Fall of Thrones And Thorns by Jennifer Ellision Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway!!

Hello there guys!

Today I'm starting the last week of work before I finally get some vacation time being part of another Blog Tour for the new book in a series I love! I will be sharing my review and there's also a giveaway at the end of the post, so don't miss it!


Fall of Thrones and Thorns by Jennifer Ellision
(Threats of Sky and Sea #3)
Publication date: September 27th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

War hurtles in, a typhoon over the sea.

After Bree’s life was torn apart, Nereidium had represented a haven to her. A place that—if she could save it—was beyond the King’s reach.

And, at last, she’s arrived upon its shores. But things in Nereidium are not what they should be.

The land is plagued by a rash of mysterious earthquakes, the likes of which it’s never known. The governors are distracted by old traditions, while Bree and her friends grapple with changing identities and the sense that the longer they wait to take action… the greater the danger from Egria grows.

Bree is tired of living under the shadow of King Langdon’s power. And she’s tired of waiting for him to be the first to act.

In this final chapter of the Threats of Sky and Sea series, it all comes down to Nereidium or Egria. To Bree or the King. It’s kill… or be killed.

And not everyone will escape the battle unscathed.

 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Smashwords

Previous books in the series:

 

Author Bio:

Jennifer Ellision was born and raised in South Florida and lives in perpetual fear of temperatures below 60F. She spent a great deal of her childhood staying up past her bedtime with a book and a flashlight. When she couldn’t find the stories she wanted to read, she started writing them. She has an OTP, loves character analysis, and is a master of the fangirl flail, with a particular soft spot for fanfiction. She frequently bursts into song (and they are often of a Disney persuasion). Sailor Moon is one of her favorite things on this planet.

Threats of Sky and Sea is her first novel.

She also blogs at The Bevy Bibliotheque, where she talks about books, TV, movies, and other things that she goes fangirl over. For review requests or blog inquiries, please visit http://www.thebevybibliotheque.net to contact the blogger who best suits your request.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

REVIEW

For some reason I had failed to realize that this was the last book in the trilogy till I was nearly halfway reading it and thought that it read like a final book! For some reason I expected 4 books instead of a trilogy! *shakes head at self*

Fall of Thrones and Thorns starts right where Riot of Storm & Smoke ended, with our characters in Nereidium and dealing with the shock and repercusions of the truth about Bree & Aleta being revealed to all.

The beginning seemed to be a bit anticlimatic after the shock, but the slower pace was quite necessary for the characters to deal with the revelations and the change on status and the new reality of the new place. There was character development that needed to happen and there were politics to deal with and that always slows down the pace and the action, both in books and (even more) in real life.

I was glad we got alternate POV for Caden, Bree and Aleta and we also got a few small peeks at what was going on at Egria which helped with not losing sight of where the real danger was coming from.

It's always hard to review a final book in a series because you try to avoid spoiling others that might have not yet started the series, so bear with me while I try to vaguely & spoiler-free continue to try to be articulate about the book!

Both Bree and Aleta do have tough paths to deal with on their own ways, and I was glad that their friendship became stronger for it, even if it was on shaky ground after the revelations. It was great to see how their friendship helped each other, even if it was just in a "WWAD" way for Bree many times!

There's so romance in the book but rather understated and pushed back to something secondary given the dire situations and the importance of the fight, but speaking as a romancephobe, there were times where I wished there was a bit more development to some of the pairings. And also, I wished that at the ending we had a wee bit more of a hint of what's to come? The big conflict is resolved and the future is full of hope, the rebuilding is in progress but I still don't know if those two will find a way to work out! But since that part of the ending is open, I can choose to think yes and be happy about it! ;)

A satisfying conclusion to the trilogy and well deserved 4 stars!

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Blood of the Prophet by Kat Ross Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway!

Hello guys!

I'm quite pleased to take be taking part on the Blog Tour for Blood of the Prophet by Kat Ross, the second book on her The Fourth Element series!

I'll be giving you some information on the book & author below, as well as sharing my review and a tour wide giveaway!


Blood of the Prophet by Kat Ross
(The Fourth Element #2)
Publication date: September 12th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Visionary. Alchemist. Savior. Saint.

The Prophet Zarathustra has been called many things. Now he spends his time drawing pictures of weird-looking goats. That’s what happens when you’ve been stuck in a prison cell for two hundred years. But the man who might be mad, and is definitely supposed to be dead, has suddenly become very valuable again…

It’s only been a few weeks since Nazafareen escaped the King’s dungeons with her daēva, Darius. She hoped never to set foot in the empire again, but the search for the Prophet has led them to the ancient city of Karnopolis. They have to find him before Alexander of Macydon burns Persepolae, and Darius’s mother with it. But they’re not the only ones looking.

The necromancer Balthazar has his own plans for the Prophet, and so does the sinister spymaster of the Numerators. As Nazafareen is drawn in to a dangerous game of cat and mouse, her newfound powers take a decidedly dark turn. Only the Prophet understands the secret of her gift, but the price of that knowledge may turn out to be more than Nazafareen is willing to pay…

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Sequel to:

About the author:

Kat Ross worked as a journalist at the United Nations for ten years before happily falling back into what she likes best: making stuff up. She lives in Westchester with her kid and a few sleepy cats. Kat is also the author of the dystopian thriller Some Fine Day (Skyscape, 2014), about a world where the sea levels have risen sixty meters. She loves magic, monsters and doomsday scenarios. Preferably with mutants.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

REVIEW

Kat Ross has become an auto-buy author after managing to make me love her books no matter what she writes, be it dystopia, fantasy or mystery, and this one was one more reason to reaffirm my love!

Blood of the Prophet is the second book in her The Fourth Element series and although it starts a bit on the slow side of things, and with some choices on Nazafareen & Darius side that made me shake my head, but it never suffered from "second book syndrome" and before the first third of the book mark the action quickly started picking up pace, and started hinting at some rather juicy revelations to come and change the way we see the world, and what our characters knew or thought they knew!

I love how the world building is expanded, not only in terms of the Empire and cities visited but also in terms of what we get to know about the daevas, the magic system and the Druj and what they are and aren't. And I'm quite excited about getting to know more in the upcoming books!

I love that Nazafareen and Darius' characters continue to grow both separatedly and as a team, and that we finally get a lil bit of progress on the romance side of things, although it never takes over the plot or the story, and that's one thing I'm really thankful for! It's not the only important relationship though, because the friendships between Myrri and Tijah and the friendship between Tijah and Nazafareen, and how well the four of them worked together.

I was quite surprised when we started getting POV chapters for two of the main antagonists of the book, the Necromancer and the Numerator, but it served the purpose to giving us an insight on their heads (not very pretty places to be inside, though) and motivations and to give us more information about the past as well as the present of the whole story, and they were both quite complex characters and both made my skin crawl for different reasons!

The ending of the book really left me wishing for book 3 like RIGHT NOW, so I hope that Kat Ross is writing like the wind! Very much deserved 4 stars for this one!

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unknown by Wendy Higgins Release Day Blitz!!!

Hello there guys!!

Today I'm extremely happy and honoured to take part of the Release Day Blitz for Unknown by Wendy Higgins, organized by Irish Banana Tours!!

Wendy has been one of my absolute favourite & autobuy authors since her very first book and she's still has to write a book that I haven't loved!

Unknow by Wendy Higgins

Amber Tate believes the worst thing she’ll suffer in life is dealing with the unrequited love she feels for her brother’s best friend, Rylen Fite. She also believes war is something unfortunate that happens places far, far away from her rural Nevada town. She’s wrong on both counts.

When an unknown organization meticulously bombs major cities in the United States and across the globe, a trickle-down effect spreads to remaining towns at an alarming speed—everything from food and water sources to technology and communications are compromised. Without leadership, the nation is split between paralysis and panic, but Amber isn’t one to hide or watch helplessly. She’s determined to put her nursing skills to use, despite the danger, even if it means working alongside the man she can never have.

In this first installment of NY Times bestselling author, Wendy Higgins’s debut New Adult series, a frighteningly realistic apocalyptic America is brought to life, entwined with searing romantic tension that will leave you eager for more.

Kindle | iTunes | Kobo

 About the author:

Wendy Higgins is the USA Today and NY Times bestselling author of the SWEET EVIL series from HarperTeen, the high fantasy duology THE GREAT HUNT, and her independently published Irish Fantasy SEE ME.

After earning a Creative Writing degree from George Mason University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until achieving her dream job as a full-time writer.

 
Wendy lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her husband, daughter, son, and little doggie Rue.

 GIVEAWAY

Open International

Grand Prize: Signed Paperback copy of Unknown with Poster, bookplate stickers, and bookmarks.

1st & 2nd Prize: digital copies of Unknown (has to be B&N or Amazon user - will be gifted via their email address) plus signed bookmarks and bookplate stickers. 

Click HERE to go to the Rafflecopter giveaway!!

Xpresso Book Tours Book Blitz & Giveaway: Aurora Sky: Hunting Season by Nikki Jefford!!

 Hello everyone!!

Welcome to release week's Book Blitz for Aurora Sky: Hunting Season by Nikki Jefford, organized and hosted by Xpresso Book Tours!

Let me introduce you to the book and author!

Hunting Season by Nikki Jefford
(Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter #4)
Publication date: March 3rd 2015
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Better to be a hunter, not prey.
Ever since her partner was kidnapped, Aurora Sky has been on a personal mission to get him back. To do that she needs the vampire responsible for destroying her life.
In order to have a snowball’s chance at success, she’ll have to team up with her most loyal friends—including a certain vampire in black with a provoking talent for distraction.
Old cravings aren’t easily quenched, nor past passions. With knowledge comes danger and Aurora is at risk on all sides.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

There's also a very cool promotion going on for preorders and release week purchases! A free bonus story all about Dante!

Night of the Living Dante (Cover by Najla Qamber Designs)

Dante has just been assigned Aurora Sky's mentor. Before they meet, he goes on a mission in the Alaska Interior with his old partner and informant, Janine. Full of thrills, chills, and... Dante!
Bonus story at the back of Hunting Season on all pre-orders and release week sales. Ends: March 9. Don’t miss out on Dante’s mission.

 About the author:

 Bookaholic, nature girl, and animal lover.

Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan who found paradise in the not-so-tropical San Juan Islands (WA) where she is, once more, neighbors with Canada in a town without a single traffic light.

She married the love of her life, Sebastien, while working as a teaching assistant in France. They reside with their Westie, Cosmo in Friday Harbor.

Loves fictional bad boys and heroines who kick butt.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Waiting On Wednesday #51!!

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted at Breaking The Spine  that spotlights those can't-wait-to-get-my-hands-on-them books that we are eagerly awaiting!

So, what book am I-biting-my-nails-waiting-for-release-day this week? Athena's Ashes by Jamie Grey!!

Goodreads Summary:

"It’s Renna’s biggest job yet – convincing MYTH leadership that she’s put away her lock picks and is ready to save the galaxy, despite the dangerous implant in her brain. But with the Athena on the run, she’s working solo and facing her most ruthless enemy, the traitor Pallas, who’ll go to any lengths to destroy the MYTH organization. Including framing Renna for a devastating assault on MYTH HQ that leaves their defenses crippled and hundreds dead.

Now that MYTH believes she’s a dangerous double-agent, Renna escapes their firing squad before they put more holes in her than a pair of fishnet stockings. But the ticking time-bomb in her head is the one thing Pallas needs to complete his master plan and he’s not about to let her get away. Even worse, he’s discovered the only thing that will bring Renna to her knees – threatening Captain Nick Finn.

Out of time and options, Renna’s got one shot to take down the traitor before he annihilates everything she loves, even though winning this battle may cost her everything."


Why am I eagerly awaiting Athena's Ashes? Well, Jamie Grey is one of my beloved indie authors and I've loved everything she's written so far, and this is the second installment of her Star Thief Chronicles trilogy and I looooved book 1! Cannot wait to see what happens next! Science fiction, thieves, heroics, it's just my kind of book!

What are you all (im)patiently awaiting this week?

Book Blitz: Across The Wire by Stella Telleria! Guest post and giveaway!

 Across the Wire by Stella Telleria

Publication date: November 2013

Genres: Adult, Science Fiction

Synopsis:

When Mia Mitchell, a hardcore but lonely former Marine, steps into an alley to pull some thugs off an unlucky foreigner, she walks into a fight she expects. What she doesn’t see coming is the foreigner making her a job offer any sane person would refuse. So, she takes it. She thinks she’s headed for some third-world country; instead she’s mysteriously transported to an Earth-like parallel world. That’s a mad left-hook.

Mia discovers a matriarchal dystopia where freedom doesn’t exist and fighting for it means execution. Lethal force bends all to the law; women fear for their families and un-wed men suffer slavery. Mia’s job is to train an underground syndicate of male freedom-fighters for a violent revolution. However, the guys don’t want a pair of X chromosomes showing them the way.
Eben, an escaped slave, is encouraged by Mia to become a leader among the men. But when he turns his quiet determination on her, it spells F.U.B.A.R. for cynical Mia. Their unexpected connection threatens more than her exit strategy; it threatens the power struggle festering with in the syndicate.
Haunted by nightmares and post-traumatic stress, unsure who to trust or how to get home, Mia struggles to stay alive as she realizes all is not what it seems.

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18752667-across-the-wire?ac=1

Purchase:

—Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Across-Wire-The-Male-Amendment-ebook/dp/B00GEUMY0E/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1383603440&sr=8-22&keywords=across+the+wire

—Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/374686

—Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/books/Across-the-Wire/MLkkgY2PS0yPGzgUSiqGYw

 About the author:

All my life I’ve dreamed of stories or have had my nose buried in one. I live in Edmonton, Canada with my husband and my weird sense of humor.

I love old war movies, dystopian fiction, and any story with action, a good plot, and characters I'd get into a fight at the pub for. Not that I'm a brawler or anything. Unless you think that out-of-print book or vintage piece at the thrift shop is going home with you instead of me. Then, my friend, the gloves are off.

Author links:

http://www.stellatelleria.com/

https://twitter.com/Stellatelleria

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stella-Telleria/618003478260798

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7373984.Stella_Telleria

Guest post by Stella Telleria: Creating the Book Cover! 

 

 I know a lot of authors who cringe at the thought of creating a cover for their novel. This creative process is different than the writing process, but I’ve always met it with anticipation as it signifies the book reaching completion. Being a self-pub author, I had full control over the cover which made it an exciting and scary experience.


While I’ve helped design covers or given feedback to authors on this topic, I’m no expert. But as an avid reader I know what I like and don’t like when it comes to covers.


What I do caution other self-pub writers against is the idea that the cover must accurately convey the story. I have a writer friend who is quite an accomplished painter and he has hopes of using his art as his cover. Instead of either of these two goals I suggest the author realize the cover is not about you or the story. Yes, it should relate to the story in some way, but realize that the cover is for your reader, not you.


Things to think long and hard about:


Who is your target audience?
What other novels/genres will the readers who read your novel pick up?
What do other covers in your genre tend to look like?
Is your reader male or female?
What’s the reader’s age bracket?
Would this image make you stop and pick up this novel in a bookstore?


These are the only things you should be concerned about and you should always get as many opinions as you can. One stock photo may alienate a gender, or embarrass a business man or mother, or not appeal to a younger generation. I also prefer to stay away from having faces on covers. I, as a reader, don’t like to be told what the characters look like. I prefer to imagine them myself. It’s okay if there are people on the cover if I can’t see their faces.

And now for the giveaway!!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251281/ " rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway