Jo Michaels's Blog, page 29
March 1, 2016
Cover Reveal - Regress
Happy Tuesday for the second time! There's one more post coming shortly, so keep your eyeballs peeled. This one is a cover reveal for Regress by S. F. Benson. Let's get this party started, shall we?
Title: RegressAuthor: SF BensonGenre: Mature YA Dystopian ThrillerCover Designer: Regina Wamba at Mae I Design and Photography
Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR
Blurb: Tru Shepard is a teenager committing acts of treason living in war-torn New Detroit circa 2025. The New Order, a government run by scientists and technologists, has banned creativity in favor of STEM education. In the eyes of the American Republic’s leaders, creativity is a waste of time which doesn’t foster a strong society. Besides Creatives have a tendency to speak out against the government.
Tru gambles with her life every time she steps foot in the Underground, a restricted warehouse district where Creatives congregate. She breaks the city-wide curfew to hang out with friends enjoying banned music and expressing herself on ancient sketchpads. Recently, the New Order has issued sweeps of the sector to find renegades.
But being picked up by the NDPD, New Detroit Police Department, is the least of her concerns. In ten days Tru will be seventeen, the age scientists consider a government-mandated inoculation to be totally safe. Although officials claim the vaccine is the country’s best defense against another worldwide pandemic, stories circulate amongst Creatives about individuals who lose their abilities after its administration.
Tru has her Inoculation Day orders. Failure to report is punishable by death, but if she can’t express herself artistically, she’d prefer dying.
Just when she despairs on what to do Zared Aoki, someone from her past, enters her life. He may be just as dangerous as the vaccination Tru needs to avoid. He claims to know the real reason behind the vaccine—a government project tampering with the fundamental design of humanity.The two set out to prove the true nature of the vaccine and alert the public to its devastating effects. But is the world ready to listen?
SF Benson resides in Georgia with her husband, a human daughter, and a couple of miniature fur kids (two female short-haired guinea pigs). At one time she wrangled a household which included three Samoyeds, saltwater fish, a hamster, and three guinea pigs. When she’s not busy playing Doctor Doolittle, she enjoys answering the question “what if” by writing mostly Dystopian/science fiction and paranormal stories for young adults and new adults. And if a spare moment happens, she morphs into a bookworm and devours a few books simultaneously.Author Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BensonSF/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BensonShantellaPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shahben/Website: https://www.authorsfbenson.comInstagram: @authorsfbenson
I lost track of how much time passed. A pleasant warmth, cozy and inviting, replaced the cold. My head jerked back. Zared sat beside me with the blanket draped around our shoulders. When did he move? It didn’t matter. I won. My half-open eyes met his. “What are you doing?” “Dealing with it.” His voice sounded scruffy. “No funny stuff.” It was more of a personal warning. My gaze fixated on his mouth. As a kid I never had the opportunity to kiss his perfectly shaped lips—slightly full with a deep dip on the upper lip. Would they be moist and soft? Or hot and spicy? Would it be possible to reignite feelings I’d forgotten about? When we moved away I thought my crush disappeared as well. Wrong. “I don’t plan on it.” I reached around inside my purse. My hand landed on the leather sheath containing the double-edged knife I always kept with me. What if he told the truth about living on the streets? A hard life changed people. I pulled it out and tucked the weapon into my waistband. Zared’s eyes followed my movements. “The latest in fashion accessories?” I winked and patted the blade. “I don’t leave home without it.” He raised his eyebrows. “Can you use it?” I grinned. “Care to find out?” “Not particularly. Y’know, you never answered my question.” “Which one?” “Will you help me?” “Can’t we talk about something else?” “Do I have your help?” He didn’t know how to change a subject. I played with my jacket zipper. “With what?” “Exposing the New Order.” I folded my arms over my stomach. “Did I hear you right?” His brown eyes locked on to mine. “Yeah. You in or out?” “Seriously?” “Seriously.” He leaned closer brushing against me. The heady scent of sandalwood drew me to him like the first notes played on a Stradivarius. Intriguing. Arousing. A tingle raced down my spine. “What makes you think we can do that?” Good looking and dumb. Questioning the government was stupid. Challenging it was a death wish. Now I sounded like Ko. “Trust me. It's possible.” I shook my head. “No, no, no. Exposing the government will take a lot more than trust.”“I know things. Valuable things. We can do this. Together.” Listening to him speak reminded me of a small kid with a new toy. Enthusiasm shone in his eyes like a Fourth of July sparkler. How do we do the impossible? He must have watched too many movies. We were teens. Just a couple of kids. We challenged our parents, our teachers. Not the leaders of the country. “I don’t know.” His smile revealed deep dimples. Sorry gorgeous, my help required a lot more than devastating looks. “Promise me you’ll think on it.” His voice was smoky, suggestive. Just what did he want me to think about? He had a crazy, somewhat credulous idea. But, what he contemplated was dangerous. Riskier than anything I’d ever done. People who went against the government were traitors. They were tortured and killed. We couldn’t do this. It gave a whole new meaning to the word wrong. “I’m going to sleep.” “Tru?” “What?” “Will you think on it?” “Fine! I’ll think on it. Go to sleep.”# I’d left the warehouse district an hour ago. My shoes echoed on the deserted rain slicked sidewalk. The quiet night air was cold and smelled of moist dirt. Once again, I’d missed the train and had to walk home. Big mistake on my part. Sure, I had protection but it wouldn’t stop….The familiar electronic hum approached from behind me. I was out in the open with no place to hide. Without any warning, the air above me filled with drones coming from every direction. I had no choice but to surrender. I knelt on the wet asphalt with my hands up. The police dragged me into an unfamiliar, abandoned building. The walls and floors gleamed white. I gagged on the smell of fresh chlorine. My eyes stung from the intense, white lights. Fiery pain ripped through my arms. Smoke escaped my lips. So cold. My teeth chattered. My body kept shaking. I lifted my head. A man in the trademark navy blue suit of the CHA stood in front of me. My insides quivered. A metallic voice announced I was a traitor and a danger to society. But it offered me a choice—immediate administration of the vaccine or death. It didn’t matter. Either way killed a Creative. Someone held a syringe filled with a golden liquid. A flash of dark steel. The cold barrel of a gun pressed against my temple. If I chose me, my family would be heartbroken. If I…too late. Someone else made my choice. I didn’t get a say in the matter. A man pulled the trigger. I woke up sweating and shaking. My vision blurred. I blinked. My knife pressing against my side reminded me of my surroundings. I had fallen asleep with my head on Zared’s shoulder. I sat up and inched away from him. “What’s wrong?” He rubbed his eyes. “Nothing.” I found my voice. “Just a bad dream.” Understatement. It was my frequent nightmare about the vaccine. It began a year ago. The closer I got to my birthday, the more frequent the dreams got. Now they came every night. Exposing the government might not be such a bad idea. With exposure, nobody else would face another Inoculation Day. All Creatives would be safe, and my nightmares would end. But, it was risky. Death would be our reward if we failed. Well, Zared would face certain death. Me? There would be a syringe with my name on it. Failure was not an option. “You okay?” He tapped my knee. I flinched. “I’ll be fine.” “Do you want to ta…?” “No.” I stared at the floor. Was he a moron? Talking about my dream might make it happen. Yes, it was superstitious, but I was clinging to it. I had ten more days of believing whatever I wanted. Ten more days to be me. I swallowed a sob. “Tru?” “What?” I turned my head. “I’m not selling you out to the authorities.” I searched his face for a trace of sincerity. “Seriously?” “Seriously.” “I hope not. I have problems with liars.” “I’m not lying. I won’t turn you in.” He spoke so low, forcing me to move closer. “Your nightmare was about Inoculation Day?” “How did you know?” “Your file.” Of course, my artistic ability was in a file. Color me stupid. The learning center administered annual behavioral and intelligence tests. The tests pinpointed Creatives. Remember, I said dreams have a way of becoming reality. I knew what was required of me. “Zared?” My stomach twisted and turned. “What?” “I’ll help you if you help me.” His body stiffened. “With what?” “A way to avoid my Inoculation Day.” “Done.” “Are you sure? It won’t be easy.” “I know.” “So you’ll help me?” He touched my arm. “Yes.” I raised my head. “Now, what’s your plan?”
What do you think? Are you excited?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Title: RegressAuthor: SF BensonGenre: Mature YA Dystopian ThrillerCover Designer: Regina Wamba at Mae I Design and PhotographyHosted by: Lady Amber's PR
Blurb: Tru Shepard is a teenager committing acts of treason living in war-torn New Detroit circa 2025. The New Order, a government run by scientists and technologists, has banned creativity in favor of STEM education. In the eyes of the American Republic’s leaders, creativity is a waste of time which doesn’t foster a strong society. Besides Creatives have a tendency to speak out against the government.Tru gambles with her life every time she steps foot in the Underground, a restricted warehouse district where Creatives congregate. She breaks the city-wide curfew to hang out with friends enjoying banned music and expressing herself on ancient sketchpads. Recently, the New Order has issued sweeps of the sector to find renegades.
But being picked up by the NDPD, New Detroit Police Department, is the least of her concerns. In ten days Tru will be seventeen, the age scientists consider a government-mandated inoculation to be totally safe. Although officials claim the vaccine is the country’s best defense against another worldwide pandemic, stories circulate amongst Creatives about individuals who lose their abilities after its administration.
Tru has her Inoculation Day orders. Failure to report is punishable by death, but if she can’t express herself artistically, she’d prefer dying.
Just when she despairs on what to do Zared Aoki, someone from her past, enters her life. He may be just as dangerous as the vaccination Tru needs to avoid. He claims to know the real reason behind the vaccine—a government project tampering with the fundamental design of humanity.The two set out to prove the true nature of the vaccine and alert the public to its devastating effects. But is the world ready to listen?
SF Benson resides in Georgia with her husband, a human daughter, and a couple of miniature fur kids (two female short-haired guinea pigs). At one time she wrangled a household which included three Samoyeds, saltwater fish, a hamster, and three guinea pigs. When she’s not busy playing Doctor Doolittle, she enjoys answering the question “what if” by writing mostly Dystopian/science fiction and paranormal stories for young adults and new adults. And if a spare moment happens, she morphs into a bookworm and devours a few books simultaneously.Author Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BensonSF/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BensonShantellaPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shahben/Website: https://www.authorsfbenson.comInstagram: @authorsfbenson
I lost track of how much time passed. A pleasant warmth, cozy and inviting, replaced the cold. My head jerked back. Zared sat beside me with the blanket draped around our shoulders. When did he move? It didn’t matter. I won. My half-open eyes met his. “What are you doing?” “Dealing with it.” His voice sounded scruffy. “No funny stuff.” It was more of a personal warning. My gaze fixated on his mouth. As a kid I never had the opportunity to kiss his perfectly shaped lips—slightly full with a deep dip on the upper lip. Would they be moist and soft? Or hot and spicy? Would it be possible to reignite feelings I’d forgotten about? When we moved away I thought my crush disappeared as well. Wrong. “I don’t plan on it.” I reached around inside my purse. My hand landed on the leather sheath containing the double-edged knife I always kept with me. What if he told the truth about living on the streets? A hard life changed people. I pulled it out and tucked the weapon into my waistband. Zared’s eyes followed my movements. “The latest in fashion accessories?” I winked and patted the blade. “I don’t leave home without it.” He raised his eyebrows. “Can you use it?” I grinned. “Care to find out?” “Not particularly. Y’know, you never answered my question.” “Which one?” “Will you help me?” “Can’t we talk about something else?” “Do I have your help?” He didn’t know how to change a subject. I played with my jacket zipper. “With what?” “Exposing the New Order.” I folded my arms over my stomach. “Did I hear you right?” His brown eyes locked on to mine. “Yeah. You in or out?” “Seriously?” “Seriously.” He leaned closer brushing against me. The heady scent of sandalwood drew me to him like the first notes played on a Stradivarius. Intriguing. Arousing. A tingle raced down my spine. “What makes you think we can do that?” Good looking and dumb. Questioning the government was stupid. Challenging it was a death wish. Now I sounded like Ko. “Trust me. It's possible.” I shook my head. “No, no, no. Exposing the government will take a lot more than trust.”“I know things. Valuable things. We can do this. Together.” Listening to him speak reminded me of a small kid with a new toy. Enthusiasm shone in his eyes like a Fourth of July sparkler. How do we do the impossible? He must have watched too many movies. We were teens. Just a couple of kids. We challenged our parents, our teachers. Not the leaders of the country. “I don’t know.” His smile revealed deep dimples. Sorry gorgeous, my help required a lot more than devastating looks. “Promise me you’ll think on it.” His voice was smoky, suggestive. Just what did he want me to think about? He had a crazy, somewhat credulous idea. But, what he contemplated was dangerous. Riskier than anything I’d ever done. People who went against the government were traitors. They were tortured and killed. We couldn’t do this. It gave a whole new meaning to the word wrong. “I’m going to sleep.” “Tru?” “What?” “Will you think on it?” “Fine! I’ll think on it. Go to sleep.”# I’d left the warehouse district an hour ago. My shoes echoed on the deserted rain slicked sidewalk. The quiet night air was cold and smelled of moist dirt. Once again, I’d missed the train and had to walk home. Big mistake on my part. Sure, I had protection but it wouldn’t stop….The familiar electronic hum approached from behind me. I was out in the open with no place to hide. Without any warning, the air above me filled with drones coming from every direction. I had no choice but to surrender. I knelt on the wet asphalt with my hands up. The police dragged me into an unfamiliar, abandoned building. The walls and floors gleamed white. I gagged on the smell of fresh chlorine. My eyes stung from the intense, white lights. Fiery pain ripped through my arms. Smoke escaped my lips. So cold. My teeth chattered. My body kept shaking. I lifted my head. A man in the trademark navy blue suit of the CHA stood in front of me. My insides quivered. A metallic voice announced I was a traitor and a danger to society. But it offered me a choice—immediate administration of the vaccine or death. It didn’t matter. Either way killed a Creative. Someone held a syringe filled with a golden liquid. A flash of dark steel. The cold barrel of a gun pressed against my temple. If I chose me, my family would be heartbroken. If I…too late. Someone else made my choice. I didn’t get a say in the matter. A man pulled the trigger. I woke up sweating and shaking. My vision blurred. I blinked. My knife pressing against my side reminded me of my surroundings. I had fallen asleep with my head on Zared’s shoulder. I sat up and inched away from him. “What’s wrong?” He rubbed his eyes. “Nothing.” I found my voice. “Just a bad dream.” Understatement. It was my frequent nightmare about the vaccine. It began a year ago. The closer I got to my birthday, the more frequent the dreams got. Now they came every night. Exposing the government might not be such a bad idea. With exposure, nobody else would face another Inoculation Day. All Creatives would be safe, and my nightmares would end. But, it was risky. Death would be our reward if we failed. Well, Zared would face certain death. Me? There would be a syringe with my name on it. Failure was not an option. “You okay?” He tapped my knee. I flinched. “I’ll be fine.” “Do you want to ta…?” “No.” I stared at the floor. Was he a moron? Talking about my dream might make it happen. Yes, it was superstitious, but I was clinging to it. I had ten more days of believing whatever I wanted. Ten more days to be me. I swallowed a sob. “Tru?” “What?” I turned my head. “I’m not selling you out to the authorities.” I searched his face for a trace of sincerity. “Seriously?” “Seriously.” “I hope not. I have problems with liars.” “I’m not lying. I won’t turn you in.” He spoke so low, forcing me to move closer. “Your nightmare was about Inoculation Day?” “How did you know?” “Your file.” Of course, my artistic ability was in a file. Color me stupid. The learning center administered annual behavioral and intelligence tests. The tests pinpointed Creatives. Remember, I said dreams have a way of becoming reality. I knew what was required of me. “Zared?” My stomach twisted and turned. “What?” “I’ll help you if you help me.” His body stiffened. “With what?” “A way to avoid my Inoculation Day.” “Done.” “Are you sure? It won’t be easy.” “I know.” “So you’ll help me?” He touched my arm. “Yes.” I raised my head. “Now, what’s your plan?”
What do you think? Are you excited?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Huge Multi-Author Giveaway!
Happy Tuesday! Holy moly, you guys! There's a TON of awesome prizes on this giveaway! Here's the list:
A signed poster of the EMANCIPATION cover - 19“x27”Signed paperbacks of the Tala Prophecy series (Chasing Memories, Chasing Shadows, Chasing Forgiveness, Chasing Destiny) - (US only)Ebook of Tainted Deception and Signed Swag (INTL)Ebook of Opsona Journey boxset book 1-3 ny J.N. Sheats (INTL)Ebook of More Than Words by Elle Henry (INTL)Signed copy of The Geneva Project - Prequels (INTL)Ebook of How to Save a Life by Emma ScottSigned copy of Dreadlands by Jaimie Engle (US only)Paperbacks by TK Carter: The Breakup Mix, Collapse, Three Meals to Anarchy and swag (US only)Ebook of Dark Bishop by Casey Bond (INTL)Five book ebook or audiobok box set of J.J. DiBenedetto´s Dream Series novels (INTL) One ebook of NA sports romance BLOCKED and one ebook of ACED (Blocked #2) (INTL)2 ebook of winners choice by carlyle labuschagne (INTL)Ebook of Going Down In Flames by Chris Cannon (INTL)Ebook of Obsession (Russian Tattoos) by Kat Shehata (US)
I mean... HELLO! Enter, enter, enter!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Which prize do you want to win most?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
A signed poster of the EMANCIPATION cover - 19“x27”Signed paperbacks of the Tala Prophecy series (Chasing Memories, Chasing Shadows, Chasing Forgiveness, Chasing Destiny) - (US only)Ebook of Tainted Deception and Signed Swag (INTL)Ebook of Opsona Journey boxset book 1-3 ny J.N. Sheats (INTL)Ebook of More Than Words by Elle Henry (INTL)Signed copy of The Geneva Project - Prequels (INTL)Ebook of How to Save a Life by Emma ScottSigned copy of Dreadlands by Jaimie Engle (US only)Paperbacks by TK Carter: The Breakup Mix, Collapse, Three Meals to Anarchy and swag (US only)Ebook of Dark Bishop by Casey Bond (INTL)Five book ebook or audiobok box set of J.J. DiBenedetto´s Dream Series novels (INTL) One ebook of NA sports romance BLOCKED and one ebook of ACED (Blocked #2) (INTL)2 ebook of winners choice by carlyle labuschagne (INTL)Ebook of Going Down In Flames by Chris Cannon (INTL)Ebook of Obsession (Russian Tattoos) by Kat Shehata (US) I mean... HELLO! Enter, enter, enter!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Which prize do you want to win most?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
February 29, 2016
Book Review - Asleep
Happy Monday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I have a different kind of book review for you all. It'll still be my reader and editor's perspective, but since this is a young adult book, my daughter, from the book blog Isa Marie Reviews, is also going to give her two cents. Our review will be added to the 2016 Review Team pool of reviews. Be sure you bounce over there and check out some of the lovely reviews written by those awesome women.
If you think you'd like to keep up with Isa Marie's future reviews, subscribe to her blog here. She'll be reviewing Middle Grade and Young Adult novels over there. Time to get rollin'!
As always, a few details about the book before we get to the good stuff.
Title: Asleep
Author: Krystal Wade
Genre: Young Adult Thriller
Length (print): 340 pages
Buy Links: Amazon Kindle $3.99
Blurb:
"To cure fear, you must use fear."
Rose Briar claims no responsibility for the act that led to her imprisonment in an asylum. She wants to escape, until terrifying nightmares make her question her sanity and reach out to her doctor. He’s understanding and caring in ways her parents never have been, but as her walls tumble down and Rose admits fault, a fellow patient warns her to stop the medications. Phillip believes the doctor is evil and they’ll never make it out of the facility alive. Trusting him might be just the thing to save her. Or it might prove the asylum is exactly where she needs to be.
Gotta love that cover, huh?
Okay, let's get to the review!
I picked up Asleep after attending a release party thrown by the author. There it sat, on my Kindle list, waiting to be read. Well, I have a rather impressive TBR, and I wasn't planning to dive in just yet. However, my daughter picked up the book on her device (she has access to my library), and she begged me to read it so we could talk about it. She was loving it. So, I did as I was told (good Mommy), and here we are to give you all the details about our thoughts. To start off, I'm gonna tell you: my daughter is ten. Now that you know where I got Asleep, and why I read it, let's move on to the juicy parts of this review.
From a Reader's Perspective:
Jo: Rose Briar and I could possibly be friends if she existed in the world, but I'm not sure I would like her attitude at the beginning of this story. She seemed very much the "world is out to get me" kind of teen, and those chicks make me nutso. But, she had some excellent development throughout the story, and she emerged on the other side a better person despite all the crap she went through in order to grow. I have to say, Nurse Judy was probably my favorite character, though I didn't feel a true emotional connection to anyone I was reading about.
Truth is, I didn't even feel sorry for Rose and what she was experiencing. It may be my closed off side, but it's hard to connect with someone whose thoughts I can't follow. Make sense? I mean, the girl is half crazy, so nothing she's seeing or thinking makes sense. Ha! Anyway, she was a well painted character, I just wish there were more for me as a reader to identify with (or maybe I don't... Still on the fence with that one). Pacing was perfect. I never felt bored while reading. World building was spot on, and I could picture the institute in my head well. There were also a number of twists and things I was wondering about until the end. I'm pretty good, but some of those surprises were like: WOW. I'm now going to hand the reins over to the kidling.
Warning: There are a couple of F bombs in the book. If you're a parent who's really strict about that, prolly not the best read.
IM: I was bored and decided to go on Kindle to see if any new books were any interest to me. Searching through my section, I found that my mom put a few new books on there and found this one: Asleep, by Krystal Wade. I found the cover intriguing and downloaded it immediately to soon find out that Rose was the kind of girl that thought the world was out to get her. (Isa no likey) So eventually after making it through the first chapter of it I felt as if I couldn't put it down and read through the first sixteen chapters in one sitting. Ms. Wade, the pacing was perfect, and I never felt bored or that the book was going too fast. There were jumps, twists, and turns throughout the entire book. It made me question if Phillip was real or an figment of her imagination, and I just was itching to find out. Once I had finished it, good Lord I thought I would explode of all the other endings this book could have had. But, I highly suggest that you read this book, and I hope you're gonna be itching out of your skin to read it, too. :-D
From an Editor's Perspective:
I didn't find a ton of errors, but there was just one that kept popping up that had me pausing: Dr. Underwood closed her chart. Her is referring to Rose, but the sentence reads awkwardly. I caught it twice. Now, the kidling is the one that noticed it first, so if she's pointing it out, it has to be a little confusing. Other than that, nothing to write home about.
Rating:
1 Star for keeping me on my dang toes throughout
1 Star for pacing
1 Star for world building (that's one hell of an old building)
1 Star for making the character's head such a confusing place that I was never sure if I really wanted to be there or not
1 Star for grammar, plot, pacing, and consistency
Overall: 5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended for those that enjoy a gripping thriller with lots of twists and turns.
Whatchall think? Gonna check it out?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
If you think you'd like to keep up with Isa Marie's future reviews, subscribe to her blog here. She'll be reviewing Middle Grade and Young Adult novels over there. Time to get rollin'!
As always, a few details about the book before we get to the good stuff.
Title: Asleep
Author: Krystal Wade
Genre: Young Adult Thriller
Length (print): 340 pages
Buy Links: Amazon Kindle $3.99
Blurb:"To cure fear, you must use fear."
Rose Briar claims no responsibility for the act that led to her imprisonment in an asylum. She wants to escape, until terrifying nightmares make her question her sanity and reach out to her doctor. He’s understanding and caring in ways her parents never have been, but as her walls tumble down and Rose admits fault, a fellow patient warns her to stop the medications. Phillip believes the doctor is evil and they’ll never make it out of the facility alive. Trusting him might be just the thing to save her. Or it might prove the asylum is exactly where she needs to be.
Gotta love that cover, huh?
Okay, let's get to the review!
I picked up Asleep after attending a release party thrown by the author. There it sat, on my Kindle list, waiting to be read. Well, I have a rather impressive TBR, and I wasn't planning to dive in just yet. However, my daughter picked up the book on her device (she has access to my library), and she begged me to read it so we could talk about it. She was loving it. So, I did as I was told (good Mommy), and here we are to give you all the details about our thoughts. To start off, I'm gonna tell you: my daughter is ten. Now that you know where I got Asleep, and why I read it, let's move on to the juicy parts of this review.
From a Reader's Perspective:
Jo: Rose Briar and I could possibly be friends if she existed in the world, but I'm not sure I would like her attitude at the beginning of this story. She seemed very much the "world is out to get me" kind of teen, and those chicks make me nutso. But, she had some excellent development throughout the story, and she emerged on the other side a better person despite all the crap she went through in order to grow. I have to say, Nurse Judy was probably my favorite character, though I didn't feel a true emotional connection to anyone I was reading about.
Truth is, I didn't even feel sorry for Rose and what she was experiencing. It may be my closed off side, but it's hard to connect with someone whose thoughts I can't follow. Make sense? I mean, the girl is half crazy, so nothing she's seeing or thinking makes sense. Ha! Anyway, she was a well painted character, I just wish there were more for me as a reader to identify with (or maybe I don't... Still on the fence with that one). Pacing was perfect. I never felt bored while reading. World building was spot on, and I could picture the institute in my head well. There were also a number of twists and things I was wondering about until the end. I'm pretty good, but some of those surprises were like: WOW. I'm now going to hand the reins over to the kidling.
Warning: There are a couple of F bombs in the book. If you're a parent who's really strict about that, prolly not the best read.
IM: I was bored and decided to go on Kindle to see if any new books were any interest to me. Searching through my section, I found that my mom put a few new books on there and found this one: Asleep, by Krystal Wade. I found the cover intriguing and downloaded it immediately to soon find out that Rose was the kind of girl that thought the world was out to get her. (Isa no likey) So eventually after making it through the first chapter of it I felt as if I couldn't put it down and read through the first sixteen chapters in one sitting. Ms. Wade, the pacing was perfect, and I never felt bored or that the book was going too fast. There were jumps, twists, and turns throughout the entire book. It made me question if Phillip was real or an figment of her imagination, and I just was itching to find out. Once I had finished it, good Lord I thought I would explode of all the other endings this book could have had. But, I highly suggest that you read this book, and I hope you're gonna be itching out of your skin to read it, too. :-D
From an Editor's Perspective:
I didn't find a ton of errors, but there was just one that kept popping up that had me pausing: Dr. Underwood closed her chart. Her is referring to Rose, but the sentence reads awkwardly. I caught it twice. Now, the kidling is the one that noticed it first, so if she's pointing it out, it has to be a little confusing. Other than that, nothing to write home about.
Rating:
1 Star for keeping me on my dang toes throughout
1 Star for pacing
1 Star for world building (that's one hell of an old building)
1 Star for making the character's head such a confusing place that I was never sure if I really wanted to be there or not
1 Star for grammar, plot, pacing, and consistency
Overall: 5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended for those that enjoy a gripping thriller with lots of twists and turns.
Whatchall think? Gonna check it out?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
February 26, 2016
Readers Meet Authors - Authors get Free Exposure
Happy Friday, everyone! Whew! I'm worn out from all those book reviews. Seriously. I have another one coming next week for Asleep though. It will be done a little differently, because I'm going to let my daughter take part. First of many (I hope). Anyway, today, I'm telling you about a new e-mail list you should subscribe to as a reader, and the person you can contact for free addition to this list if you're an author.
Yep, that's right, I said free.
Ready? Get your clicking fingers warm, and let's get going!
Here's the site: https://sites.google.com/site/ourauthorscorner/
On the left hand side, a little way down the page, is the signup link. Just do it.
For authors, you'll want to contact this lovely lady on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010945659964
Please mention when you DM that you're interested in the author feature newsletter.
Are you in, or are you out? *grin*
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Yep, that's right, I said free.
Ready? Get your clicking fingers warm, and let's get going!
Here's the site: https://sites.google.com/site/ourauthorscorner/
On the left hand side, a little way down the page, is the signup link. Just do it.
For authors, you'll want to contact this lovely lady on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010945659964
Please mention when you DM that you're interested in the author feature newsletter.
Are you in, or are you out? *grin*
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
February 24, 2016
Write Better. Write Faster. Right Now. A FREE 4-Part How-to Video Series
Happy Wednesday again! *grin* Okay, you guys, strap in, because this post is a doozy!
I'm so excited to share this!
Want to write faster (and BETTER)?
Want to finally write that novel?
This is where you start.
This 4-part video series is designed specifically to teach you—for free—how to start writing better, faster, today.
FYI, the makers of the videos are Heather Hildenbrand & S. M. Boyce: published, best-selling authors. They’re the real deal, with a NBC film option and published novels to drool over. They run a company called Find Time to Write and in true Find Time to Write BOSSness fashion, they decided to tackle the largest issue first.
Authors hire these ladies to level up their careers and propel them forward. But today, they’re doing this video series for free.
Check it out here.
Now, there's a place at the bottom where you can stick your e-mail address in and get the next three videos absolutely FREE, too.
What do you think? Will you be checking it out? Let me know in the comments.
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
I'm so excited to share this!Want to write faster (and BETTER)?
Want to finally write that novel?
This is where you start.
This 4-part video series is designed specifically to teach you—for free—how to start writing better, faster, today.
FYI, the makers of the videos are Heather Hildenbrand & S. M. Boyce: published, best-selling authors. They’re the real deal, with a NBC film option and published novels to drool over. They run a company called Find Time to Write and in true Find Time to Write BOSSness fashion, they decided to tackle the largest issue first.
Authors hire these ladies to level up their careers and propel them forward. But today, they’re doing this video series for free.
Check it out here.
Now, there's a place at the bottom where you can stick your e-mail address in and get the next three videos absolutely FREE, too.
What do you think? Will you be checking it out? Let me know in the comments.
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Book Spotlight - More Than Words
Happy Wednesday, everyone! Halfway through the week, we are! Today, I'm bringing you information on a young adult contemporary romance. Strap in, get your clicking fingers ready, and let's get going!
✯✯More Than Words by Elle Henry✯✯
Title: More Than Words
Author: Elle Henry
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Length (print): 194 Pages
Buy links: Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Kobo ~ iBooks
Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old Ansley Stevenson is trying to understand teenage love and all the emotional trappings it brings. Victim of a kidnapping as a child she suffers from social anxiety along with a panic disorder. People scare her into a panic; her goal is to live a normal life outside of therapy and medication.
She has never been the girl boy’s notice or find attractive as most people view her as a freak due to her past. This changes the moment she locks eyes with Simon Collins, the cousin of her best friend, Maxwell. He turns her world inside out by giving her the courage to stand on her own two without fear, while showing her the beauty that life and love brings if you just live it.
Add to your shelf on Goodreads!
What readers are saying:“This book which is part of a series kept me going from beginning to end. I am excited to read the next!” “Young love, anxiety attacks, a terrible dark secret from her past - all those elements come together to make this a very entertaining and engaging read. Buy it for yourself or to pass on to any teenage girl - you'll both enjoy it!”
About the author:
Growing up in Florida Elle was always called the girl with a book and told often I looked like a "Librarian". Which suited her just fine; because she enjoyed the escapism in reading and the fact that reading was like taking a journey anytime she pleased. She developed that passion for reading from her grandmother who is now deceased, but that love books and reading continued. She considers some of her favorite places in the world libraries, bookstores and museums.
Elle now lives with her family in Central Florida. Studying English with a focus on Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire. She credits some of her favorite authors as Bronte sisters, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Daphne Du Maurier, Sylvia Plath and Stephen King. Her life and love is writing and reading, and she has a site dedicated to her work called AvidWriterElle.com.
Find Elle online:
Facebook ~ A Girl and Her Books Publishing on Facebook ~ @Candidly_Elle ~ Newsletter
What do you think? Isn't that a great cover?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
✯✯More Than Words by Elle Henry✯✯
Title: More Than Words
Author: Elle Henry
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Length (print): 194 Pages
Buy links: Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Kobo ~ iBooks
Blurb:Sixteen-year-old Ansley Stevenson is trying to understand teenage love and all the emotional trappings it brings. Victim of a kidnapping as a child she suffers from social anxiety along with a panic disorder. People scare her into a panic; her goal is to live a normal life outside of therapy and medication.
She has never been the girl boy’s notice or find attractive as most people view her as a freak due to her past. This changes the moment she locks eyes with Simon Collins, the cousin of her best friend, Maxwell. He turns her world inside out by giving her the courage to stand on her own two without fear, while showing her the beauty that life and love brings if you just live it.
Add to your shelf on Goodreads!
What readers are saying:“This book which is part of a series kept me going from beginning to end. I am excited to read the next!” “Young love, anxiety attacks, a terrible dark secret from her past - all those elements come together to make this a very entertaining and engaging read. Buy it for yourself or to pass on to any teenage girl - you'll both enjoy it!”
About the author:
Growing up in Florida Elle was always called the girl with a book and told often I looked like a "Librarian". Which suited her just fine; because she enjoyed the escapism in reading and the fact that reading was like taking a journey anytime she pleased. She developed that passion for reading from her grandmother who is now deceased, but that love books and reading continued. She considers some of her favorite places in the world libraries, bookstores and museums.
Elle now lives with her family in Central Florida. Studying English with a focus on Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire. She credits some of her favorite authors as Bronte sisters, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Daphne Du Maurier, Sylvia Plath and Stephen King. Her life and love is writing and reading, and she has a site dedicated to her work called AvidWriterElle.com.
Find Elle online:
Facebook ~ A Girl and Her Books Publishing on Facebook ~ @Candidly_Elle ~ Newsletter
What do you think? Isn't that a great cover?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
February 23, 2016
Cover Reveal - Frequency
Happy Wednesday a second time, everyone! It's all about the cover reveal! If you remember my review of Frenzy from last week, you'll appreciate this post. The cover of the third book of the trilogy, Frequency, is revealed! Enjoy!
Title: FrequencyAuthor: Casey L BondGenre: YA ParanormalCover Designer: Cover Me DarlingModel: Nathan WellerExpected Release Date: April 11, 2016Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR
Blurb: When the Infected attacked, something horrific happened to Porschia Grant. Porschia in Frenzy was scary; Porschia with hallucinations is terrifying. There has to be a reason, and there must be a cure for the episodes refusing to release her from their tentacles of insanity.
Saul is in the center of the city surrounded by secrets–some are damning, some are eye opening—others might just offer hope and be worth fighting for. How can a person justify the possibility of infecting another human being? What might the humans and night-walkers lose if he doesn’t take the chance?
The decisions made, and the lies uncovered, will shock everyone in and around Blackwater, and they just might spark a revolution. Everything emits a sound… and hunger is deafening… horrible.
Award-winning author Casey L. Bond resides in Milton, West Virginia with her husband and their two beautiful daughters. When she’s not busy being a domestic goddess and chasing her baby girls, she loves to write young adult and new adult fiction. You can find more information about Bond’s books via the following links: Website: www.authorcaseybond.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/authorcaseybondTwitter: https://twitter.com/authorcaseybondGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7212486.Casey_L_BondPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/caseyb007Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PmE0pg
Title: FrequencyAuthor: Casey L BondGenre: YA ParanormalCover Designer: Cover Me DarlingModel: Nathan WellerExpected Release Date: April 11, 2016Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR
Blurb: When the Infected attacked, something horrific happened to Porschia Grant. Porschia in Frenzy was scary; Porschia with hallucinations is terrifying. There has to be a reason, and there must be a cure for the episodes refusing to release her from their tentacles of insanity.
Saul is in the center of the city surrounded by secrets–some are damning, some are eye opening—others might just offer hope and be worth fighting for. How can a person justify the possibility of infecting another human being? What might the humans and night-walkers lose if he doesn’t take the chance?
The decisions made, and the lies uncovered, will shock everyone in and around Blackwater, and they just might spark a revolution. Everything emits a sound… and hunger is deafening… horrible.
Award-winning author Casey L. Bond resides in Milton, West Virginia with her husband and their two beautiful daughters. When she’s not busy being a domestic goddess and chasing her baby girls, she loves to write young adult and new adult fiction. You can find more information about Bond’s books via the following links: Website: www.authorcaseybond.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/authorcaseybondTwitter: https://twitter.com/authorcaseybondGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7212486.Casey_L_BondPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/caseyb007Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PmE0pg
Bean Counting for Authors - Helping Writers and Creative Business Owners Grasp Accounting and Taxes
Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today, I have an awesome takeover post by the lovely Christina Mercer. YOU WANT TO READ THIS! Get it here on Amazon.
Here's an extra tidbit! If you're coming to Utopia con this year, Christina will be discussing this very topic in a panel! Title: The War Chest. Date: Thursday, June 23, 2016. Time: 3PM CST. See it on the sched app here!
Description:
For those who want to make a living as an author, it’s imperative to know the accounting side of the career path you’ve chosen. You gotta keep track of it all – the cost of swag, the travel, the conferences, the paperbacks, the promotions and advertising, and on and on.
This session will help keep you sane and your budget balanced (hopefully). Get tips from accountants and authors on how to keep track and manage your money, reveal the goods on what you can write off come tax time, and how to report it to Uncle Sam without losing an arm and a leg.
If you're not planning to attend the conference, change your mind now. There are tons of great panels, just like this one, for you to learn from! Get your tickets HERE.
Authoring books is amazingly fun and creative and never, EVER dull. . . However, along with all that imaginative wonderment, Authors come closer to becoming mini-accountants than they realize. Why? Because once anyone becomes an official business owner, he/she crosses into the realm of accounting and taxes. Oh, the horrors of it, right? But never fear!
When Authors Mean Business, they have propelled themselves from merely writing for “fun” to reaping well-earned monetary rewards. AND THAT IS A GOOD THING, RIGHT? Authors are not only wand-waving story weavers, but also real-world professionals running businesses that earn money. And, yes, along with that comes accounting and taxes. If that causes some of you Authors out there to squirm, just remind yourselves that it’s a sign of monetary success if your books are earning ENOUGH profits to generate said taxes. And you don’t have to figure it all out on your own!
In order to help fellow creatives with all of this business and accounting stuff, I offer a handy little guide with some important must-knows of accounting, taxation, budgeting, and planning for the future. Learn the differences between a hobby and a business; get a handle on different business structures; learn about proper bookkeeping, sales tax, common and complex tax deductions, retirement options and more!
BEAN COUNTING FOR AUTHORS-Helping Writers & Creative Business Owners Grasp Accounting & Taxes NOW AVAILABLE!!
GET IT HERE!
Counting each and every “Bean” earned may not be the idea of fun and adventure for most, but having lots of beans in the bank is a pretty great way for Authors to keep on doing what they do love most—WRITING BOOKS! And understanding some important business and financial basics is a big step toward making that happen.
Once-upon-a-time,
Christina Mercer
worked as a CPA. Though she retired that formal hat, you can still find numbers buzzing around her head. She is also an award-winning author of fiction for children and young adults. She currently resides in Northern California enjoying life with her husband, sons, pack of large dogs, and about 100,000 honeybees. What do you think? Plan to check it out?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
February 22, 2016
Book Review - Ride the Wind
Happy Monday! Yeah, I've been a busy reader this year already, and I'm almost done with Cress, book three of the Lunar Chronicles, so that review will be coming this week, too. But that's another story (see what I did there?). Today, we're talking about Starla! My daughter got three of Starla Huchton's books for Christmas: Shadows on Snow, Stillness of the Sky, and Ride the Wind. Needless to say, I stole one and read it (because I love Starla's books). Once I'd read
Lex Talionis
, her new adult book, I was hooked. Now that you know what a die-hard fan I am, let's get going!
About the book up for review today:
Title: Ride the Wind: A Flipped Fairy Tale
Author: Starla Huchton
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Fairy Tale
Length (print): 226 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $2.99
Blurb:
Once upon a time, I made a promise to a stranger. Though I'd never seen her face, I cared for her above all others.
Once upon a time, I broke my vow. In trying to save the one I loved, I condemned her to a cursed life and stripped her of all freedom in a single, misguided step.
Once upon a time, I set out on a journey. Though it might never earn me forgiveness, I would set her free or die trying.
I bought a set of the entire Flipped Fairy Tale collection in paperback from Starla Huchton for my ten-year-old daughter's Christmas gift. Of course, being a fan of Shadows on Snow, I knew I'd likely sneak and read all the stories behind her trusting little back. I managed to make it through one of two before she caught me, and you all have a review as a prize for my dastardly ways. Now that you know where I got the book, let's dive into the review.
From a Reader's Perspective:
I'm a fairy tale nut. From The Princess and the Pea to Hans and the Little Iron Man, I've read hundreds. Huchton's retellings always leave me with that same sense of child-like awe the originals did. I dive in, getting lost in the carefully crafted stories, hoping against hope the guy ends up with the girl. Well, this novel didn't disappoint me. Ride the Wind is such an intricate story of faithfulness, I was sitting on the edge of my seat, shaking the main character, Lukas, when I can see the detrimental mistake he's about to make. I was talking to the book in my hands as though he could hear me. Then, he goes and does it anyway. No, I can't tell you what "it" is, but I can tell you from that moment on, he fights with everything in himself to make it right. A perfectly flawed hero. I loved it. Why? Because he felt so real to me. Huchton never leaves you bored, and her pacing was spot on. World building was perfect. I could see it all, but she didn't go on and on with bog-you-down description.
One of the things I enjoyed most was finding characters from Shadows on Snow making their appearance. I didn't put it together right away, and was pleasantly surprised when I unraveled the clues. Brilliantly done.
From an Editor's Perspective:
Nothing noteworthy. I didn't stumble, shake my head, or get annoyed with errors. Gorgeous editing.
Rating:
1 Star for twisting yet another fairy tale so beautifully and keeping me engaged
1 Star for world building without overwhelming me
1 Star for pacing
1 Star for intertwining the books together so seamlessly
1 Star for editing
Overall: 5 out of 5 stars. Solid. Highly, highly recommended for anyone looking for an excellent escape, a great read, or a new twist on an old tale.
Have you guys read it? What did you think?
Be SURE and come back tomorrow, because I have a book being featured you won't want to miss.
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
About the book up for review today:
Title: Ride the Wind: A Flipped Fairy Tale
Author: Starla Huchton
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Fairy Tale
Length (print): 226 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $2.99
Blurb:Once upon a time, I made a promise to a stranger. Though I'd never seen her face, I cared for her above all others.
Once upon a time, I broke my vow. In trying to save the one I loved, I condemned her to a cursed life and stripped her of all freedom in a single, misguided step.
Once upon a time, I set out on a journey. Though it might never earn me forgiveness, I would set her free or die trying.
I bought a set of the entire Flipped Fairy Tale collection in paperback from Starla Huchton for my ten-year-old daughter's Christmas gift. Of course, being a fan of Shadows on Snow, I knew I'd likely sneak and read all the stories behind her trusting little back. I managed to make it through one of two before she caught me, and you all have a review as a prize for my dastardly ways. Now that you know where I got the book, let's dive into the review.
From a Reader's Perspective:
I'm a fairy tale nut. From The Princess and the Pea to Hans and the Little Iron Man, I've read hundreds. Huchton's retellings always leave me with that same sense of child-like awe the originals did. I dive in, getting lost in the carefully crafted stories, hoping against hope the guy ends up with the girl. Well, this novel didn't disappoint me. Ride the Wind is such an intricate story of faithfulness, I was sitting on the edge of my seat, shaking the main character, Lukas, when I can see the detrimental mistake he's about to make. I was talking to the book in my hands as though he could hear me. Then, he goes and does it anyway. No, I can't tell you what "it" is, but I can tell you from that moment on, he fights with everything in himself to make it right. A perfectly flawed hero. I loved it. Why? Because he felt so real to me. Huchton never leaves you bored, and her pacing was spot on. World building was perfect. I could see it all, but she didn't go on and on with bog-you-down description.
One of the things I enjoyed most was finding characters from Shadows on Snow making their appearance. I didn't put it together right away, and was pleasantly surprised when I unraveled the clues. Brilliantly done.
From an Editor's Perspective:
Nothing noteworthy. I didn't stumble, shake my head, or get annoyed with errors. Gorgeous editing.
Rating:
1 Star for twisting yet another fairy tale so beautifully and keeping me engaged
1 Star for world building without overwhelming me
1 Star for pacing
1 Star for intertwining the books together so seamlessly
1 Star for editing
Overall: 5 out of 5 stars. Solid. Highly, highly recommended for anyone looking for an excellent escape, a great read, or a new twist on an old tale.
Have you guys read it? What did you think?
Be SURE and come back tomorrow, because I have a book being featured you won't want to miss.
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
February 19, 2016
Book Review - Untamed
Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Well, I did a boo boo. I actually read Ride the Wind by Starla Huchton this year, too. I'll be writing that review Monday. How fun is this week? Anywho, today I have the novella from the Splintered series by A. G. Howard, Untamed. I wrote reviews for both the second and third books in the series, but not the first (I don't know why). You can find Unhinged here and Ensnared here, if you wish to check them out.
Let's get to it, shall we?
As with every time, we'll start with the details!
Title: Untamed (Splintered Companion Novella)
Author: A. G. Howard
Genre: Young Adult Dark Fantasy/Fairy Tale Retelling
Length (print): 288 pages
Buy Links: Hardcover $10.41
Blurb:
Alyssa Gardner went down the rabbit hole and took control of her destiny. She survived the battle for Wonderland and the battle for her heart. In this collection of three novellas, join Alyssa and her family as they look back at their memories of Wonderland. In Six Impossible Things, Alyssa recalls the most precious moments of her life after Ensnared, and the role magic plays in preserving the happiness of those she loves. Alyssa’s mother reminisces about her own time in Wonderland and giving up the crown to rescue the man who would become her husband in The Boy in the Web. And Morpheus delves into Jeb’s memories of the events of Splintered in The Moth in the Mirror, available in print for the first time.
You guys. When I saw there was another book in this series I almost lost my mind. Not only are the covers some of the most beautiful I've seen, but the stories inside continue to take me on wild rides. I grabbed this puppy on Amazon and gobbled it up in just a couple of days. Since I'm positive you don't give two shakes about where I got it or why, I'm moving on to the meat of my review.
From a Reader's Perspective:
Wow. I loved seeing how Alyssa is managing both worlds in this story. Watching everything unfold, and learning some of the backstory, was an escape like no other. How beautiful the love was between Alyssa and Jeb, and what a gentleman Morpheus turned out to be! I found myself lost in the beautiful, chaotic Wonderland that Howard built (but didn't go overboard on), and when I had to put the book down to adult, I was torn asunder. Alyssa continued to grow as a character in this novella. I could see myself being friends with her in the real world. What blew me away the most were the stories from Alyssa's mother. I always wondered how, when, and why everything came to be, and this book answered all my questions. There was never a dull moment, the action moving from one thing to the next constantly. So glad I read this one. Splintered fans will be dancing in the streets.
From an Editor's Perspective:
While there was a typesetting boo boo near the back of the book, there were no grammatical errors or anything like that. Wonderfully done.
Rating:
1 Star for giving me all that backstory I was craving
1 Star for showing how Alyssa grew since Ensnared ended
1 Star for glorious world building without bogging me down in details
1 Star for excellent pacing
1 Star for stellar editing
Overall, 5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend reading this book (whole series) if you're a fan of dark fantasy. Loved. It.
Have you read it? What did you think?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
Let's get to it, shall we?
As with every time, we'll start with the details!
Title: Untamed (Splintered Companion Novella)
Author: A. G. Howard
Genre: Young Adult Dark Fantasy/Fairy Tale Retelling
Length (print): 288 pages
Buy Links: Hardcover $10.41
Blurb:Alyssa Gardner went down the rabbit hole and took control of her destiny. She survived the battle for Wonderland and the battle for her heart. In this collection of three novellas, join Alyssa and her family as they look back at their memories of Wonderland. In Six Impossible Things, Alyssa recalls the most precious moments of her life after Ensnared, and the role magic plays in preserving the happiness of those she loves. Alyssa’s mother reminisces about her own time in Wonderland and giving up the crown to rescue the man who would become her husband in The Boy in the Web. And Morpheus delves into Jeb’s memories of the events of Splintered in The Moth in the Mirror, available in print for the first time.
You guys. When I saw there was another book in this series I almost lost my mind. Not only are the covers some of the most beautiful I've seen, but the stories inside continue to take me on wild rides. I grabbed this puppy on Amazon and gobbled it up in just a couple of days. Since I'm positive you don't give two shakes about where I got it or why, I'm moving on to the meat of my review.
From a Reader's Perspective:
Wow. I loved seeing how Alyssa is managing both worlds in this story. Watching everything unfold, and learning some of the backstory, was an escape like no other. How beautiful the love was between Alyssa and Jeb, and what a gentleman Morpheus turned out to be! I found myself lost in the beautiful, chaotic Wonderland that Howard built (but didn't go overboard on), and when I had to put the book down to adult, I was torn asunder. Alyssa continued to grow as a character in this novella. I could see myself being friends with her in the real world. What blew me away the most were the stories from Alyssa's mother. I always wondered how, when, and why everything came to be, and this book answered all my questions. There was never a dull moment, the action moving from one thing to the next constantly. So glad I read this one. Splintered fans will be dancing in the streets.
From an Editor's Perspective:
While there was a typesetting boo boo near the back of the book, there were no grammatical errors or anything like that. Wonderfully done.
Rating:
1 Star for giving me all that backstory I was craving
1 Star for showing how Alyssa grew since Ensnared ended
1 Star for glorious world building without bogging me down in details
1 Star for excellent pacing
1 Star for stellar editing
Overall, 5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend reading this book (whole series) if you're a fan of dark fantasy. Loved. It.
Have you read it? What did you think?
Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!
Jo
