Demitria Lunetta's Blog, page 18

ARC Spotlight – THE OATHBREAKER’S SHADOW by Amy McCulloch

 
 
Fifteen-year-old Raim lives in a world where you tie a knot for every promise that you make. Break that promise and you are scarred for life, and cast out into the desert.

Raim has worn a simple knot around his wrist for as long as he can remember. No one knows where it came from, and which promise of his it symbolizes, but he barely thinks about it at all—not since becoming the most promising young fighter ever to train for the elite Yun guard. But on the most important day of his life, when he binds his life to his best friend (and future king) Khareh, the string bursts into flames and sears a dark mark into his skin.

Scarred now as an oath-breaker, Raim has two options: run, or be killed.
Recommended for fans of: YA Fantasy
The premise for this fantasy novel is unique and I love the idea that there are real consequences to breaking a promise. You are immediately thrown into Raim’s world, and McCulloch’s world building is fantastic. I also like how severe and unwavering Raim’s society is. They have rules for a reason and breaking those rules means banishment. Even Raim’s status can’t save him. It’s a set up for a fast-paced, suspenseful story.
THE OATHBREAKER’S SHADOW is available for pre-order and will be released June 4th.

ARC Spotlight – TAKEN by Erin Bowman

 
 
There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side? 

Recommended for fans of: YA Dystopian
I sped through this book, intrigued by the unique idea. I don’t want to give away too much, but Bowman does a great job of sucking the reader in and then rounding out the story. The concept of being enclosed in an area and never knowing what is beyond the wall is creepily brilliant. Would you accept your fate – the Heist – or climb the wall and almost certainly die? There is bit in the middle where the reader thinks… “What the what?!” but this echoes the characters’ feelings and Bowman doesn’t wait too long to begin the explanations. Great dystopian read!
TAKEN is now available for pre-order and will be released April 16th.

ARC Spotlight - TRUTH OR DARE by Jacqueline Green

  
When a simple round of truth or dare spins out of control, three girls find it’s no longer a party game. It’s do or die.

It all started on a whim: the game was a way for Tenley Reed to reclaim her popularity, a chance for perfect Caitlin “Angel” Thomas to prove she’s more than her Harvard application. Loner Sydney Morgan wasn’t even there; she was hiding behind her camera like usual. But when all three start receiving mysterious dares long after the party has ended, they’re forced to play along—or risk exposing their darkest secrets.

How far will Tenley, Caitlin and Sydney go to keep the truth from surfacing? And who’s behind this twisted game? Recommended for fans of: YA Contemporary/Suspense
 I loved the premise of this book: What would you do if someone threatened to expose your darkest secrets? Would you betray your friends? Hurt others? Damage your own rep? This book was very suspenseful, keeping you guessing as to the identity of the “darer” till the very end. You also get the POV from not one, not two, but three different characters, each with a unique (if purposefully limited) perspective that lets the reader have more clues and a more rounded picture than any one character. I also loved how each girl had issues but also their strong side, each a complete person and not a caricature.
TRUTH OR DARE is available for pre-order and releases May 14th.

The Blog Chain - The Balancing Act

I'm so lucky to have joined an awesome group of bloggers that post about various writing topics. The blog chain follows the same topic for two weeks, through ten different blogs, then starts all over with a different topic! I'll be posting bi-monthly, every other Friday.

And my first ever blog chain topic is…(drum roll please)…

The balancing act. How do you balance your writing time with everything else in your life--including, kids, job, book promotion

This one is a tuffy. Before I became a full time writer, I wrote when I could. Usually on weekends and on my lunch break. Now that I’m a full time writer I feel that writing needs to come first, especially when I’m on a deadline. I’m not going to lie, sometimes other aspects of my life suffer, including but not limited to: laundry, changing out of my pajamas on any given day, seeing friends and family, and remembering to eat. I don’t have children, so don’t worry, I’m not a neglectful parent, although I do rely on my husband a little more than is fair to take care of our dog.

I’m trying to get out of the bad habit of shutting out the world when writing/editing. I’ve actually got myself on a schedule now which helps me fit everything into a day, including meals and time spent outside the house. Although writing still comes first I make sure to set aside time for other things as well. Hopefully when my book two edits come in, I won’t become a hermit again, but I’m not making any promises. J

Want to read more on this topis? Follow the chain and check out yesterday’s blog post with Sandra. The next stop on the blog chain is Monday with Michelle.

Okay guys…how’d I do on my first ever blog chain post?

ARC Spotlight – THE FLAME IN THE MIST by Kit Grindstaff

 
 
Fiery-headed Jemma Agromond is not who she thinks she is, and when the secrets and lies behind her life at mist-shrouded Agromond Castle begin to unravel, she finds herself in a chilling race for her life. Ghosts and misfits, a stone and crystals, a mysterious book, an ancient prophecy—all these reveal the truth about Jemma's past and a destiny far greater and more dangerous than she could have imagined in her wildest fantasies. With her telepathic golden rats, Noodle and Pie, and her trusted friend, Digby, Jemma navigates increasingly dark forces, as helpers both seen and unseen, gather. But in the end, it is her own powers that she must bring to light, for only she has the key to defeating the evil ones and fulfilling the prophecy that will bring back the sun and restore peace in Anglavia.
Recommended for fans of: MG Fantasy
I loved this book, it’s exactly the book I wish I had when I was ten and obsessed with anything fantasy (who am I kidding, I still am!) I loved the darkness, both in imagery and theme. What’s creepier than a land shrouded in perpetual mist? I also like how Grindstaff presents Jemma’s world, then throughout the book digs deeper, peeling of layers one at a time. No information is too overwhelming (though some is just the right amount of disturbing), and unfolds perfectly throughout the story. There are some pretty dark secrets buried in this book, and Jemma handles them with amazing will and determination. This is a book any MG reader can fall in to…and any adult with a love for fantasy won't want to miss. J
THE FLAME IN THE MIST is available for pre-order and will be released April 9th.
 

Win an IN THE AFTER Arc on Goodreads!

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Giveaway ends February 28, 2013.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

ARC Spotlight - BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA by April Genevieve Tucholke

 
 
You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.
Recommended for fans of: YA horror with a gothic feel
Not only is BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA beautifully written, it grabs you from page one. Everything about Violets situation is eerie, from the falling apart mansion and lack of parental supervision to the creepily aggressive brother. Then River shows up and creepy takes on a whole new meaning. I love the way the plot threads weave together, reminding me of a classic gothic romance. Add a few unexpected plot twists and you have a fantastic read.

BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA is now available for pre-order and will be released August 20th.
 

ARC Spotlight - LINKED by Imogen Howson

 
 
Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere.

Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes.

Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed.

Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world. 
Recommended for fans of: YA Sci-fi
I love me some YA sci-fi, and this was had everything a geek girl like me could want! Futuristic? Check. Space ships? Check.  Kick-ass heroine? Double Check. The world-building was fantastic, I loved the back-story that Howson wove throughout. The pacing was great, propelling you through the pages. I liked how LINKED had not one, but two characters that grew throughout the story. The plot twists and turns will keep you hooked. I also liked the bigger issues the book addresses. It will get you thinking about personal freedom and individual duty.
LINKED is now available for pre-order and releases June 11th.

ARC Spotlight – HOOKED by Liz Fichera

 

When Native American Fredricka ‘Fred’ Oday is invited to become the only girl on the school’s golf team, she can’t say no. This is an opportunity to shine, win a scholarship and go to university, something no one in her family has done.

But Fred’s presence on the team isn’t exactly welcome — especially not to rich golden boy Ryan Berenger, whose best friend was kicked off the team to make a spot for Fred.

But there’s no denying that things are happening between the girl with the killer swing and the boy with the killer smile...
Recommended for fan of: YA contemporary with substance
It seems from the cover and the summary that this book would be ultra-smooshy, but it’s not. Fred faces some issues, including a very real social divide: she’s poor and lives on the “Rez.” She feels out of place being on the golf team, not only because she’s the only girl, but because she’s the only Native American. I loved Fred’s character, she was genuine and likeable. The alternating perspectives also make it easy to see Ryan’s thought…and not dislike him. He has to deal with a whole other set of issues, including living up to expectations and social norms. A fantastic contemporary debut that addresses bigger issues, while not getting completely lost in them.
HOOKED is out tomorrow!

ARC Spotlight - 45 POUNDS (MORE OR LESS) by K.A. Barson

 
 
Here are the numbers of Ann Galardi’s life:

She is 16.
And a size 17.

Her perfect mother is a size 6.

Her Aunt Jackie is getting married in 10 weeks, and wants Ann to be her bridesmaid.
So Ann makes up her mind: Time to lose 45 pounds (more or less) in 2 1/2 months.

Welcome to the world of informercial diet plans, wedding dance lessons, embarrassing run-ins with the cutest guy Ann’s ever seen—-and some surprises about her NOT-so-perfect mother.

And there’s one more thing. It’s all about feeling comfortable in your own skin-—no matter how you add it up!
Recommended for fans of: YA Contemporary
This book really hit home. It’s not just for teens that have struggled with their weight, but for anyone who has ever had a problem in life they felt they had no control over. Ann’s just happens to be her weight. She thinks that all of her troubles will be solved if she can just lose 45 pounds. Even with the low self esteem, she’s a very likeable MC, easy to relate to. She’s also a bit clueless. I love how Ann’s character develops throughout the book, as she learns more about herself, her friends, and her family. She discovers that she’s not as alone in her struggles as she thought. A very satisfying read!
45 POUNDS (MORE OR LESS) is now available for preorder and will be released July 11th.