Blog Tour Review with Giveaway: The Lantern's Ember by Colleen Houck

Book info:

Title:  The Lantern's Ember 
Author:  Colleen Houck
Genre:  YA paranormal
Release Date:  September 11th, 2018
Publisher:  Delacorte Press
Source:  ARC received at ALA Summer 2018, which did not influence my opinions in any way.
My rating:  4 stars

Synopsis:

Welcome to a world where nightmarish creatures reign supreme.

Five hundred years ago, Jack made a deal with the devil. It’s difficult for him to remember much about his mortal days. So, he focuses on fulfilling his sentence as a Lantern—one of the watchmen who guard the portals to the Otherworld, a realm crawling with every nightmarish creature imaginable. Jack has spent centuries jumping from town to town, ensuring that nary a mortal—or not-so-mortal—soul slips past him. That is, until he meets beautiful Ember O’Dare. 

Seventeen, stubborn, and a natural-born witch, Ember feels a strong pull to the Otherworld. Undeterred by Jack’s warnings, she crosses into the forbidden plane with the help of a mysterious and debonair vampire—and the chase through a dazzling, dangerous world is on. Jack must do everything in his power to get Ember back where she belongs before both the earthly and unearthly worlds descend into chaos.

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, The Book Depository


 
My Review: 
This book was one of my unicorn ARCs to hopefully get when I attended ALA in New Orleans this past June, because I really enjoyed her other book that I'd read in the past.  Getting a hold of this one made my day. And when I finally picked it up to read, I was not disappointed!  Houck has created a beautiful world, or should I say, "Otherworld", with this story.  I loved how she wove in details of well-known fairy tales and legends, along with creating new background stories or even giving more life to characters only touched on with our modern day recountings of these legends and tales.  Not only did we get legends and fairy tales and monsters, but actual historical events were sprinkled throughout.  I always have been intrigued by the whole Roanoke Colony  mystery, and we got a unique new story for that.  And then there was a trip into the Salem witch trials that also got its own retelling.  

I mentioned that it was a beautiful world, and that was so much from the descriptions of this place, as well as the thought out mythology and unique takes on the creatures.  At times it was very much like a kind of Alice in Wonderland world, but with witches and vampires and the boogeyman.  Then there was Jack, a Lantern, as in Jack-o-Lantern, or even might call him the Headless Horseman.  While I've read other tales that may have given you a bit of sympathy for this person, I fell in love with Jack in this book, and wished that he could actually be with his Ember, the witch who everyone seemed to be after.  Another point in the book I felt as if it was reminiscent of Wizard of Oz, and I was on the edge of my seat as I read, waiting to find out who was this "man behind the curtain" going to really turn out to be.  There were little clues sprinkled throughout the story, but it all went in a pretty unique way that I was kept hanging on and wondering until it was all wrapped up very neatly.  

A great new paranormal, fantastical fairy tale retelling that I will be recommending to customers at the store where I work, and purchasing for the students at my library.

About the Author:
 

New York Times Bestselling author Colleen Houck is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, paranormal, science fiction, and romance. When she’s not busy writing, she likes to spend time chatting on the phone with one of her six siblings, watching plays, and shopping online. Colleen has lived in Arizona, Idaho, Utah, California, and North Carolina and is now permanently settled in Salem, Oregon with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | YouTube | Instagram 


Giveaway:

• 3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE LANTERN'S EMBER, US Only 

 
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/3/2018- Captivated Reading- Review

9/4/2018- Jrsbookreviews- Review

9/5/2018- Portrait of a Book- Review

9/6/2018- YA Books Central- Interview

9/7/2018- Zach's YA Reviews- Review

Week Two:

9/10/2018- Such A Novel Idea- Review

9/11/2018- Lisa Loves Literature- Review

9/12/2018- Wishful Endings- Interview

9/13/2018- The Bookish Libra- Review

9/14/2018- Here's to Happy Endings- Review

Week Three:

9/17/2018- The Desert Bibliophile- Review

9/18/2018- Smada's Book Smack- Review

9/19/2018- Book-Keeping- Review

9/20/2018- A Dream Within A Dream- Review

9/21/2018- A Court of Coffee and Books- Review

Week Four:

9/24/2018- Do You Dog-ear?- Review

9/25/2018- Savings in Seconds- Review

9/26/2018- Book Briefs- Review

9/27/2018- Pacific Northwest Bookworm- Review

9/28/2018- Two Chicks on Books- Excerpt

Can't Wait Wednesday #36: The Lantern's Ember by Colleen Houck

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.  My pick this week is by an author that I'm a fan of another series she's written.  When I saw she had a new book coming out, I was very excited.  I've been waiting for the cover to be released to do one of these posts, and the author sent it out this week.  So here you go:

Welcome to a world where nightmarish creatures reign supreme.

Five hundred years ago, Jack made a deal with the devil. It’s difficult for him to remember much about his mortal days. So, he focuses on fulfilling his sentence as a Lantern—one of the watchmen who guard the portals to the Otherworld, a realm crawling with every nightmarish creature imaginable. Jack has spent centuries jumping from town to town, ensuring that nary a mortal—or not-so-mortal—soul slips past him. That is, until he meets beautiful Ember O’Dare. 

Seventeen, stubborn, and a natural-born witch, Ember feels a strong pull to the Otherworld. Undeterred by Jack’s warnings, she crosses into the forbidden plane with the help of a mysterious and debonair vampire—and the chase through a dazzling, dangerous world is on. Jack must do everything in his power to get Ember back where she belongs before both the earthly and unearthly worlds descend into chaos.

Have you read anything by this author?  How does this one sound to you?  What book are you eagerly awaiting this week? 

Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway - Ignited (Reawakened #0.5) by Colleen Houck

Book Info:
Title:  Reignited  
Author:  Colleen Houck
Series:  Reawakened #0.5  
Genre:  Retold Egyptian Mythology
Published:  February 21st, 2017
Source:  Copy from publisher
My rating:  4 stars

Synopsis

A sibling rivalry.
A forbidden romance.
A spell that changes everything.

In Heliopolis secrets abound and passions ignite as chaos rises.

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Tiger’s Curse series and Reawakened comes a novella full of celestial marvel, passion, betrayal, and evil that will grow to reign over humanity forever.

Before Lily and Amon met, before the cosmos was in chaos and needed three brave brothers to fight off evil, there were four siblings who helped rule the earth.

Each sibling had a special gift. Osiris, the god of agriculture, helped mortals to grow and thrive in their natural environment. Isis, the goddess of creation, fostered health and wellness. Nephthys, the seer, was able to keep the balance between all living beings and the universe. But Seth, the youngest sibling, was left without any special powers. The Waters of Chaos, which granted each god’s talent, were running dry, and Seth was paying the price.

As time passed, however, Seth’s determination and willfulness resulted in a very special gift, one that should have granted him the ability to enact wondrous change. But Seth’s competitive childhood gave him a heart so cold and vacant that instead, his gift brought about great evil.

Seth was now the god of unmaking, the creator of disorder and destruction. And he was ready to seek his revenge, dominating all who got in his way.

AMAZON | BARNES and NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY 

"[A] must-read for thrill-seekers and fans of alternate worlds."—RT Book Reviews

"Rick Riordan fans who are looking for another series will delight in this fantasy."—SLJ

"Littered with Egyptian mythology and snappy dialogue, this romantic adventure is a good choice for graduates of Rick Riordan or fans of Houck’s Tiger’s Curse series."—Booklist

"Fans of paranormal romance will love the Egyptian spin on this story of devotion and sacrifice, and Lily’s humor, combined with plentiful dangerous escapades, will keep readers engaged."—VOYA

"The author weaves her story out of Egyptian lore, cinematic magic, selfless love, and . . . is clever enough to remain surprising even to the last sentence."—Kirkus Reviews

“Houck’s moving depiction of the love between Lily and Amon is memorable."—Publishers Weekly

"Wonderfully written and…the heart-pounding adventures are topped only by the heart-melting romance."—The Deseret News

"A sparkling new novel with a fully imagined world and mythos, and crackling romance! Egyptian mythology has never been this riveting!"—Aprilynne Pike, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Wings series, on Reawakened, book one in the series 

My Review:

I have always been fascinated with Egyptian mythology and culture.  Probably one of the reasons I loved the first book in this series, Reawakened.  This book is a prequel novella, and really it is a kind of retelling or redefining of an Egyptian myth.  The way the author told this, the way she made the characters/gods her own, is one of the reasons that I love her writing and am so glad that I've found her books.   I look forward to finishing this series as the third book comes out this year.  

Colleen Houck's Ten Things She Would Change About Her High School Years if She Could Go Back:   

1. I'd ask one of my crushes on a date.
2. I'd read more.
3. I'd spend more time doing homework.
4. I'd go to prom.
5. I'd make more friends.
6. I would have stayed in drama.
7. I would have joined choir.
8. I'd have taken advantage of eating lunch off campus.
9. I'd have invested in a better backpack.
10. I would have gone to support the football team.

About the Author:

New York Times Bestselling author Colleen Houck is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, paranormal, science fiction, and romance. When she’s not busy writing, she likes to spend time chatting on the phone with one of her six siblings, watching plays, and shopping online. Colleen has lived in Arizona, Idaho, Utah, California, and North Carolina and is now permanently settled in Salem, Oregon with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.

WEBSITE: http://colleenhouck.com/
TWITTER: @ColleenHouck
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3097905.Colleen_Houck
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ColleenRayHouck
PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/colleenrayhouck/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/colleen.houck/ 

Book Trailer:
  

Giveaway:

--Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

- 12 Winners will Receive a Copy of Reignited, Scarab Necklace + Exclusive Bonus by Colleen Houck
- 15 Winners will Receive an E-Copy of Reignited by Colleen Houck 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can check out the rest of the tour schedule HERE.

Waiting on Wednesday: Recreated (Reawakened #2) by Colleen Houck

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly awaiting.  Another sequel this week.  One to a book I really loved all the Egyptian parts of.  A book that introduced me to a new author, that I now need to try more books by.  Without further ado, here is the blurb from Goodreads:

From Colleen Houck, New York Times bestselling author of The Tiger’s Curse, comes Recreated, the second book in the epic Egyptian-inspired Reawakened series, in which a seventeen-year-old must literally go to hell to save the love of her life.

Lily Young thought traveling across the globe with a reawakened sun prince was a grand adventure. Now she’s about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.

When Amon and Lily part tragically, he transports himself to the Netherworld—what mortals call hell. Tormented by the loss of his one true love, he’d rather suffer in agony during Lily’s mortal years than fulfill his duty to protect humanity.

Heartbroken, Lily seeks refuge on her grandmother’s farm. Yet she can feel Amon’s pain, and she has been having dreams—dreams of Amon continually suffering.

For before he departed, Amon gave Lily something very special, an item that connects them even though they are worlds apart. Now Lily must use this object to free him, and to free their realms from darkness and utter chaos. She will do whatever it takes. 

Doesn't it just sound so good!  I can't wait to read on.  So, what book are you eagerly awaiting this week?

Review: Reawakened by Colleen Houck

First, thanks to Delacorte Press and Edelweiss for allowing me to read an egalley of this.  It is my first experience with this author, and I'm pretty sure I've found another favorite author.  I've seen people just gush over her Tiger saga, but I've just not ever really thought I'd want to pick it up and read.  However, after loving this book, I'll be checking into that other series as soon as I get a chance.  What drew me about this book, besides the beautiful cover, was the Egyptian storyline.  As many people are, I've been fascinated by ancient Egypt and the pyramids, etc.  This story has so much great Egyptian history and mythology mixed with wonderfully written characters all rolled together in a can't-put-it-down story. 

The main character is Lilliana, who goes by Lily.  She lives in New York City, with her wealthy parents in a fancy hotel, not too far from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The story starts one day during spring break when Lily plans to spend her day figuring out what college she is going to attend next year.  The museum is a place she likes to go and sit, and it helps her to think.  It helps that her parents are big donors, because the guards know her, and even let her go into a section that is under construction and off limits, when she asks for a more private place to sit and think.  That's how she ends up in the Egyptian art area.  While she's sitting and thinking, she hears a noise in the area that is partitioned off with plastic curtains.  And out of the area comes a young man dressed like an ancient Egyptian, he's naked except for the pleated white skirt you see in the drawings, and bald, and speaks in a language that she can't understand at first.  He chants some words, and all of a sudden she can understand him and he is speaking in English.  She learns from him that he is an Egyptian prince that has just woken up after 1000 years of being a mummy, and he has risen to fight an evil ancient god, Seth. 

He doesn't know how he was found and brought to NYC, as his tomb was hidden. And the worst part is that his canopic jars that contain his organs from when he was mummified were not brought with him.  He needs those to regain his full power, and without them, he ends up having to cast another spell, so that he can share energy with someone living, and that someone who is close enough at the right time for him is Lily.  So now she must stay with him to help him get back to his tomb and raise his two brothers, so that together they can get rid of the ancient, evil god. 

So soon they are taking off for Egypt.  And it turns out there is another plot to help the evil god, which will make the ceremony a little harder, as well as finding and raising his brothers.  The more that this sun prince, Amon, must take power from Lily, the harder it will be to keep her alive and healthy.  And she will develop feelings for him, and he does seem to feel the same for her, but he takes his sacrifice for the people seriously, and won't give in.  At least not in this life.

I don't think I can gush about how much I loved this story.  I loved all the Egyptian stories and bits that were such a big part of the story.  And for the most part I loved the characters and all the different locations it took place in.  I did have a few minor gripes.  First, we all know about the big "absentee" parents in YA stories.  In this case I feel like it was almost ignored.  How did Lily not have any calls from her parents during the whole time she was in Egypt?  I understand how it was fixed to solve that at the end, but I feel like there should have been more about that in the story. Also, I don't like reading about teen girls that "don't like to eat".  I don't relate to that in any way, shape, or form.  I wasn't an overweight teen at all.  Very skinny until college, and even then, it was barely a freshman 15 that I gained the whole time I was there.  But I always liked to eat, even if I wasn't eating all the time like I am now. 

I see this might be the first in a two book series, and while I'm not sure where it would go next, as it pretty much seemed to wrap up the story, I will definitely be excited to return to this world. 

Speaking of sequels, sign-ups for both the September Sequels Giveaway Hop and September is for Sequels Challenge are open now!