Book Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Goodreads Summary: Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

Title: The Eternity Cure
Series: Blood of Eden #2
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Australia
Release Date: 30th April 2013
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher via NetGalley and also purchased

**Please note: there may be spoilers for The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1)**

This is another fantastic instalment from Ms Kagawa in the Blood of Eden series. The Eternity Cure is a full on adventure and Allie is a fantastic character. As with all of Ms Kagawa’s books, I love the writing style, so easy to read and addictive and this one is no exception to that rule.

Allie survived her meeting with her blood brother, Jackal and is now having nightmares when she sleeps, but they aren’t true nightmares, they are visions of what Kanin is enduring while in the evil hands of Sarren. Allie can feel the pull of her Sire and after leaving Zeke, she is now determined to find Kanin and rescue him from the torturing hands of Sarren.

Following the pull between them, Allie travels surviving off thugs and baddies that she finds along the way. The pull is taking Allie to Old D.C. and once she gets inside the fences, she doesn’t find Kanin waiting for her, but somebody that she thought she left behind. They form a pact and decide to call a truce to their fighting, wanting to find Kanin together and discover a cure for Rabidism. Allie decides not to trust him, but figures two is better than one when confronting the likes of Sarren.

After a close call with the Rabids in Old D.C., the pair travels back to where it all began, New Covington. Allie is a little apprehensive of returning to where she was born twice and doesn’t really want to go back.

Following protocol and trying to be good vampires, they go to check in with the Prince of New Covington. Finding that things have changed, the Fringe is no longer safe to humans or vampires. It appears a new strain of the virus has been released and is creating a new version of rabids, bleeders. These crazy psychotic humans tear their own flesh and try to eat anything they can catch before dying. Having to go underground, they find a guide through the sewers and into the City to see the Prince.

Allie cannot be sure who to trust anymore, can she really trust the Prince even though they both want the same thing? Finding betrayal in the Prince’s tower and love, Allie doesn’t know what she will do, but the only thing she does know is that a cure must be found to stop the bleeders virus from spreading. With no humans, the vampire race cannot survive either.

Will they find a cure for rabidism or the bleeders? Does one really exist? Can Allie find Kanin and stop Sarren from destroying him for good? Can a vampire have a broken heart? What will the next adventure be for Allie?

I really enjoyed the twists and the unexpected turns along Allie’s journey. She really did mature in this one and learned from some of her mistakes, but the biggest lesson of all is to come. She had so many questions that she hasn’t gotten the answers to; she was a little annoying about her feelings and the indecision, but I still love her. Allie has such an attitude and I love her cheekiness when she tries to talk herself out of situations. I cannot wait to read book 3, The Forever Song that will come out next year (a whole year to wait, aarrrggghh!)

4 FANTASTIC VAMPIRE ACTION BOOKS

Book #1 - The Immortal Rules

You can read my 5 book review HERE.

About the Author

Julie Kagawa, the New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Fey and Blood of Eden series was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.

When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time, but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a real job.

To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full time.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and the latest addition, a hyper-active Papillon.

~ Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~

COVER REVEAL: Wings (Black City #3) by Elizabeth Richards

Today we are super excited to share the cover to WINGS, the third and final book in author's Elizabeth Richard's BLACK CITY series!

Check out this beauty! 

Wings (Black City #3) by Elizabeth Richards

Get the first two books in the series! 

OPEN INTERNATIONAL!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

COVER REVEAL: Pendomus by Carissa Andrews

Today I am helping to reveal this beautiful cover for Pendomus by Carissa Andrews. Check out the synopsis below.

Pendomus (Pendomus Chronicles #1) by Carissa Andrews
Release Date: 10th October 2013
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy Dystopia (with paranormal romance)

Humanity has colonized on a tidally locked planet known as Pendomus, a planet of extremes. Half eternal scorching desert and half perpetual arctic night. Surviving along the temperate band between the two, we've set up home in a complex known as the Helix. Within the Helix lies a highly sophisticated, highly technological society that seems to function solely on humans fulfilling their life's purpose. That purpose is determined and nurtured through a person's natural aptitudes, as read by their daily brain scans. Eating, sleeping, even procreation is handled by professionals. These basic concepts, no longer a part of society's every day norm.

Seventeen-year-old Runa Cophem longs to be more than part of the Helix machine. Her life inside is anything but fulfilling. She feels disconnected, and longs to be more than society dictates. Inside, no one socializes, no one interacts in a meaningful way. It's never set right with Runa. She would love nothing more than to reach out to her family, but not even her own mother can show any semblance of love for her. Instead, Runa has found solace in the ancient woods nearby, despite being strictly forbidden.

Seventeen-year-old Runa Cophem longs to be more than part of the Helix machine. Her life inside is anything but fulfilling. She feels disconnected, and longs to be more than society dictates. Inside, no one socializes, no one interacts in a meaningful way. It's never set right with Runa. She would love nothing more than to reach out to her family, but not even her own mother can show any semblance of love for her. Instead, Runa has found solace in the ancient woods nearby, despite being strictly forbidden.

Runa's life takes an unforeseen turn when she's brutally attacked, and left for dead in those woods near the Helix. Rescued by a stranger with blue hair, she's immersed into a surprising way humanity has survived. Fueled by a yearning to belong, and an attraction she didn't even know was possible, Runa wants desperately to make a new life. Yet, there's much she doesn't know about herself, about the planet and the forces controlling her from afar.

What she needs is some answers.

About the Author

Born and raised in central MN, Carissa Andrews has always loved books. She started her career at 15 in a bookstore, just to be able to afford her book fetish. By 19, she worked for a magazine publisher. At 22, she was working for printers to learn their trade. At 27, she went back to school for graphic design, and became an award winning designer. Little did she know all of her experiences would lead her to becoming a self-publishing power house.

At 31, a magical world on a planet far away, invaded her mind.

At 34, she's learned what she needs to make her work successful.

Pendomus (Book 1 of the Pendomus Chronicles) will be released OCTOBER 10, 2013.

~ Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~

BOOK BLITZ: The Spiral Arm by Peter Boland

Today I am helping promote The Spiral Arm by Peter Boland and enter to win a copy at the bottom.

Title: The Spiral Arm
Series: Episode 1, Season 1
Author: Peter Boland
Publisher: Adrenalin Books
Release Date: 21st May 2013
Genre: Young Adult Dystopia

Wren Harper lives on an overcrowded Earth on the brink of apocalypse. There are just too many people. The answer lies 600 light-years away on Kepler; a planet more than double the size of Earth. For decades humans have been fighting another race for its control. Earth’s armies are depleted. So now 15-year-old cadets are sent to fight, trained along the way in vast combat ships. But why has Wren been chosen? She's small and geeky and not a fighter. Will she survive Kepler? Or will the training kill her first? This is a debut novella-length episode in a series full of cliffhanger endings.

About the Author

After studying to be an architect, Pete realised he wasn’t very good at it. He liked designing buildings he just couldn’t make them stand up, which is a bit of a handicap in an industry that likes to keep things upright. So he switched to advertising, writing ads for everything from cruise lines to zombie video games. After meeting his wife Shalini and having two boys, he was amazed when she sat and actually wrote a book. Then another and another. They were good too. Really good. So he thought, I’ll have a go at that. He soon realised there’s no magic formula. You just have to put one word in front of the other (and keep doing that for about a year). It also helps if you can resist the lure of surfing, Taekwondo, playing Lego with the boys and drinking beer in front of the TV.

~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~

Giveaway

One (1) eBook of The Spiral Arm
Open International
Ends midnight 10th July 2013

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK BLAST: The Undesirable by S Celi

Today I am sharing with you this fantastic young adult dystopian romance, The Undesirable by S Celi. I read this as a part of a tour in March (you can check out my 5 book review HERE) and it was fantastic. I cannot get enough of this wonderful book and cannot wait for book two, The Resistance. Please check it out below and enter the giveaway at the bottom.

The Undesirable (Undesirable #1) by S Celi
Release Date: 28th January 2013
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Romance

*This book is Mature YA/ New Adult. It is recommended for readers 14 and over.

What if everything you knew turned out to be a lie?

Charlotte Walker knows how to live under the rule of The Party. She has managed for 18 years. She helps out her drunken mother and keeps life going at a familiar, steady pace. She doesn’t ask questions, even though she has many of them in her heart.

Fostino Sanchez knows how to live under the rule of The Party, too. For 19 years, he’s worked to be the perfect Party member. He knows what must be done to keep Maxwell Cooper in power, and how find the The Undesirables that threaten to take away everything that matters.

As the months go by, what matters most to Fostino is Charlotte Walker.

While their love blooms, danger comes to Charlotte and Fostino’s small hometown of Harrison Corners, OH. Threats they never knew existed could take away all that they care about. And just when these two teens think they know what will come next, Charlotte learns the truth about a secret she has long suspected.

What Charlotte finds out changes everything.

EVERYTHING.

THE UNDESIRABLE is Charlotte Walker’s story, from her point of view. It is a thrilling, suspenseful tale of love, curiosity, adversity, and maturity against the backdrop of a futuristic war.

Should Charlotte trust Fostino with what she knows? Can she trust anyone? Will she find it in herself to rise up against terrible odds? What if the ultimate Undesirable is her?

The Undesirable is currently only $0.99 on Amazon - grab a copy quick - today's the last day!

About the Author

New Orleans born Sara Celi has lived all over the United States. She calls the Greater Cincinnati area and the Queen City home.

She's currently a TV reporter and anchor in Oklahoma City, and has spent more than a decade working in journalism. She graduated cum laude from Western Kentucky University in 2004.

Celi is also a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Positive.

The Undesirable is her debut novel.

In her spare time, she likes to read, shop, write, travel, run long distances, volunteer with the Junior League, and fund raise for Cooperative for Education, a non-profit providing educational opportunities for Guatemalan kids.

~ Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~

Other books by Ms Celi:

The Palms (Swept Away Novella #1) by S. Celi
Release Date: 25th June 2013
Genre: Adult Romance

Three days on Palm Beach will change everything.

We all have one--the one who got away. For 31-year-old Trent Matthews, that woman is Lauren Crawford. For 28-year-old Lauren Crawford, that man is Trent Matthews.

Ten years after they last saw each other on Palm Beach, an unexpected night at The Breakers sends Lauren and Trent roaring back into each others lives. She's still sassy, sexy, and sophisticated. He's still rich, handsome, and an expert with women. The years have passed, but old feelings haven't died.

Not even close.

Now, these two have a second chance at love.

The problem is--Trent left Lauren without any explanation in 2002. She's still mad and confused. Back then, Trent had his reasons--about a dozen--for his abrupt exit from her life. But even a decade later, he doesn't want to admit all of them--or make them public. And that hesitation may cost him Lauren. Forever.

Will Trent admit the mistakes of his youth? Will Lauren grant Trent her forgiveness? Or will they lose love again underneath THE PALMS?

*This story is novella length, at 23,000 words.

Giveaway

Three (3) eBooks up for grabs
Open Internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: There Comes A Prophet by David Litwack

Today I have the pleasure of reviewing this great young adult dystopian book, There Comes A Prophet by David Litwack.

Title: There Comes A Prophet
Series: n/a
Author: David Litwack
Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing
Release Date: 9th July 2012
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Format: eBook
Source: via Xpresso Book Tours from Author for an honest review on tour

Who among us will cast aside a comfortable existence and risk death to follow a dream?

A world kept peaceful for a thousand years by the magic of the ruling vicars. But a threat lurks from a violent past. Wizards from the darkness have hidden their sorcery in a place called the keep and left a trail of clues that have never been solved.

Nathaniel has grown up longing for more but unwilling to challenge the vicars. Until his friend Thomas is taken for a teaching, the mysterious coming-of-age ritual. Thomas returns but with his dreams ripped away. When Orah is taken next, Nathaniel tries to rescue her and ends up in the prisons of Temple City. There he meets the first keeper of the ancient clues. But when he seeks the keep, what he finds is not magic at all.

If he reveals the truth, the words of the book of light might come to pass:
“If there comes among you a prophet saying ‘Let us return to the darkness,’ you shall stone him, because he has sought to thrust you away from the light.”

My Review

This isn’t something that I would normally read and to be honest it took me a little bit to get into the fray. Mr Litwack is certainly a very talented author and has an easy way with his words, but this was a little religious for my liking. I really did enjoy the overall story and loved the world building, strong characters and the little romance thrown into the mix.

Nathaniel, Thomas and Orah have grown up together and are the best of friends. They are all around the same age, give or take a few months and are always joined at the hip. Growing up in a small town, in a world without technology, without electricity and with a religious vicar ruling them all; their lives are anything but easy and carefree.

Once a season a priest comes to visit each town to determine if any children have come of age and need a teaching in their Temple City. Any child with rebellious actions or thoughts are determined they need to be put in line and kept in the Light. This particular season, Thomas has come of age and is taken. Their teachings are never spoken about and for good reason. It inflicts fear in all the followers and keeps everybody loyal.

Thomas is gone for weeks and when he comes home, is a changed man. He is afraid and hurting and never wants to go back to the Temple. The next season, Orah is taken and Nathaniel cannot accept she has gone, determined to rescue her, he treks to Temple City. Upon waiting for the Vicar’s decision, Nathaniel is placed in a room next to an old man. This man confides in Nathaniel and tells him of a deep secret that can change their entire world. He is a Keeper and Nathaniel is to be the Seeker. There was a secret society that has all the information to save the world and bring down the vicar ruling. To keep the secret safe, a series of clues were left and this would direct the Seeker to the Keep.

Nathaniel and Orah are allowed to leave under conditions and secretly decide to follow this quest. They never want anybody to undergo the teachings again. Thomas finds out about their departure and tags along. The three head off on their adventure, trying to see if this century old secret is true or false.

Are the threats that the Vicar’s have spoken of all these years true? Is the Dark really as bad as they claim? Can they all survive the trials of the trek without being caught? What will happen if they find the Keep? What will happen to their world?

I loved the characters very much, Orah is my favourite with her sass and cheeky know it all attitude, she was fun to watch grow and become a woman. I really felt for Thomas, he went through a lot and felt horrible after his teaching, but really surprised me in the end. Nathaniel was the strength that kept them going and he discovered some things about himself along the way. This book was certainly surprising and I can’t wait to read more by Mr Litwack.

4 GREAT BOOKS

"I never doubted it. But now what I want to know is what happens when we get there? What do the keepmasters expect of us? How does it end? When a seeker finds what he seeks, what does he become?"
~ 52% on my Kindle

---

About the Author

The urge to write first struck when working on a newsletter at a youth encampment in the woods of northern Maine. It may have been the night when lightning flashed at sunset followed by northern lights rippling after dark. Or maybe it was the newsletter's editor, a girl with eyes the color of the ocean. But he was inspired to write about the blurry line between reality and the fantastic.

Using two fingers and lots of white-out, he religiously typed five pages a day throughout college and well into his twenties. Then life intervened. He paused to raise two sons and pursue a career, in the process becoming a well-known entrepreneur in the software industry, founding several successful companies. When he found time again to daydream, the urge to write returned. There Comes a Prophet is his first novel in this new stage of life.

David and his wife split their time between Cape Cod, Florida and anywhere else that catches their fancy. He no longer limits himself to five pages a day and is thankful every keystroke for the invention of the word processor.

~ Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~

Giveaway

One (1) eBook (open internationally) OR one (1) Paperback (Open US/CANADA ONLY) of There Comes A Prophet by David Litwack
ends midnight 3rd April 2013

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: The Undesirable by S Celi - BLOG TOUR

Today I have the pleasure of reviewing this fantastic new adult dystopian book, The Undesirable by S Celi.

Title: The Undesirable
Series: Undesirable #1
Author: S Celi
Publisher: Kindle Direct Publishing
Release Date: 28th January 2013
Genre: New Adult Dystopian
Format: eBook
Source: Provided by CBL Book Tours for an honest review

*This book is Mature YA/ New Adult. It is recommended for readers 14 and over.

What if everything you knew turned out to be a lie?

Charlotte Walker knows how to live under the rule of The Party. She has managed for 18 years. She helps out her drunken mother and keeps life going at a familiar, steady pace. She doesn’t ask questions, even though she has many of them in her heart.

Fostino Sanchez knows how to live under the rule of The Party, too. For 19 years, he’s worked to be the perfect Party member. He knows what must be done to keep Maxwell Cooper in power, and how find the The Undesirables that threaten to take away everything that matters.

As the months go by, what matters most to Fostino is Charlotte Walker.

While their love blooms, danger comes to Charlotte and Fostino’s small hometown of Harrison Corners, OH. Threats they never knew existed could take away all that they care about. And just when these two teens think they know what will come next, Charlotte learns the truth about a secret she has long suspected.

What Charlotte finds out changes everything.

EVERYTHING.

THE UNDESIRABLE is Charlotte Walker’s story, from her point of view. It is a thrilling, suspenseful tale of love, curiosity, adversity, and maturity against the backdrop of a futuristic war.

Should Charlotte trust Fostino with what she knows? Can she trust anyone? Will she find it in herself to rise up against terrible odds? What if the ultimate Undesirable is her?

My Review

Well, I seem to be reading some awesome books this past week. The Undesirable is no exception, man this was a fantastic dystopia and I really want book 2, The Resistance now. The writing style and the world created for this book were fantastic. There was such an easy flow and the characters were very lovable. I really felt for Charlotte, she really did have the raw end of the stick and what’s a book without a hot love interest….

There is a war between the US and Canada over oil and petrol. Stock has been depleted and the government apparently wasn’t doing a very good job. A rebel, Maxwell Cooper took over the country and became the new leader after the President was assassinated (everybody knows Maxwell had this done, but no evidence proves this). Maxwell has turned the country into slave labour and if you are classed as an Undesirable, you are killed on the spot. You cannot go against Maxwell or his beliefs and you can definitely not be pro Canada.

“To his left on the screen, a huge revolving graphic shared the national average for a gallon on unleaded gas; $16.99.” loc 153 4%

When this began, Charlotte lived with her Mother and she had no idea who her Father was. The whole town knew her Mother was a local lady of the night and she got teased about it at school. School was all about Maxwell Cooper and getting his beliefs drummed into you. If you were a good soldier, you became a Homeland Guard, if not you worked the factory.

Escaping the hum drum of her life, Charlotte went for a walk after curfew and was lying down in a field staring up at the stars. Hearing footsteps, she startled when Fostino came behind her and sat with her. This was the first of many visits with each other and they soon became friends, then more. Fostino was a Homeland Guard and pro Maxwell Cooper.

The very next day, the whole town was forced to be counted and become a drone, either working in the factory 6 days a week or an Undesirable. As Charlotte’s Mother was a drunk and everyone knew her profession, she was deemed an undesirable. Taken around the corner to a park, she was shot dead. Everybody heard and Charlotte was devastated, but she didn't want to show her feelings or she herself would be killed for weakness.

Learning she must keep her mouth shut and work as hard as she could, Charlotte would not become an Undesirable. Meeting up with Fostino was the only light in her darkened world, feeling all alone, she has nothing but him. One night walking home from the factory, she is approached by a man. He was part of the SSR (Specialised Secret Resistance), a rebel cause set out to destroy Maxwell Cooper.

“Should I try to leave tonight? Should I tell Fostino? How long before they came for me? Should I trust Thompson? What had I done to deserve this?” loc 1545 42%

Trying to work out if she can trust them, Charlotte doesn't know if she should leave or stay with Fostino. Deciding she has nothing to lose and how much Fostino is pro Maxwell Cooper, she decides to go with the SSR. BUT things are not what Charlotte thought and now Fostino is being threatened and could become an Undesirable. Charlotte is determined to rescue him and tell him of her love.

“His lips crash into mine seconds after he speaks. His breath is hot in my mouth, his tongue fills the space, and his arms haul me to his body. This kiss goes deeper than any he’s ever given me before. I return it because I need it. Deep underground, hidden from the hell that aways us, the moment is ours and ours along.” Loc 3003 81%

Can Charlotte get to Fostino in time? Will she be captured by The Party? Is Charlotte an Undesirable even though she has done nothing but work her fingers to the bone for them? Is there a life in Canada for her, safe and free?

I loved this concept and it really hits home that it could be a possibility in reality one day. True love and dystopian, this was a fabulous mix and there is so much potential with so many directions that it can go in. The characters evolved with such strength that I couldn't help but urge them forward and hope that they will trust each other enough to continue on. I can’t wait for The Resistance and I have added another new favourite author to my collection. Highly recommend to all young adult readers.

5 FANTASTIC DYSTOPIAN BOOKS

---

About the Author

New Orleans born Sara Celi has lived all over the United States. She calls the Greater Cincinnati area and the Queen City home.

She's currently a TV reporter and anchor in Oklahoma City, and has spent more than a decade working in journalism. She graduated cum laude from Western Kentucky University in 2004.

Celi is also a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Positive.

The Undesirable is her debut novel.

In her spare time, she likes to read, shop, write, travel, run long distances, volunteer with the Junior League, and fund raise for Cooperative for Education, a non-profit providing educational opportunities for Guatemalan kids.

~ Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway