steampunk #notreallysteampunkexactly #western #inventor #frontier #wolves #mammoth #memoir #tragicomic #theBomb RT if you like #justinbieber

 

What was your inspiration for the series?

Felix:  In terms of other books – which is the easiest way to answer this question - Westerns. Horatio Alger stories. Old-timey “Edisonades,” genius boy inventors, like Electric Bob. Against the Day and Seven Dreams. Otherwise, I don’t know, hard to say. It took a couple of years to write all told and no doubt a lot of stuff got poured into it. I’ve known some people who were a little like Harry.

 

Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?

Felix:  Not really. Maybe I should. It usually takes me a good hour of time-wasting on the internet to actually get down to business. Making cup after cup of coffee. Pacing. It’s awful. I just have to wait for my guilt over not getting anything done slowly mounts to the point where it overwhelms my anxiety at looking at what I did yesterday. I find it helps if I leave a day’s writing with a scene nearly but not quite done, so that I have threads already largely planned that I can just pick up and work on the next day, before fully engaging my brain.

 

What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

Felix:  I have a 16 month old child and a day job, so once writing/parental duties/day job duties are done, what I mostly like is sleep.

 

What books have most influenced your life?

Felix:  My answer to this changes every time I think about it, so who knows. It has to be childhood books, if you’re talking about really deep-rooted influence. So let’s say: Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea books; Susan Cooper’s Dark is Rising books; those are books that I particularly remember loving as a child, and which had a very very strong influence on my tastes. Gormenghast, likewise, a bit older. I was thinking about The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists the other day, and wondering how much of my political views stem from reading it as a child (not views, that’s the wrong word; emotions, affinity)

 

Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

Felix:  Let’s say Mervyn Peake, author of the Gormenghast books. He was the best fantasist, the best inventor of imaginary worlds, with the most subtle control of mood and tone and irony and language and imagery.

 

**Special thanks to Felix Gilman for taking the time to answer my questions**

About the author:
FELIX GILMAN has been nominated for the John W. Campbell award and the Locus Award for best new writer. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Thunderer, Gears of the City, and The Half-Made World, which was listed by Amazon as one of the ten best SFF novels of 2010. He lives in New York City. Visit his Website at http://www.felixgilman.com/. 

Praise for The Rise of Ransom City:

 

“This sequel to The Half-Made World stands well alone; written like an old-fashioned memoir,

it seamlessly blends whimsy with deadly seriousness.”

—Publishers Weekly on RISE OF RANSOM CITY

 

“On my being handed the book now in your hands, I promised myself - tacitly, of course –

I'd only take a peek. But will you look at what's happened? Mr. Gilman's appeal promptly poured itself all over me, and I, by golly, in superb reciprocity, pored all over his

pages from first to last. Is this not the joy in reading, no less in being? - enforced attention, the delightsome entrapment, a thorough-going filling

and the rare repose of one's having been emptied -- utterly, gratefully - out? “

—Gordon Lish on RISE OF RANSOM CITY

 

 

GIVEAWAY

 

Want to win a copy of The Rise of Ransom City? Just leave a comment with a way to contact you.

Open to US Residents only.

GUEST POST AND GIVEAWAY ~ ALL MEN OF GENIUS by LEV AC ROSEN

I am happy to be participating in the celebration of the paperback release of All Men of Genius by Lev AC Rosen. I read/reviewed All Men of Genius in October 2011, and really enjoyed this charming steampunk story. Today I have a guest post from Lev, along with a giveaway.

Inspired by two of the most beloved works by literary masters, "All Men of Genius "takes place in an alternate Steampunk Victorian London, where science makes the impossible possible.

Violet Adams wants to attend Illyria College, a widely renowned school for the most brilliant up-and-coming scientific minds, founded by the late Duke Illyria, the greatest scientist of the Victorian Age. The school is run by his son, Ernest, who has held to his father's policy that the small, exclusive college remain male-only. Violet sees her opportunity when her father departs for America. She disguises herself as her twin brother, Ashton, and gains entry.

But keeping the secret of her sex won't be easy, not with her friend Jack's constant habit of pulling pranks, and especially not when the duke's young ward, Cecily, starts to develop feelings for Violet's alter ego, "Ashton." Not to mention blackmail, mysterious killer automata, and the way Violet's pulse quickens whenever the young duke, Ernest (who has a secret past of his own), speaks to her. She soon realizes that it's not just keeping her secret until the end of the year faire she has to worry about: it's surviving that long.

 

My Review of All Men of Genius

 

 Purchase All Men of Genius at:

Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

 

 

Guest Post from Lev AC Rosen

Mad Science Is a Comedy of Errors

When I’m working on a book, I often try to describe the shape of it to people through strange, but hopefully true, comparisons.  This book is in the shape of a person drowning and then coming back up, gasping for air, I’ll say (of something dark), or this one is like a chain-link fence.  For All Men of Genius, I’d say the shape is a Rube Goldberg machine.

The comedy of errors style plot blends perfectly with mad science because of the Rube Goldberg machine.  One thing triggers another, which triggers another, and by the end something terribly simple has happened (perhaps those lovers you knew would end up together from page one finally get together) but it’s been a lot of fun to watch; dominoes fell down, balloons exploded, bowling balls knocked down tea-kettles and what have you!  The end result may have been simple, but oh the pleasure and silliness that happened to get you there!  So, a comedy of errors is a lot like a Rube Goldberg.  And a Rube Goldberg is a lot like mad science, with its strange contraptions that link one thing to another, to another.  The two seem perfectly mated.

I confess, there’s more to it than Rube Goldberg machines.  When I first began writing All Men of Genius, steampunk was only just starting to come back, but nothing new had been published yet.  What I knew of steampunk was The Difference Engine and Homunculous, and I loved them, but I knew they weren’t quite my steampunk.  My steampunk would be the steampunk of Wilde; because that’s how I thought of the Victorian Era.  The steampunk I was reading was brilliant, but it was a bit gloomy for me.  I needed something sillier. 

I wanted mad science that was ridiculous.  I wanted swearing rabbits and invisible cats, and all the other strange side effects that you never read about in H.G. Wells.  After all, the mad in mad science can be dangerous and frightening, but it can also be absurd.  And I knew that if my science was going to be absurd, my plot had to be, too.  So I thought of the dandies of the scientific world; the ones who would use science to create unnatural art; I thought of Wilde’s green carnation.  How could that be enhanced?  A miniature peacock, perhaps, that sang like a nightingale?  A miniature elephant which was really a cat, and so swatted at its nose with its feet?  What about that swearing rabbit?  So who were the people that would create such things?  And why?  What sort of world was it, I wondered, where science had been embraced by the dandies?  And the truth is, it was our world.  Oscar Wilde himself said that “on the slavery of the machine the future of the world depends.”  We look back on Victorian London as trains and smokestacks and electricity, but it was art, too.  It was finding the perfect shade of dye and mechanical dancing girls.  Rube Goldberg was born in 1883.  He saw it all around him.  That’s what I wanted to see, too. 

So I decided to write it.  And about a hundred pages in, I looked up and said to no one in particular “I’m writing the literary equivalent of a Rube Goldberg Machine.”  And then I smiled and I went back to writing.

Thanks to Lev for the great post. I loved his take on Steampunk.



LEV AC ROSEN grew up in Manhattan. He attended Oberlin College and received his MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence. His work has been featured in Esopus Magazine and on various blogs including Tor.com. He lives in lower Manhattan.

Connect with Lev at his website

Giveaway

I have one paperback copy of All Men of Genius to give away, courtesy of Tor Publishing.

 

Rules:

• Must be 13+ years of age to enter.
• Must be have a US or Can mailing address.
• Must fill out the Rafflecopter form.

 

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{REVIEW} RIVER ROAD (SENTINELS OF NEW ORLEANS #2) by SUZANNE JOHNSON

Series: Sentinels of New Orleans #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Date: 11/13/12
Format: ARC
Pages: 330
Source: Provided by author for review.

Hurricane Katrina is long gone, but the preternatural storm rages on in New Orleans. New species from the Beyond moved into Louisiana after the hurricane destroyed the borders between worlds, and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the preternaturals peaceful and the humans unaware. But a war is brewing between two clans of Cajun merpeople in Plaquemines Parish, and down in the swamp, DJ learns, there’s more stirring than angry mermen and the threat of a were-gator.

Wizards are dying, and something—or someone—from the Beyond is poisoning the waters of the mighty Mississippi, threatening the humans who live and work along the river. DJ and Alex must figure out what unearthly source is contaminating the water and who—or what—is killing the wizards. Is it a malcontented merman, the naughty nymph, or some other critter altogether? After all, DJ’s undead suitor, the pirate Jean Lafitte, knows his way around a body or two.

It’s anything but smooth sailing on the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans series continues.

 

 

Magic, Murder, and Mayhem

 

River Road is the fantastic second installment in the Sentinels of New Orleans series by Suzanne Johnson. The first in the series, Royal Street, is a book that I really liked. But River Road is where I fall in love with this imaginative Urban Fantasy series.

I think what makes River Road so special for me was that it was FUN. The world has been established, the characters are known, and life in post-Katrina New Orleans is interesting to say the least. I love Johnson's pretes; you have loup garou, shifters, nymphs, were gators, mer people, and my personal favorite, the historical undead. The historical undead aren't ghosts, but are real historical figures, kept "alive" through memory.

 The most prevalent of the Historical Undead, in this series, is Jean Lafitte, a 18th century "privateer" (ie, pirate). And though Jean Lafitte is long-dead, he is one of the three men who drive our heroine Drusilla "DJ" Jaco up the wall. The other two men being Alex and Jake Warin. Alex is DJ's partner, which makes him off-limits, for now. Jake is Alex's sexy, sweet, and slightly dangerous cousin. The sexual chemistry that DJ has with each man, yes even the undead Jean, makes River Road so much fun.

But, these three men, and DJ's potential relationship with each, is not the focus of River Road. DJ takes her job seriously and though she sometimes stumbles, she is good at it. Her dedication is admirable. She has become more confident in her abilities and is no longer one to let her superiors walk all over her. DJ has turned into a full-blown, take control, urban fantasy heroine.

River Road kicked off to a fun start, quickly developed into supernatural mystery, and kept me hanging on the entire time. The story ended with a strong finish and the last line left me dying for book three. The Sentinels of New Orleans is a series that will surely be loved by all Urban Fantasy fans.




Favorite Quotes:


" 'Jean Lafitte can use a telephone now. God help us.' The man was learning his way around the modern world entirely too well. Driving, taking showers and now making phone calls. He'd probably even learned to turn on his lamp." (ARC, pg 131)


  "His hand brushed my wet cheek. I'd planned to get in his head and somehow, instead, he'd gotten in mine. 'I'm sorry,' he said. 'You just don't seem to understand that this isn't a one-sided thing with us. I don't want to lose you either. Not because you've put yourself in danger protecting me or because of the shitty baggage you drag around from your screwed-up family.' He paused a heartbeat. 'And not because of Jake.' "   (ARC, pg 233)



You can purchase River Road at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

 

Sentinels of New Orleans Series

(click on cover to see my review)

Review ~ EARTHSEED (Seed #1) by Pamela Sargent

The classic YA science fiction adventure by Nebula and Locus Award–winning author Pamela Sargent The ship hurtles through space. Deep within its core, it carries the seed of humankind. Launched by the people of a dying Earth over a century ago, its mission is to find a habitable world for the children—fifteen-year-old Zoheret and her shipmates—whom it has created from its genetic banks. To Zoheret and her shipmates, Ship has been mother, father, and loving teacher, preparing them for their biggest challenge: to survive on their own, on an uninhabited planet, without Ship’s protection. Now that day is almost upon them...but are they ready to leave Ship? Ship devises a test. And suddenly, instincts that have been latent for over a hundred years take over. Zoheret watches as friends become strangers—and enemies. Can Zoheret and her companions overcome the biggest obstacle to the survival of the human race—themselves? ~From GoodReads

Set on a spaceship built upon an asteroid traveling the galaxies towards a new home, EARTHSEED is not quite what I expected. Thankfully. I was curious about it, namely because a film based on the series is in the works. I honestly didn't expect to like it much. I've been bitten by my expectations in regards to similar books.

The first portion of the book was exactly what I expected. Sent as the hope for humanity, Ship is carrying teens to a new home. Zoheret and her companions are becoming eager to reach their new planet. In preparation, they begin spending more time in The Hollow, basically a forest setting. The harsh setting of The Hollow begins to bring out the survival instincts in the teens. Some more than others. When the kids begin to make shattering discoveries, they soon discover that nothing is what it seems.

So when the story took a turn for the unexpected, I was hooked. As the teens work and compete to survive The Hollow, I became a great deal more interested. Then the unexpected begins to happen, over and over. The revelations, betrayals, the ramped up atmosphere and the lethal nature of some of the teens was astonishing.

My only true qualm with the book would be my lack of connection to main character Zoheret. She's just not a warm person. I think the third person point of view may have contributed to her distance. And the fact that she was raised my a computer. I just didn't feel her, despite liking her well enough.

Here's how I described EARTHSEED to my friend, April: It's ACROSS THE GALAXY meets LOST meets LORD OF THE FLIES. Sounds crazy and confusing, right? Somehow, it works. The ending was sad and dramatic and set up book two, FARSEED, nicely.


Favorite Quote:

" 'Who are you?' Zoheret said.
His eyes widened in fear; they were dark eyes, not blue like Dimitri's. 'The others,' he said. 'You must be the others.' " (pg 128)


 
Published February 28th 2012 by Tom Doherty Associates

You can purchase EARTHSEED at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository


Source: Received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.

KID'S REVIEW FOR A KID'S BOOK + GIVEAWAY ~ BATMAN: SUPER-VILLAINS STRIKE: CHOOSE YOUR FATE ADVENTURE BOOK

Hi! Today I am so, so excited to have a guest reviewer. My helper is my son, Wyatt! Wyatt has just finished kindergarten. He is a little on the young side for this book, but since he reads at the third grade level (!), I thought he could help me out and tell me what a real kid thinks of this cool Choose Your Adventure Book. We also are thrilled to be hosting a giveaway on behalf of the publisher. Tor's publicist, Leah, is generously giving away FIVE copies of this book. So check out what my little man thinks of the book, then enter the giveaway.

Batman’s instincts tell him that Catwoman, The Riddler, Mr. Freeze, and Poison Ivy are all involved. But how could that be? They are all behind bars at Arkham Asylum. Batman knows these super-villains would never agree to work together…or would they? Is a copycat criminal to blame? How could one person be in all these places at once? Follow the clues with Batman and then make your own choices for how the story will go. Can you help Batman solve this mystery? Will you be able to put the criminal—or criminals—behind bars and save Gotham City from chaos? These DC Super Hero “interactive” stories will incorporate fabulous DC art along with puzzles and games to guide the reader through multiple outcomes of the story. The puzzles and games will appear at random chapter endings providing clues to help the reader decide where to go next. Familiar interactive elements, for readers otherwise absorbed with online games and other digital devices, these original concept books will add a new level of excitement and challenge for the reader. ~From GoodReads

When this book came my way, I wasn't quite sure what to do with it. But my nieces and nephews happened to be visiting and they, along with my son, went nuts for BATMAN: SUPER-VILLAINS STRIKE. Seeing their reaction gave me the idea to not look at this from an adult reader's perspective, but to go through it with someone in the target audience. Seeing the book through his eyes gave me a new perspective and an appreciation as a mom.

The book is filled with puzzles, mazes, codes. For a kid like mine who loves any type of puzzle, the book was a win. And with the book being a "choose your own adventure", with two options at each chapter's end, the possibilities are endless. This is the perfect summer book for the kids. I would also suggest it for a car trip, a rainy day, or just whenever!
Thanks to Leah at Tor for the opportunity to share this book with my son. We had a great time!


Published April 24th 2012 by Tom Doherty Associates

You can purchase BATMAN:SUPER-VILLAINS STRIKE at:
Barnes&Noble  |  Book Depository  |  Amazon


Source: Received from publisher for review.

Giveaway

Tor Publishing is giving away FIVE copies of the book.

The rules:

• Must have a US Resident mailing address.
• Must be 13+ years of age to enter.

To enter: Leave your name and email address in the comments. I will randomly choose five winners using either Random.org or my favorite method, Twitter!

Thanks and good luck!

Review ~ ROYAL STREET (Sentinels of New Orleans, #1) by Suzanne Johnson

As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco’s job involves a lot more potion-mixing and pixie-retrieval than sniffing out supernatural bad guys like rogue vampires and lethal were-creatures. DJ's boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond.

Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans’ fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters.

While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering soldiers sent to help the city recover.

To make it worse, Gerald St. Simon has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ’s new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and the killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.                    ~From GoodReads

Set in New Orleans in the days preceding Hurricane Katrina, and the tumultuous weeks after, ROYAL STREET is the story of  Drusilla "DJ" Jaco. DJ, a Green Congress wizard, is charged with helping to protect modern day New Orleans from the Beyond. What lies in the Beyond? Vampires, Weres, Elves, the Historical Undead...All who are itching to cross over. When Hurricane Katrina forces a breach in the borders, and DJ's mentor, Gerry goes missing, she'll find out is she's ready to take on the preternatural bad boys, or die trying.

Oh, how I love a great Urban Fantasy. I'm always amazed when an author can create a world all his/her own. Suzanne Johnson is no exception. And though I thoroughly enjoyed many elements of ROYAL STREET, I have to give major props for the world-building. Johnson's brand of wizard was well developed, interesting and not terribly complicated. Hurricane Katrina was a horrible time for Louisiana, especially the New Orleans area. But to take such devastation and create a series around it's havoc was brilliant. New Orleans is an easy pick, with it's rich, decadent heritage. And it is hip deep in the "historical dead", my new favorite type of supernatural being.

For example, Jean Lafitte, a historically famous pirate. ROYAL STREET opens with DJ and Jean facing off in the bayou. He's a freaking riot, maybe my favorite character in the book. He's handsome, possesses a wicked charm, and is dead sexy. Even though he would probably feed DJ to the gators if it served him well, I couldn't help but smile every time that bad boy showed back up. The fact that I'm gushing over Jean instead of the main character should tell you how much I liked him.

Speaking of main characters, I really liked DJ. Her dialogue, verbal but especially internal, was funny, a tad snarky, and sincere. DJ's a tough, brave chick. She does tend to let her heart rule her head, sometimes a bit too much, but I have to admire a girl with so much loyalty and courage. There were a few times I wanted her to take a beat and thinks things through a bit more. But who wants a completely perfect, obedient heroine? Boring!

DJ has a hot, slightly brooding, more than capable partner in Alex Warin. Sa-woon. I mean, sure, Alex is a bit on the quiet side, and yeah, he's a tad secretive. But when he begins to open up...I don't know how DJ can stand staying in the "Just Partners Zone". Alex's cousin, Jake, though, offers a nice alternative. Jake is open, funny, and sexy as heck. Better yet, he's not DJ's partner. The chemistry between DJ/Alex and DJ/Jake was perfect. And even though it never turned into a true triangle, you can just see an emotional storm brewing on the horizon. Either way, DJ can't possibly make a wrong choice.

As much as I enjoyed ROYAL STREET, I did get into a bit of a lull throughout the middle portion of the story. There was lots of talking and plan making about finding Gerry and protecting the wards, but not a lot of actual action going on. It felt like a long, slow build-up to the big confrontation. But once we got there? Wow. What a great, action and emotionally-packed ending. I had no idea what would happen. Johnson ended the story with some resolution, and a super set-up for book two in the series, RIVER ROAD, due out in November.  I've already added it to my to-read list.

Favorite Quote:

" ' I know you think I'm hot.' Then the grin faded. 'Of course, you think Jake's hot, too, and Jean Lafitte, who's not even alive. You're really screwed up, you know that?' " (pg. 167)

Paperback, 336 pages

Published April 10th 2012 by Tom Doherty Associates

You can purchase ROYAL STREET at:
Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository  |  Amazon


Source: Received from publisher for review.

IN MY MAILBOX, #35 {I got SHINE!!} + A Cover Reveal

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a great way to put a spotlight on books received during the past week.

Books Mentioned:
Callum and Harper by Fisher Amelie
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
Shine (Shade #3) by Jeri Smith-Ready
Soul Screamers Vol 1
Royal Street (Sentinels of New Orleans, #1) by Suzanne Johnson
Golden Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy #1) by Melissa Pearl
Indulge (Warm Delicacy, #2) by Megan Duncan
Soul Kissed, by Courtney Cole
Beautiful Demons (Peachville High Demons, #1) by Sarra Cannon
Whisper, by Heather Hildenbrand


Awesome People:
Autumn at Autumn Review
Southern Book Bloggers
Jeri Smith-Ready
Simon Pulse
Rachel Vincent
Tor Publishing
Melissa Pearl

Cover Reveal

The Cherokee believe when a person dies, their soul is reborn. Life is repeated. An endless cycle of lessons to be learned, love to be found, destiny to be fulfilled. For the past six months, in every flower, every bird, I’ve imagined my parents, relieved of their human forms. Now, after five months at the Skye View Wellness Center, it was summer. A time for parties and friends, but that’s the last thing I want to do. So when my best friend Erin convinces me to attend a bonfire at Eagle Point, I can’t handle the crowd full of sympathetic stares or drunken class clowns who would use my tragedy as a way into my heart – or my pants. The solitude of the woods offers an escape, until I stumble upon a boy, unconscious and bleeding, his pockets stuffed not with identification but with poetry illustrating the beauty of dying. I’ve seen enough death. I will not leave this boy’s side. Even after he wakes, when the only thing he can remember are visions of events that haven’t happened yet…

 Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!

In My Mailbox, #23 {vlog}

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a great way to put a spotlight on books received during the past week.

If any of you watched this, "Sorry" and "Thank you".

For Review:

The Mayfair Moon, by JA Redmerski (Thanks to the author.)

The Haunted (MacKinnon Curse, #2), by JA Templeton (Thanks to to author.)

Shift (The Protector, #2), by MR Merrick (Thanks to the author.)

Royal Street (The Sentinels of New Orleans, #1) by Suzanne Johnson (Thanks to Tor Pub.)

The Guardian's Wildchild, by Feather Stone (Thanks to Omnific Publishing.)

Borrowed:

Fracture, by Megan Miranda (Thanks to Jessica Naccari.)

Trade:

What Happened to Goodbye, by Sarah Dessen

Bought:

Breathe, by Abbi Glines

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to leave a link so I can check out your mailbox.

Mini Review ~ Laddertop, Volume 1 by Orson Scott Card, Emily Janice Card, Honoel A. Ibardolaza

An original science fiction manga by the bestselling author of Ender’s Game and his daughter


Twenty-five years ago, the alien Givers came to Earth. They gave the human race the greatest technology ever seen— four giant towers known as Ladders that rise 36,000 miles into space and culminate in space stations that power the entire planet. Then, for reasons unknown, the Givers disappeared. Due to the unique alien construction of the Laddertop space stations, only a skilled crew of children can perform the maintenance necessary to keep the stations up and running.

Back on Earth, competition is fierce to enter Laddertop Academy. It is an honor few students will achieve. Robbi and Azure, two eleven-year-old girls who are the best of friends, are candidates for the Academy. They will become entangled in a dangerous mystery that may help them solve the riddle of the Givers...if it doesn’t destroy the Earth first!

(From GoodReads)

I am no comic book/manga/gamer/sci-fi expert. At all. My comic book experience only goes back to the Archie comics and Garfield comic books.  So I don't know if I am especially qualified to review this book on a technical level. I don't know the lingo or definitions of what makes a book a comic or a graphic novel, or a manga. But I do know what I like and I'll base this mini-review on that.

When I started reading, I thought I would be lost. I felt the synopsis gave me enough of a base to go on and it did. I was able to immediately jump into the story. The illustrations were beautiful and did a fabulous job of telling the story, the characters were fun, and the story was interesting.

The actual reading time spent on Laddertop was one to two hours, tops. That speedy reading time made it a nice little palate cleanser, which isn't to say there was anything wrong with the book, only that it served as a change of pace for me.

Like I said, I'm not an expert on this genre, but if you enjoy a lively fast-paced story, Laddertop would surely fit that bill.

Paperback, 192 pages

Published September 27th 2011 by Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC

You can purchase Laddertop at:

 Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  Book Depository

*I received a copy of Laddertop from Tor Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.*

Giveaway ~ Awakenings by Edward

I have a great giveaway for you!  I have a copy of

Awakenings by Edward Lazellari, courtesy of Tor Publishing.

Cal MacDonnell is a happily married New York City cop with a loving family. Seth Raincrest is a washed-up photographer who has alienated even his closest friends. The two have nothing in common—except that they both suffer from retrograde amnesia. It’s as if they just appeared out of thin air thirteen years ago, and nothing has been able to restore their memories. Now their forgotten past has caught up to them with a vengeance.

Cal's and Seth’s lives are turned upside down as they are stalked by otherworldly beings who know about the men's past lives. But these creatures aren't here to help; they're intent on killing anyone who gets in their way. In the balance hangs the life of a child who might someday restore a broken empire to peace and prosperity. With no clue why they're being hunted, Cal and Seth must accept the aid of a strange and beautiful woman who has promised to unlock their secrets. The two must stay alive long enough to protect their loved ones, recover their true selves—and save two worlds from tyranny and destruction. (From GoodReads)

The Rules ~

• Must be 13+ years of age to enter.
• Must be a resident of US/Can (if you are International & have a US/Can addressee who will accept the book on your behalf, that's fine).
• Following is not required.
• Giveaway will end Monday, December 5, 2011 at 11:59 pm.

Just fill out the form and you're good to go.
Good Luck!

The winner is:

Ashlynn W.

Congratulations to Ashlynn. I have already contacted Ashlynn, if she does not respond within 48 hours, I will choose a new winner.

Review & Giveaway ~ Among Others, by Jo Walton

Startling, unusual, and yet irresistably readable, Among Others is at once the compelling story of a young woman struggling to escape a troubled childhood, a brilliant diary of first encounters with the great novels of modern fantasy and SF, and a spellbinding tale of escape from ancient enchantment.

Raised by a half-mad mother who dabbled in magic, Morwenna Phelps found refuge in two worlds. As a child growing up in Wales, she played among the spirits who made their homes in industrial ruins. But her mind found freedom and promise in the science fiction novels that were her closest companions. Then her mother tried to bend the spirits to dark ends, and Mori was forced to confront her in a magical battle that left her crippled--and her twin sister dead.

Fleeing to her father whom she barely knew, Mori was sent to boarding school in England–a place all but devoid of true magic. There, outcast and alone, she tempted fate by doing magic herself, in an attempt to find a circle of like-minded friends. But her magic also drew the attention of her mother, bringing about a reckoning that could no longer be put off…

Combining elements of autobiography with flights of imagination in the manner of novels like Jonathan Lethem’s The Fortress of Solitude, this is potentially a breakout book for an author whose genius has already been hailed by peers like Kelly Link, Sarah Weinman, and Ursula K. Le Guin. (From GoodReads)

I'm not sure exactly how I feel about Among Others. On one hand, it's a unflinchingly honest account of a young, troubled girl's life. It's the story of the changes that occur in a brief, but important period in her life. On the other, she has a mother who deals in "bad magic" and she sees fairies. Morwenna herself does a small bit of magic. If this had been simply a coming-of-age story or a story about magic, I think I could have been a little more on board with Among Others. The two worlds just didn't seem to mesh well, in my opinion.

I was slightly thrown off course from the very beginning of the book. The opening gave a vague sense of what had happened to lead Morwenna to her circumstances, but I felt that I needed more to be invested. For at least the first half of the story, you know her mom is evil and her sister has died, but the story-telling was very cryptic. I suppose maybe that was to give Morwenna a chance to be ready to tell her story, which is fine. But I needed more to go on.

While I wasn't bowled over by the bulk of the story, one aspect really struck me. Among Others, above all else, is a story about the magic and transformative power of books. A young girl, damaged by a crazy mother, sent away to school,  seeks refuge in books. They lead her to friendship, peace and happiness. In that respect, Among Others is a treat for those who have an enormous love of books. That in itself made it a worthwhile read for me.

Favorite Quote ~

"It doesn't matter. I have books, new books, and I can bear anything as long as there are books."

Hardcover, 302 pages

Published January 18th 2011 by Tor Books

You can find Among Others at:

GoodReads  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  Book Depository

* I received Among Others from Tor Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.*


I'm am going to give my copy of Among Others away so someone else can enjoy it. Just fill out the form below.

The winner of Among Others is Christina M!

Congrats to Christina! Thanks to all who entered.