Showing posts with label YA paranormal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YA paranormal. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

ARC Review: Chosen (Slayer #2) by Kiersten White

Book info:
Title: Chosen
Author:  Kiersten White
SeriesSlayer #2
Genre: YA paranormal
Release Date:  January 7th, 2020
Publisher:  Simon Pulse
Source:  ARC traded for from Twitter's Books for Trade hashtag
My rating:  5 stars


Synopsis
“Will get Buffy fans up in their feels.” —Entertainment Weekly on Slayer

Nina continues to learn how to use her slayer powers against enemies old and new in this second novel in the New York Times bestselling series from Kiersten White, set in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Now that Nina has turned the Watcher’s Castle into a utopia for hurt and lonely demons, she’s still waiting for the utopia part to kick in. With her sister Artemis gone and only a few people remaining at the castle—including her still-distant mother—Nina has her hands full. Plus, though she gained back her Slayer powers from Leo, they’re not feeling quite right after being held by the seriously evil succubus Eve, a.k.a. fake Watcher’s Council member and Leo’s mom.

And while Nina is dealing with the darkness inside, there’s also a new threat on the outside, portended by an odd triangle symbol that seems to be popping up everywhere, in connection with Sean’s demon drug ring as well as someone a bit closer to home. Because one near-apocalypse just isn’t enough, right? 

The darkness always finds you. And once again, it’s coming for the Slayer.



My Review:
 It was so easy to jump right back into this series with page one of the book.  I also adored all the little cameos of characters from the original BTVS tv series, Clem, Oz, Harmony, just to name a few.   The author does a great job with hitting just the right sense of humor and snark with the characters in a way that reminds me of the original tv series.  For instance, when they misheard a name, and called him Ian Von Assface.  But I also loved the newer pop culture additions, like Harry Potter references, fist pump for all my fellow Hufflepuffs, like Nina.  Then there were twists and turns, where I just knew something was going to happen, but what did happen in the end was totally not what I'd been expecting.  There were the betrayals of those I thought you could trust, as well as ones I suspected throughout.   I loved that the author even brought in the Tales of the Slayer stories in a way, when she referenced the history of slayers, and of course loved Buffy always being referred back to.  Because even though this is a new series with new characters, Buffy will always be "THAT" slayer.  Probably more well known than even the First Slayer, to all current slayers.  I loved it so much.  I just hope that the author can continue to write more in this world and that I will have a third book to look forward to next year!

Friday, November 29, 2019

Blog Tour Author Interview with Giveaway: Slippers and Thieves (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #4) by Christina Bauer


Book Info:
Title:   Slippers And Thieves
Author:  Christina Bauer
Series: Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #4
Published by: Monster House Books
Publication date: November 26th 2019
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Years ago, Elle—never call her Cinderella—escaped her evil step family in order to build a new life for herself in Manhattan. Today, Elle’s awful past is a distant memory. In fact, Elle even attends West Lake Prep, an exclusive high school where regular humans mix with members of the Magicorum, such as fairies, shifters and witches. Although she still must live in hiding from her evil stepfamily, Elle has always found ways to get whatever her heart desires.
That is, until Alec Le Charme.
Alec is the heir to the Le Charme dynasty of high-end jewelers. He’s also kind, charismatic, has a knee-melting smile. Elle has fallen for him, hard. Unfortunately, thanks to Elle’s evil step family, Alec is absolutely off limits. In fact, if Elle and Alec so much as kiss, it will start a magical chain reaction that would end in powerful factions of witches and wizards going to war. As a result, Elle and Alec vow to stay friends, no matter what. Then West Lake Prep holds a masquerade ball. Identities get mixed up and forbidden kisses are finally shared.
Time for the Magicorum to go to war, and for Elle to confront her hidden past in ways she never thought possible.


Author Interview:

Christina Bauer is launching a new book in her Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series. Called SLIPPERS AND THIEVES, this novel reimagines the Cinderella story. Christina stopped by to answer some questions for us as part of her tour; take a look below…



1. What is your ideal place to write?  Do you have an office, or do you like to go sit in a coffee shop/library, etc.?

Weirdly enough, my ideal writing place changes depending on the book. For SLIPPERS AND THIEVES, I wrote a lot of it while in bed. (Eep! Did I write that out loud?)



Here’s how it works. I prop up about seven pillows around me in a strategic way and then write, write, write. That said, bed-writing is a relatively new thing. For previous novels, I used to work in coffee shops a lot.



2.  Do you keep a "bible" to help you remember all the characters and details of your world for writing a series?  If so, how do you organize it?  In a notebook, notecards, Google Doc, etc.?

I absolutely keep a bible for each series and I even call it by that name! Everything goes in a word doc that I update both during and after writing new novels. I also keep inspiration images for key characters and places in Pinterest. It’s a lot more visceral than a word doc and I certainly rely on that a ton. I currently have more than 100 boards and 5000 pins.



3.  As a former teacher, one of then best parts of that is hearing back from my students that they got something or learned something from me. Can you name one of your teachers that you feel was important in your life in some way?

There’s one who jumps immediately to mind! In high school, I had an English teacher named Mrs. Skoog. I’ll never forget her, as Mrs. Skoog was the first person to gave me a failing grade on an essay. That rocked my world. I’d always found writing super-easy. And now? I sucked.



Her honesty brought me to a crossroads. Do I love writing enough to work harder at my craft? I debated for a time and then went back at it. After Mrs. Skoog, I never failed another English paper.



4.  Some fun questions:

Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin?
 Gryffindor, absolutely.



Lannister, Stark, or Targaryen?

Targaryen. Dragons, baby!




Captain Kirk or Captain Picard?

Picard forever.



DC or Marvel?

Marvel, although DC deserves an honourable mention for Wonder Woman.



Physical book, ebook, or audiobook?

Ebook. I am vicious about reading a chapter and then deleting if I’m not thrilled. Ebook is the only way I find new material without killing tons of trees.



Thanks for having me by… I look forward to returning on a future tour!
 
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Author Bio:
Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates


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Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Blog Tour with Giveaway: 8 Souls by Rachel Rust

Book info:
Title8 Souls
Author:  Rachel Rust
Genre:  YA paranormal/mystery
Release Date:  May 6th, 2019
Publisher: Entangled Teen

Synopsis:
All her life, seventeen-year-old Chessie has had recurring dreams about a little white farmhouse. Quaint? Not quite. The house is the site of the unsolved murders of Villisca, Iowa, where eight people were slaughtered in 1912. With her parents on the verge of divorce, Chessie is stuck spending the summer with her grandparents in Villisca—right across the street from the axe murder house.

She’s soon hearing voices calling out for help and begins unraveling a link between herself and the town’s bloody history. And when she falls for a cute boy harboring a big secret, the pieces fall into place as she at last discovers the truth of Villisca's gruesome past…




Link to Goodreads:




Purchase Links:


Amazon | Amazon Australia | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo

 

About the Author:

Rachel Rust is a YA author who loves all things mysterious, romantic, and thrilling. Her favorite stories have twisty plots, and if it's a whodunit, she's all about it. When not making up stories, Rachel can usually be found with her family and their two dogs -- a pug and a chug (chihuahua/pug).





Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads
 






Giveaway:

  • ·       Prize: A signed copy of 8 Souls

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Schedule:  

 

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Blog Tour Excerpt with Giveaway: S.S.S. Year One (Supernatural Spy Academy #1) by Yumoyori Wilson

Book info:

Title: S.S.S. Year One
Author: Yumoyori Wilson
SeriesSupernatural Spy Academy #1
Pub. Date: April 5, 2019
Publisher: Yumoyori Wilson
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 500
Find it: GoodreadsAmazon
READ FOR FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!

Synopsis:
When being different leads to the best years of your life. 

There are three key components required to get into the most prestigious, top spy academy in the world:

Skills. 
Strength. 
Survival. 

My name is Silver Spell Solange. No, I didn't plan for my initials to be the same rank needed to enter the spy academy. But I would do anything to get into the one of a kind school. I have the magical capability of an Elemental Witch, the strength to kick anyone's ass, and quick problem-solving skills to get my teammates out of any jam. There’s only one small problem – the other 'S' I’m missing.

I'm not a part of the supernatural race. 

After realizing the my only shot at my dreams is at the brink of extinction, I'm unexpectedly teamed up with a werewolf, a dragon, a fallen angel, and a hellhound. The four of them carry the assets and abilities I need to gain my spot into the Supernatural Spy Academy (SSS).

With the clock ticking and not much leg room for an SS score, I accept their bet, knowing I’ll easily handle whatever they request from me.

I didn't think their bet would lead me to date all four them. 

It's time for me to buckle up. This four-year roller coaster is about to begin, and its a bumpy one-way ticket to becoming the next "supernatural" spy. 


Excerpt:

No way are his eyes real.
I had to blink a few times to make sure I wasn't seeing things.
The shifter standing before me was 6'2" and had long bright orange-gold hair that shifted to a dark blue-black.
Only tiny specks of gold that appeared as though they were glowing descended into the darker half of his ombre hair.
His hair wasn't as long as Yuriel's, just reaching the midpoint of his back, but it complemented his milk chocolate complexion.
He had smooth lips, and his face was oval shaped with a small stubble growing.
He wore a button-down black shirt, three of the buttons intentionally left open to reveal a glimpse of his sculpted pecs, and gold jeans that had a hint of shine to them, making them appear rather expensive.
He wore a gold earring on his left ear with a moon gem in the middle, one that changed colors.
What still caught my gaze were his gorgeous eyes. Having different colored eyes was common, but usually one eye was normal and the other was an odd shade.
In this guy's case, both eyes were brilliant with color; the right one was red with a mixture of orange and gold while the left one was teal like the ocean with hints of purple and green.
They captivated my attention and drew me in, but I remembered he had the quest I needed. I tugged the paper slightly, and he arched an eyebrow at me, tugging it back in defiance.
"I got to this quest first," I announced.
"Sorry, cutie, but this quest is going to be mine and my partners’. Now let go."
He had an interesting accent, but I wasn't going to be wooed over so easily.
I tugged the paper again, and he did the same. I wasn't worried that it would rip; the paper was thick and most likely enhanced with magic to ensure it would survive the basic risks like tears, fires, or being drenched by water.
"Nope. You let go," I argued.
I noticed steam coming from his nostrils as he huffed, a smug smile forming on his lips while his eyes narrowed at me.
"There's nothing you can do about this. Let the quest go. Or I'll just have to take it by force."
Think, Silver, think! There has to be something I can do.
An idea popped into my head, and I couldn't fight the sinister grin that cloaked my lips as I stared into rainbow eyes.
Yup, I was going to term him rainbow for now.
I noticed a person behind him, a 6'1" male with gold eyes and onyx hair. He wore white jeans that had gold chains hanging from the sides and a silver T-shirt.
He leaned over to meet my gaze. "Why is she grinning like she unlocked a master plan in her mind?"
That made my smile grow bigger and I took a step forward. Before Rainbow Eyes could figure out what I was doing, I pressed my lips against his, giving him a solid kiss.
"Oh, shit," Dimitri said.
"Well then," Yuriel commented.
"Uh...is that a weapon?" the other guy inquired.
I focused solely on the guy I was kissing, noticing how his eyes went wide in pure shock.
Five seconds went by before he let go and pushed back, bumping into his friend, who had to catch him from falling onto his ass.
"Y-y-you just KISSED ME!" he stuttered, pointing his finger at me accusingly.
I grinned and waved the quest paper in front of him.
"Yes, I did, but I got what I wanted. Too bad you didn't kiss back." I winked teasingly. His cheeks were so red, I wondered if he was super angry or super embarrassed.
Poor guy must have not kissed a girl before.
"T-that's cheating!"
"No, it's not," I commented. "Any tactics can be used at S.S.S. That includes kissing someone to get what you want."

About the Author:

Yumoyori Wilson is a full-time author who has a slight addiction to bubble tea.

She previously was a Pediatric Registered Nurse, working her night shifts away and reading her kindle during her breaks. She decided to take the chance at becoming an author and is now working on multiple projects in various genres, including Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and more. 
 
She lives in Toronto, Ontario and loves to bother her lovely Mother (also known as her Queen) and has many projects and plans for her readers. 
 
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-->Giveaway:
  • 1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC, International  
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:
Week One:
4/1/2019- Books a Plenty Book ReviewsReview
4/2/2019- Julia SwoonsExcerpt
4/3/2019- A Dream Within A DreamExcerpt
4/4/2019- Kelly P's BlogExcerpt
4/5/2019- Page Reaper Book BlogExcerpt

Week Two:
4/8/2019- BookHoundsExcerpt
4/9/2019- JB's Bookworms with Brandy MulderSpotlight
4/10/2019- Taking It One Book at a time                - Review

Week Three:
4/15/2019- Twirling Book PrincessExcerpt
4/16/2019- Two Chicks on BooksExcerpt
4/17/2019- Lisa Loves LiteratureExcerpt
4/18/2019- Smada's Book SmackSpotlight
4/19/2019- Book BriefsReview

Week Four:
4/22/2019- Ramblings of a Book NerdReview
4/23/2019- Tyto ForestExcerpt
4/24/2019- Lone Tree ReviewsExcerpt
4/25/2019- Life With No PlotExcerpt
4/26/2019- Don't Judge, ReadReview

Week Five:
4/29/2019- Adventures Thru WonderlandReview
4/30/2019- The Reading LifeReview
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