Cover Reveal: Orenda by Ruth Silver

Written By: Kellie - Jan• 11•14

Orenda

Title: Orenda
Author: Ruth Silver
Expected Publication: Spring 2014
Publisher: Patchwork Press
Cover Design: Erica Crouch
Genre: YA, Fantasy

Synopsis:
A sword wielding girl, an eternal suit and an alternate universe.

Lil has a gift, one she never thought possible as she finds herself awake after a strange dream with the tell-tale sign that what she dreamt was in fact real. The dreamscape, was more than just a premonition it happened. She’d been momentarily tossed into another dimension. Where most would consider her crazy, not her best friend Bray.

In another reality, one similar and yet slightly different Willow has been kidnapped by the sorceress turned demon, Eilith. Rawlie, Willow’s friend and companion crosses to our universe for help and brings Lil into his world. Filled with frightening creatures and magical elements, Lil demands to go home, until she discovers Bray has been taken by Eilith as well. Unable to watch her best friend die, she joins forces with Rawlie, Jamie and the others to hunt down Eilith and rescue those they care about.

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Review: Flame by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Written By: Kellie - Jan• 07•14

flame

Series: Sjy Chasers, #3
Publisher:  St. Martin’s Griffin
Publish Date: January 7t, 2014
Source: ARC
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 – A great finish to a wonderful sci-fi series.

About the bookIn the thrilling conclusion to the Sky Chasers series Waverly, Kieran, and Seth struggle to survive on-board the New Horizon—and take down their enemies before it’s too late.

Waverly and the other members of the Empyrean have scattered, and their home ship has been destroyed. Their mission to rescue their parents didn’t go as planned, and now they’re at an even greater disadvantage: trapped with their enemies on the New Horizon, trying to find a way to survive. Kieran has been pulled under Anne Mather’s wing, but is she really trying to make peace, or just using Kieran to build her own power? Meanwhile, Waverly is taken in by a mysterious old man who wants to help her bring Anne Mather down—but the more Waverly cooperates with him, the more dangerous her position is, and the more at odds with Kieran she becomes.

Seth’s situation is even worse. After setting out from the Empyrean on his own, with only a vague strategy to guide him, he is a fugitive aboard the New Horizon. He’s doing what he can to challenge the power of Anne Mather, but he’s badly hurt, and getting sicker.

Will Seth ever see Waverly again? Will his health hold out long enough to help her topple their enemies? And will Waverly find a way to unite with her friends before they all fall? Nothing is sure and every moment is a risk in this explosive finale of the Sky Chasers series. -Goodreads

Thoughts: Aww, man. I’m really going to miss this series. I feel like I waited forever for the final installment of The Sky Chasers series, but now I’m just sad it’s over. If you’re looking for something to fill the spaceship sized hole in your heart after the Across the Universe series, I definitely recommend this series–I actually prefer it to Beth Revis’ series (which is great too). This trilogy offers a great mix of dynamic characters, politics and well, spaceships. This entire series mainly focuses on the relationship between two massive spaceships on their way to New Earth. One is more religiously motivated, and the other more scientific. I know that premise can be a little off-putting for some people, but it’s actually pretty interesting and the other plot elements will definitely keep you turning the page to find out what happens next.

If you’re reading this review, I’ll go ahead and assume you read the first two books which saw one of the spaceships getting all but destroyed (even AFTER most of the adults aboard had been killed, leaving the teenagers to make decisions in standard YA fashion). After the end of book two, there were definitely a lot of question marks about what was coming next for Kieran, Seth and Waverly (love the name). So… onwards! This book has some deliciously infuriating bad guys (think along the lines of Professor Umbridge) that make you want to throw heavy objects around the room. Waverly has to put up with a lot of crap, and things aren’t much easier for Kieran or Seth (okay, maybe they’re a bit easier for Kieran *angry fist shake*.) This book is anything but predictable, and actually managed to pull me out of a small reading slump.

Thankfully, Flame manages to totally pull away from the love triangle between the three main characters and the story is definitely better off for it. There’s too much other stuff going on to worry about who is making kissy faces at each other. Don’t worry, there’s still some of that stuff and I have zero complaints. We also get everything else both relationship and political wrapped up nicely in a bow in a short epilogue. I have lotttss I want to say about that, but it’s next to impossible to do without giving things away.

Overall, if you like space operas and the like, I’d definitely recommend checking out the Sky Chasers series, especially now that it’s all wrapped up.

You can read my review of book one, Glow here –http://www.reviews.snarkybooks.com/2012/01/14/glow-amy-kathleen-ryan/– and of book two, Spark, here –http://www.reviews.snarkybooks.com/2012/07/23/spark-amy-kathleen-ryan-2/

Purchase Sky Chasers:
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Second Opinions:
@Imaginary Reads

Bout of Books 9.0 Signup and Goals

Written By: Kellie - Jan• 06•14

bobheader2

Seeing as I’m actually in the process of getting sick (or my luck could turn around, there’s still time!) this seems like the perfect time for a bout of books. Bout of Books is a readathon that happens three times a year. I try to take part whenever I can, but the new years one is always top of my list since it offers a great excuse to make a solid dent in my reading goals for the year. So consider me signed up!

Official blurb: The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

So… what are my goals this time around? Well, a full week of reading means I have room to get at least a little ambitious. My main focus will be finishing up some of the books I already have on the go from 2013 (I tend to read A LOT of books at a time).

1. Finish the Clockwork Princess audiobook (about six hours to go)
2. Finish Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam
3. Finish one other review book
4. Finish one of the three rereads I’m hoping to get to this month (Poison Princess, The Testing and Born Wicked)
5. Read one of my January TBR books (you can check that out here)

So that’s three full novels, and two partial novels. I can totally do that! The trick is doing that and also managing to keep up with my writing this week, but hey, I’m forever an optimist. I’ll also probably be reading the prequel ebook for Dorothy Must Die, which I’m really looking forward to.

Time to get started!

Update – 1/08
My progress is a little lacking so far. I’ve made a dent in both Elusion and the Clockwork Princess audiobook, as well as a third random book I have on the go but didn’t list above… but haven’t actually finished anything yet. Today will be the day! I can feel it!

Update 1/09
Finally finished a book (Elusion) by staying up waayyy too late.

Update 1/10
Finished Tiger Lily (January TBR book) and lovveedd it!

Review: Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards

Written By: Kellie - Jan• 04•14

six months later

Publisher:  Sourcebooks Fire
Publish Date: October 1st, 2013
Source: ARC
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 – The best YA thriller/mystery I’ve read in a long time.

About the book: Chloe didn’t think about it much when she nodded off in study hall on that sleepy summer day. But when she wakes up, snow is on the ground and she can’t remember the last six months of her life. Before, she’d been a mediocre student. Now, she’s on track for valedictorian and being recruited by Ivy League schools. Before, she never had a chance with super jock Blake. Now he’s her boyfriend. Before, she and Maggie were inseparable. Now her best friend won’t speak to her.

What happened to her? 
And why can’t she remember?
-Goodreads

Thoughts: Where are all the YA mysteries? Seriously, with all the romances floating around, you’d think there would be a few more thrillers out there to even the odds. Six Months Later offered up a great change of pace from most of the big title YA books out there right now, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out to see what Natalie Richards comes out with next. Definitely recommended.

The book starts out reading as a pretty standard contemporary–and then the main character, Chloe, falls asleep. Six months later, she wakes up. Well, sort of. She goes through six months of her life, she just doesn’t remember what happened. Prepare to be pretty confused at first, as Chloe tries to figure out what’s going on. Then frustrated as her parents don’t take her seriously (but at least she tries to tell them… big plus for parental interaction).

When Chloe wakes up “six months later” everything about her life has changed. She’s popular, she’s succeeding in school, and her best friend refuses to talk to her. Plus there’s that pesky memory loss issue. There’s a lot of stuff to work through. Through most of the book, it’s really difficult to remember how past Chloe managed to become now-Chloe, but the mystery itself is really interesting, especially as more characters (therapist, parents, two different boys) start coming into the picture. So many questions! Natalie Richards does a great job of weaving various bits of information into the plot while still keeping the characters both interesting and genuine.

If any of you have recommendations for other YA mysteries, please let me know. I’ve never been a fan of the adult version of the genre, but I’d love to read more like this.

Purchase Six Months Later
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Second Opinions
@Nick’s Book Blog
@Book Swoon
@Rainy Day Ramblings

 

January TBR Book Jar Selections

Written By: Kellie - Jan• 03•14

For my last WordNerds video (as in the last one I did, not the last one I’ll ever do) I put together a 2014 TBR Book Jar (which you can check out here). Basically I wrote down 33 titles (I was originally aiming for 36, but left it open to add more in during the year) that I had sitting on my shelves that I hadn’t gotten around to reading yet. You know, those books that you WANT to read but that you just never seem to find the time for. I have WAY too many of those, and yet always seem to be bringing more books home. It’s a problem–a problem I plan on fixing in 2014! Each month, I’ll be drawing three titles out of my book jar to read during that month.

At first I figured I’d draw one at a time as I felt like it, but I’m now thinking knowing all three at the beginning of the month might help avoid instances of “but I don’t wannnna read that right now”. Planning ahead FTW!

This month’s titles…

ruby redtiger lilysea of monsters

My favorite things of 2013

Written By: Kellie - Dec• 31•13

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, what a year?! Seriously, it has been absolutely crazy and wonderful. I’m equally sad to see 2013 go and excited to see what 2014 will bring. 2013 also brought some new favorite things (a.k.a. obsessions) into my life. To cap off the year, I just wanted to take a few minutes to share with the class while I reminise about all the things I fell in love with this year.

In no particular order…

reign1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
I’ve talked about this book a lot and I’m sure I will continue to do so in 2014 (I’ve already got the audiobook ready to go). This is one of the few books I can point to as a piece of literature that truly had an impact on me beyond finishing the book. Completely wonderful and I’m looking forward to finally reading Elenor & Park in 2014.

2. New to me TV shows that are already done–Being Erica, and Friday Night Lights
These two shows were already finished by the time I fell in love with them, but I fell for them all the same. HARD. I devoured all four seasons of Being Erica on NetFlix during the summer and then bought the DVDs right away because I knew there would be many rewatches in my future. It’s about a Canadian woman who is perpetually single and underemployed who has the chance to go back in time and fix her regrets, while also slowly working towards a career in publishing. Right up my alley. Friday Night Lights is a more recent love as we got my mom the complete series for Christmas, but we’re already part way through season two. Two words, Tim Riggins. Yum.

3. Publishing
Obviously, this was a big one for me. I published a short story collection, a novel, and a novella in 2013 and had so much fun with the whole experience. This is something I have every intention of continuing to work towards in 2014. The ideas are already coming full speed.

REIGN

4. Reign
My favorite NEW show of 2013. A “historical drama” (this term is used VERY loosely here) on the CW that is my new obsession. Following the dramatically altered story of Mary Queen of Scots, this show has all the makings of a great teen drama. Only half a season in and I’m hooked. If you aren’t watching this already, you totally should because I’ll be heartbroken if it isn’t picked up for a second season.

5. More new favorite books
2013 was the first year I read a bunch of FANTASTIC books. Just One Day, For Darkness Shows the Stars, Cinder, These Broken Stars and a slew of other new favorites. *sigh* Aren’t books great?

6. Starting Patchwork Press
Erica Crouch and I decided to start up a small press/indie publishing collective back in April, and the results have already been more incredible than either of us guessed. We’ve since added three more authors to our ranks, and we’ve got lots of epic publishing adventures in store for next year. Self-publishing can be a lonley experience, so having other authors there to cheer each other on has made a big difference for me.

1383337_1437369966489253_483038589_a7. Starting the YA WordNerds
A few months ago I adutioned to become a member of the YA Rebels and didn’t make the cut. That ended up being one of the best things to happen to me in 2013! Along with some other YA readers and writers, I started up a new YouTube channel and the WordNerds were born. Now I have my foot into YouTube and three amazing new bookish friends (counting Erin and Erica as preestablished bookish friends). Our live Sunday night chat is my new favorite part of the week.

8. New to me ongoing shows–Community and The Vampire Diaries
Why was I not watching these shows for the past few years?! Both The Vampire Diaries and Community are just amazeballs! I don’t even want to admit how quickly I went through the first four seasons of both once I figured out how madly in love with them I was. I tried TVD awhile ago but couldn’t get into it. Now… I can’t get OUT of it. Also… Steven R. McQueen.

9. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (movie)
I was so impressed with the newest YA book to movie adaptation that I saw it twice in a week. Catching Fire is my favorite book in the trilogy so I was a little nervous, but I left the theatre feeling beyond satisfied. The movie captured everything I loved about the book while also offering up some new favorite moments for me to obsess over until Mockingjay Part 1 come sout next year.

10. Lots of wonderful new music
This year I feel COMPLETELY in love with Bastille (for any writers out there, check out Poet). I also developed a new obsession for The Lumineers and Imagine Dragons, while also enjoying new stuff from Pentatonix, Walk Off the Earth and some of my other favorite YouTubers.

A brief break for the holidays!!

Written By: Kellie - Dec• 12•13

Hello, hello!
Just a heads up that I’ll be taking a couple of weeks off as things get kind of crazy over Christmas and New Years.

Also, I am wellllll aware how behind I am on reviews and will be playing catchup first thing in the new year with reviews for some really, really wonderful books that I’ve been lucky enough to read lately.

Upcoming Book Reviews…
– Six Months Later
– Sea of Shadows
– The Here and Now
– The Naturals
– Elusion
– Flame
– Cress
– Tin Star
– Relic
– Avalon

I’ll be back January 1st to kick off a very, VERY bookish 2014!

Review: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Written By: Kellie - Dec• 11•13

crash into you

Series: Pushing the Limits, #3
Publisher:  Harlequine Teen
Publish Date: November 26th, 2013
Source: ARC
Goodreads

Rating: 3.5/5 – Another fantastic love story, but there wasn’t anything here that surprised me

About the bookFrom acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that’s who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers…and she’s just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can’t get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they’ll go to save each other. – Goodreads

Thoughts: I’m always happy to jump back into the wonderful love stories that Katie McGarry creates with her Pushing the Limits series. You can always count on her for both a passionate love story and some sincere emotional intensity. With book number three, she definitely doesn’t let us down. I loved reading about Isaiah and Rachel!

I especially enjoyed Rachel’s backstory and family dynamic. She’s the baby of the family, and because of their history, all of her brothers are insanely overprotective. We definitely need more stories with complex family dynamics! I would have liked to see a little more from her apart from her family…friends, interests besides cars, all that fun stuff. Isaiah was great, as always, but I feel like I’ve known him for so long now that I didn’t really feel like I got anything really new from him. But it was still nice to see him fall in love!

Cars are a big part of this story as well. Which, I’ll be honest, is something I know nothing about. Thankfully, the added element didn’t bog down the story at all, and I actually thought it was a lot of fun. Romance you actually learn something from. Go figure. Still loving this series and I can’t wait to see who’s romance Katie McGarry jumps into yet.

If you’re a fan of contemporary YA, this author is a must read. She’s one of the big names in this genre for me, and for good reason. I’d suggest starting with Pushing the Limits which tells the story of Echo and Noah (Isaiah’s foster brother), since it’s still the best book of the series, but no matter which book you start with, you’re guarenteed to fall in love with this series.

Buy Crash Into You:
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @The Book Depository

Second Opinions:
@Forever17Books
@K-Books
@Sarah Reads Too Much

Promo – The Unfinished Song, Book One: Initiate, by Tara Maya

Written By: Kellie - Dec• 09•13

Initiate_cover

BLURB

DEADLY INITIATION

A DETERMINED GIRL…

Dindi can’t do anything right, maybe because she spends more time dancing with pixies than doing her chores. Her clan hopes to marry her off and settle her down, but she dreams of becoming a Tavaedi, one of the powerful warrior-dancers whose secret magics are revealed only to those who pass a mysterious Test during the Initiation ceremony. The problem? No-one in Dindi’s clan has ever passed the Test. Her grandmother died trying. But Dindi has a plan.

AN EXILED WARRIOR…

Kavio is the most powerful warrior-dancer in Faearth, but when he is exiled from the tribehold for a crime he didn’t commit, he decides to shed his old life. If roving cannibals and hexers don’t kill him first, this is his chance to escape the shadow of his father’s wars and his mother’s curse. But when he rescues a young Initiate girl, he finds himself drawn into as deadly a plot as any he left behind. He must decide whether to walk away or fight for her… assuming she would even accept the help of an exile.

LINKS

Tara’s blog http://bit.ly/12dFdNy

Tara’s Twitter http://bit.ly/162sCtE

The Unfinished Song on Facebook http://on.fb.me/1400mMq

Amazon http://amzn.to/15ciwYc

Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/13yM5Dr

Kobo http://bit.ly/1aFhg1P

iTunes http://bit.ly/1baddhN

Smashwords http://bit.ly/17zK8Xn

Initiate is free everywhere except on Barnes and Noble (where it’s $0.99). You can download a free .epub version via Smashwords.

Excerpt:

Blue-skinned rusalki grappled Dindi under the churning surface of the river. She could feel their claws dig into her arms. Their riverweed-like hair entangled her legs when she tried to kick back to the surface. She only managed to gulp a few breaths of air before they pulled her under again.

She hadn’t appreciated how fast and deep the river was. On her second gasp for air, she saw that the current was already dragging her out of sight of the screaming girls on the bank. A whirlpool of froth and fae roiled between two large rocks in the middle of the river. The rusalka and her sisters tugged Dindi toward it. Other water fae joined the rusalki. Long snouted pookas, turtle-like kappas and hairy-armed gwyllions all swam around her, leading her to the whirlpool, where even more fae swirled in the whitewater.

“Join our circle, Dindi!” the fae voices gurgled under the water. “Dance with us forever!”

“No!” She kicked and swam and stole another gasp for air before they snagged her again. There were so many of them now, all pulling her down, all singing to the tune of the rushing river. She tried to shout, “Dispel!” but swallowed water instead. Her head hit a rock, disorienting her. She sank, this time sure she wouldn’t be coming up again.

“Dispel!” It was a man’s voice.

Strong arms encircled her and lifted her until her arms and head broke the surface. Her rescuer swam with her toward the shore. He overpowered the current, he shrugged aside the hands of the water faeries stroking his hair and arms. When he reached the shallows, he scooped Dindi into his arms and carried her the rest of the way to the grassy bank. He set her down gently.

She coughed out some water while he supported her back.

“Better?” he asked.

She nodded. He was young–only a few years older than she. The aura of confidence and competence he radiated made him seem older. Without knowing quite why, she was certain he was a Tavaedi.

“Good.” He had a gorgeous smile. A wisp of his dark bangs dangled over one eye. He brushed his dripping hair back over his head.

Dindi’s hand touched skin–he was not wearing any shirt. Both of them were sopping wet. On him, that meant trickles of water coursed over a bedrock of muscle. As for her, the thin white wrap clung transparently to her body like a wet leaf. She blushed.

“It might have been easier to swim if you had let go of that,” he teased. He touched her hand, which was closed around something. “What were you holding onto so tightly that it mattered more than drowning?”

Blog Tour: A Grimm Legacy by Janna Jennings

Written By: Kellie - Dec• 08•13

I’ve got a very exciting one for you today! This is a book I am very, very proud to have worked on, and very much hope that you’ll all take the time to check out. If you’re a fan of Grimm’s fairytales, or the classic stories like the Narnia books, you won’t be able to put down A Grimm Legacy!

a grimm legacy

About the book: Enchanted castles and charming princes thought to exist only in stories come to life in this classically twisted fairy tale that combines the timeless quality of generations old folktales with the challenges of the modern world.

The woods of Elorium appear ordinary to Andi Grace, until birds start talking and elves answer doors. Along with three others, Andi has been whisked out of her world and finds herself the reluctant guest of the perplexing millionaire, Mr. Jackson—a stranger willing to help get them home, but who’s keeping secrets of his own.

Discovering unexpected family connections to this fairy tale land, the group must rely on each other as they dodge evil fairies and battle giants, intent on keeping them in Elorium.

Faced with characters short on whimsy and bent towards treachery, Andi, Quinn, Fredrick and Dylan are forced into fairy tale roles to find the way home. But in Elorium, happily ever after is never guaranteed.

Purchase this one for yourself!
@Amazon (US) @Amazon (CAN) @Barnes & Noble

Add A Grimm Legacy on Goodreads

Excerpt:

Andi barely heard her as she approached the mirror slowly. Gilded in tarnished silver, the oval six-foot monstrosity hung suspended in the middle of the room. She made a trip around, looking for what supported it.

“How’s it doing that?” Fredrick asked.

Andi faced her reflection, eerie in the lamplight, and tentatively touched the smooth surface. A clear tone rang out and the surface turned milky white.

“Tell me glass, tell me true,” Andi whispered.

Floating out of the white was a face with hair that blended into the background and ageless eyes that smiled out at them.

“It’s a woman,” Fredrick said. A bell-like laugh rang throughout the room. As it faded, the queen’s screaming stopped and they could hear the lock turn on her bedroom door.

“Candide.” The mirror woman’s voice was low and musical. “I wondered when I would see you. I know you must get tired of hearing it, but you look remarkably like your grandmother.”

Andi couldn’t smile back. “Please, can you get us home?”

The doorknob to the closet door rattled. Quinn threw herself on it and the boys added their weight to the door.

“I can. Do you have the shoes?” Andi held them up from where they hung on her fingers. “Place them on your feet. Make sure you’re touching anyone who wants to pass through.” Andi kicked off her boots, peeled off her socks, and stepped into the low heels. A shiver ran down her spine.

The door bucked under the onslaught of guards and Fredrick asked, “Andi?”

The woman in the mirror disappeared. In her place was the image of a dusty shop containing heavy furniture covered in miniature figurines, delicately painted china, rusty watering cans, and an assortment of tarnished silverware. Hundreds of cuckoo clocks dominated one wall, and indistinct mounds of clothing, furs, and wide brimmed hats balanced haphazardly on coat racks by the front door. A sliver of window revealed only pine trees and fog. Nothing looked familiar.

Andi raised an eyebrow at the others. Fredrick shrugged back at her. Shots sounded behind the door and the wood of the door squealed. Two bulges where the bullets hit the wood protruded just to the left of Dylan’s head.

“Time to go,” Dylan said, latching on to Andi’s hand. He reached for Quinn as she reached for Fredrick. The door flew open as they stumbled into the glass.

Another shot fired behind them. Andi felt the wake of the bullet as it buzzed past her head. The tip of her toe had barely touched the glass when the mirror exploded.