Friday 7 December 2012

Review: Ever My Merlin by Priya Ardis

Bookish Details:
Series: My Merlin Series #3
Publisher: Ink Lion Books
Release Date: October 15th 2012
Buy It From: Amazon US - Amazon UK

Synopsis:

He was the right one, the fated one, but was he right for her?

The end of the world. The day of reckoning. The final battle.

In the last chapter of the My Merlin Series, it is a time of great strife for Arriane (aka Ryan) and Merlin (aka Matt) as they struggle to stem the flood of destruction unleashed upon the world. Their only hope rests in the one object that can restore their greatest ally: the Healing Cup.

With every scrap of life hanging in the balance, Ryan must convince both friends and enemies that the key to survival rests in the plans of a sword-toting girl of only eighteen. She must reconcile a fifteen-hundred-year rivalry between two brothers, and be ruthless enough to break a heart—and a life—in the process. And at some point, she really needs to get herself to Prom.

My Review:

I am a huge fan of the My Merlin series so it's safe to say that I was mega excited to read the final chapter in Ryan, Vane and Matt's story. The final book in the trilogy sees Ryan in a race against time to prevent the destruction of the earth. The story is action packed from the start and it kept me reading well into the night!

Let me just say, I think Priya has possibly created one of my favourite love triangles of all time. I had a huge amount of love for both Vane and Matt and throughout the first half of the story, I really couldn't choose between them. You don't know the pain of a love triangle until you read this series! For the first two books in the series, I was set on Vane as my favourite, but in this book, Ryan goes on an important journey with Matt and we see much more of him, so I felt myself adoring him almost as much as I did Vane.

There was a definite inner debate going on in my head throughout this book:

I love Vane. 

Oh, but I love Merlin. 

But I love Vane! 

And I love Merlin!

BUT I REALLY LOVE VANE!!

Seriously though, I adore everything about Vane. His snarky comments, the fact that he calls Ryan Dorothy. He will definitely remain one of my favourite book characters! Also, we finally get some answers about his and Matt’s lives.

I love how this book shows how far Ryan has developed throughout the series. She’s a lot stronger and I love how she does things for herself, without having Matt or Vane hold her hand, in a sense.

The plot is mind-blowing. There is so much action going on in each chapter and there are so many ‘OMG!’ moments. There was a moment quite soon into the story that I didn’t see coming and it reminded me that characters’ lives were at stake. I love how there was humour kept into the story throughout all the seriousness. We see that, although Ryan is the sword-bearer and has to help save the world, she is still just a typical teenage girl, which makes her so much more relatable and real to the reader.

I cannot put into words how much I have adored this series. The ending was beyond amazing and it has sealed the deal on this trilogy becoming one of my favourite book series. I’d like to thank Priya for creating such an incredible story and I'm excited to see what she writes next!

If you haven’t discovered this fabulous series yet, you really must read the first book, My Boyfriend Merlin, right now! Word of caution, you may want to watch out if you're reading this on public transport. Squeals of excitement often earn you some strange looks...

Royal Rating:

 
 

Saturday 1 December 2012

Hello, I'm Back!

Hey Everyone!

As you may have noticed, my blog has been a little quiet this month. That's because I've been focusing all of my energy into assignments and NaNoWriMo - it all paid off in the end!


So now that NaNoWriMo is over, I can go back to my usual blogger self. A big congrats to everyone else who took part in NaNo this year; even if you didn't win, it's the taking part that counts!



Thursday 15 November 2012

It's finally here!

So, while I was sleeping over here in the UK, the City of Bones teaser trailer was released! I cannot even describe how excited I am to see this film. The cast are so perfect!

Let me know your thoughts on the trailer! Is it how you hoped?


Monday 5 November 2012

Happy November!

So, it's November! Which means for some of us it's NaNoWriMo time! How many of you are taking part this month?


This year is my first time attempting NaNoWriMo. It was a bit of a last minute decision and with all the work I have to do this semester, I haven't made things easy for myself. If I seem to be posting less this month, you know why!

If you are taking part then GOOD LUCK! I know it'll get tough sometimes but stock up on some tasty treats and get writing. The best part of taking part is rewarding yourself when it's all over. Even if you don't reach the target word count, at least you decided to take the plunge and get involved!



Tuesday 23 October 2012

Interview With a Publisher!

Hey everyone!

I do quite a few author interviews so I decided to do something a little different and interview a publisher! I know I speak to many young writers who want to get published so I hope some of you find this interview useful!

I pleased to welcome Sara from Inspired Quill Publishers. I've heard many great things about her publishing company!

What type of books do you publish?
Inspired Quill publishes most types of book. Our genres do not include Romance, Biography and Children's however, due to the different methods if marketing that these require. We do however, also publish non-fiction, short stories (collections) and poetry. Maybe in the future we will look to specialise, but for now we're more interested in publishing great literature, rather than closing our doors to too much.

Do you think the age of the author matters in terms of them getting published?
I would really like to say 'no' here, but I have to admit that it does matter in some regards. If you're still at school for example, how are you going to do book tours? Will your parents/guardians sign their name below yours on any contracts that are put to you? I also feel that good writing comes with experience. You can write relatively well from a young age (look at Christopher Paolini), but it's like everything else - the longer you stick at it, the better you become at the subtleties of a craft. On the other side of the coin, would a publisher really want to work with someone in their 70's? Especially if they're not really tech-savvy or able to attend author signings. Not a lot of people remember that the whole 'age in publishing' debate moves both ways for new authors. Whilst I would never reject an author's submission just because of their age, I would nevertheless have to be 100% happy with the submission if the author was under the age of 18, or over the age of 65.

Do you recommend that authors get agents before submitting their manuscript?
The answer to this question depends on where the writers want to submit to. I believe all of the 'Big 6' publishers (Hatchette, Random House, Penguin, Bloomsbury, etc) all require that authors have agents who pitch on their behalf. There's no way to get around that, I'm afraid. With smaller publishers (such as Inspired Quill) however, you don' actually require agents to send in your work. Having an agent tends to lend credibility to your cause, as you've made the effort to seek one out, and your title must be decent for it to have gotten representation in the first place, but unless you have your heart set on the really big players, it isn't a prerequisite.

What methods of promotion do you use to spread word about a book?
Methods of promotion that Inspired Quill uses include Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Conventions, Blog Tours, Real Tours, Book Trailers and more. We're always trying to look for fun new ways of promoting our titles, and as you can imagine it's a never-ending endeavour!

What advice would give to a young writer trying to get published?
The answer to this question could almost be a blog post in itself! But here's the bit of primary advice I normally give to young writers: Don't take rejection personally. If you really, truly want something, you'll fight tooth and nail for it. But this isn't to say that you should go on thinking that your book is the best thing since [Insert Favourite Book Title Here]! Unless specified otherwise, a rejection means that although your work might be good, it isn't quite there yet. It doesn't have that thing that can catapult it into the bestsellers list. Whatever you do, don't stop learning. By Stephen King's 'On Writing', and Arthur Plotnik's 'The Element of Authorship'. The best authors I work with at Inspired Quill are those that want to constantly improve their craft. It takes time to master the technical side of writing. Oh! And another thing: make every sentence count!

Thanks for the awesome interview Sara!

If you would like to know more then you can contact Sara here:
Twitter = @InspiredQuill (or) @LadyTath
Email: sjslack@inspired-quill.com
Facebook = http://www.facebook.com/InspiredQuill
Website: http://www.inspired-quill.com


Tuesday 9 October 2012

Author Interview: Shayne Leighton!

Hi everyone! I pleased to present an interview with the fabulous Shayne Leighton, author of 'Of Light and Darkness'.

1. Hi Shayne! Thanks for stopping by the blog! What inspired you to write Of Light and Darkness?  
Thanks! I'm happy to be here. I was inspired to write Of Light and Darkness because I was inspired by real people and invents in my life. I love fantasy, and I would love to live in a fantastical world, so I took situations in my life and people I actually know and created a world with magic and fantasy where they would exist. My husband inspired the character of Valek and because he is from the Czech Republic, I set the novel in Prague.


2.  Did you always plan for the book to be a series?  
Yes. I always knew the story was too big for just one book. I wanted the time and space to expound upon characters and their back stories and to really build on the conflicts and themes of the story.


3. What where the best and worst parts of writing Of Light and Darkness?  
The worst parts, by far, was hitting a writer's block. There is nothing worse than trying to tell a story, and not being able to figure out what happens next. Sometimes the novel would sit on the computer for weeks, before I figured out where I wanted to go with it. The best and most gratifying parts, was when I was really jiving with a scene and loving how the story was developing and what the characters were doing. Sometimes, the characters really drive the story.


4. I hear that you’ve developed the book into film! What was that experience like for you?  
We are still in the development process. It's both a struggle, and a lot of fun. It's cool to see the project coming together and various filmmakers and cast members eager to get on board with the project. I love filming the teasers to entice both audience members and industry people. It's cool to see the story I wrote play out with real people and with sets, costumes, and other visual aspects.


5. Any hints as to what’s next in store for Charlotte and Valek?  
A lot of drama and a lot of danger awaits Valek and Charlotte in book two! I can definitely say that their relationship gets challenged. You'll just have to wait and see. ;) 

Thanks for stopping by Shayne! I can't wait for book 2!

You can read my review of her awesome novel here.

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Busy Times!

Hey guys!

I just wanted to apologise for being MIA this week! It was my first week back at uni so I had to sort out my classes, meaning I was quite a busy bee. I'm all sorted now though so I can get back to blogging!

I have loads coming up this month including author interviews and even an interview with a publisher so be sure to keep an eye out for them. I'm also going to be posting a few features about young writers this month so be sure to check that out if you're a young, aspiring writer!






Monday 24 September 2012

Blog Tour: Flight by Alyssa Rose Ivy Interview!

Tour brought to you by Bewitching Book Tours. Full Tour Schedule HERE.

Hey everyone! I'm excited to be a part of the Flight book tour! Flight is such an awesome read and i'm happy to present to you an interview with the author, Alyssa Rose Ivy.

Alyssa Rose Ivy lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write.
http://www.alyssaroseivy.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/alyssaroseivy
https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaRoseIvy
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5047249.Alyssa_Rose_Ivy

1. Hi Alyssa! What inspired you to write Flight? 
Hi Katie, thanks for having me!
I went to college in New Orleans, and there is just something about that city that makes you believe that the supernatural is possible. I wanted to write a paranormal romance, and the idea took off naturally from there.

2. What did you enjoy most about creating a supernatural romance?
I loved creating a completely new supernatural creature. I’m a big fan of shifters in general, but I loved writing about a new one. I also think it’s a lot of fun to show what happens when everyday people get involved in a supernatural world.

3. The characters in Flight are awesome! Do you base any of your characters on people you know in real life?
I think most of my characters have a little bit of people I know in them, but at least in Flight, they aren’t based on anyone in particular. However, some of the experiences the characters have come from real life.

4. Any hints as to what’s in store for Allie and Levi next?
In book two, Focus, Allie settles into life as a college student in New Orleans and has to figure out where Levi fits into her life. She gets pulled further into The Society, and Levi strives to find a way to make things right. There’s definitely tons of romance and action in store for the pair.

5. If you could spend the day with one of your characters, who would it be and how would you spend the day?
Only one? Ohh, that’s tough. Well if I could only pick one from Flight it would have to be Owen. He doesn’t get much of a voice in Flight, but I really want to get his take on the whole Allie-Levi situation. I also want to know what it was like growing up with Hailey as a sister. I bet he’d be able to show me some pretty cool places in New Orleans.

6. What do you love most about being an author?
I love getting to interact with so many amazing authors, bloggers and readers. It’s also unbelievably cool to get the opportunity to share my stories with people.

7. What are you currently working on?
I’m getting ready to release a New Adult contemporary romance called Derailed. I’m currently working on a companion novel for it called Veer.

Thanks for stopping by Alyssa, I can't wait for Focus!

You can check out my review of Flight here. 

Flight
By Alyssa Rose Ivy
The Crescent Chronicles, Book 1 


Genre: Mature YA/New Adult Paranormal Romance
Number of pages: 250


Book Description:

Sometimes you just have to take flight.


A summer in New Orleans is exactly what Allie needs before starting college. Accepting her dad’s invitation to work at his hotel offers an escape from her ex-boyfriend and the chance to spend the summer with her best friend. Meeting a guy is the last thing on her mind—until she sees Levi.


Unable to resist the infuriating yet alluring Levi, Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her.
 Kindle Nook Smashwords

Monday 17 September 2012

Review: Of Light and Darkness by Shayne Leighton

Bookish Details:
Series: The Vampire's Daughter (Of Light and Darkness #1)
Pages: 258
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Release Date: June 28th 2011
Buy It From: Amazon US - Amazon UK

Synopsis:
When one human stands before an army of impossible obstacles, the likelihood of overcoming them in this coming-of-age modern fairytale may result in war between light and darkness.

Abandoned as an infant in Prague, naive and strong-willed Charlotte Ruzikova was raised by one of the last Vampires left alive. As a human, she knows no other home than the one nestled deep in the woods of Eastern Europe, where Witches drew spells of enchantment, Phasers threw tea parties, and Elves are the closest in kin. Charlotte has lived her life in the dark with her Guardian, content to having him to herself and reveling in his attention, until she's realizes she wants more...

Resident medical doctor and Vampire, Valek Ruzik fears the day his ward would come of age and blossom into a fine woman, and he is forced to confront his own motives as time is of the essence once his past catches up to him, and their lives become endangered...

As genocide and war threatens their secret society, the dictator in power is ready to wipe out Valek's race, but Charlotte will not allow that to happen. Fighting for the only one she's ever loved and truly believed in, she will do whatever it takes to save their love...before the sun comes up and light takes over.

My Review:


Usually I avoid Vampire books in fear of them being cliché but I can tell you now that this is a Vampire book like no other. Set in a world full of Witches, Elves and even giant talking spiders, this book really is in a league of its own!  

Of Light and Darkness follows the story of Charlotte who was discovered on the streets as a child by Vampire, Valek. He raises her like a daughter but as she is growing into a woman, things are starting to change. Valek isn’t seeing her as a little child anymore and Charlotte loves him more than a father. 

I really adored this story and found it hard to stop reading! I love the world that Shayne has created within the novel. The unusual characters are awesome (I’d quite like an Edwin of my own please!). I really adore Valek. I enjoyed reading about him and wanted to know more about his life. 

I sympathised greatly with Charlotte and Valek’s situation. They’re both unsure of how to deal with their growing feelings for each other due to the fact that Valek has raised Charlotte like a father. 

The ending to the novel was fantastic. There were so many ‘OMG!’ moments during the last few chapters and I’m definitely excited to see what’s next in store for Charlotte, Valek and the others. 

This book is a great read and personally I felt it was a breath of fresh air when it comes to Vampire novels. I’d like to thank Shayne for redeeming Vampires for me! 

Royal Rating: 

 
 

Wednesday 5 September 2012

Proud Moment!

Okay guys, so I'd just like to take a little time to fan-girl on this gorgeous picture of The Mortal Instruments cast!



After being a fan of the series for so long, I can't even begin to explain how happy it makes me to see those awesome characters come to life! I'm sure Cassandra Clare must be feeling pretty stoked right now!

I'm super excited to see City of Bones when it's released next year and I hope that the film will bring even more people to the amazing fandom of The Mortal Instruments.





Wednesday 29 August 2012

Feature: But What About The Cover? #7


'But What About The Cover?' is going to be a weekly feature hosted by The Queen of Teen Fiction. I will be pitching two book covers from various countries up against each other to decide which one is best.

This week the cover spotlight is on Abandon by the fabulous Meg Cabot. Today I will be showing the US and the UK covers for the book.

                                                US                                                     UK



Now, this is way too hard for me to call. Both covers are absolutely stunning! I think that both of the covers represent the story and plot line well. I actually do own both covers because they are so pretty! I like the fact that the UK cover shows both Pierce and John. The design is very clever. That being said, the US cover is equally as eye catching!

So, this one is up to you! What cover do you prefer and why? Let me know!



Friday 24 August 2012

Book Tour: Laura DeLuca Interview and Review of Phantom!

Hey everyone!

I'm pleased to present to you an Interview with Laura Deluca on her Phantom Blog Tour along with a review of the novel.


Reading Addiction Blog Tours


1. Hi Laura! What inspired you to write Phantom? 
It was kind of a spur of the moment decision. I was cleaning my house and listening to the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack when I suddenly thought to myself that my gothic friend Justyn, who is an actor, would make a great Phantom. Then I thought, hey, that would make a great book…six months later it was done!

2. Where you a fan of The Phantom of the Opera yourself? 
Much like Rebecca, I have always been obsessed with the Phantom of the Opera. I haven’t had a chance to see it live yet, but have watched every movie version, seen every play that is available on DVD, and read every book on the subject.

3. Rebecca, Tom and Justyn make up a fabulous love triangle! What do you think makes an interesting love triangle? 
I enjoy love triangles that involve an old love and a new love. Sometimes you can be certain the person you’re with is the only one for you. Then you meet someone new and there is that instant connection that you just can’t deny…

4. I loved reading about Justyn’s Wiccan lifestyle. Why did you decide to make him Wiccan? 
The character of Justyn and his mother were inspired by real people, both of whom are Wiccan/pagan. Because it tends to be a misunderstood religion, it seemed to tie in well to the often misunderstood Phantom. You can learn a little more about the real people who inspired the characters on my blog. http://authorlauradeluca.blogspot.com/2012/03/many-masks-of-phantom.html 

5. Did you relate to Rebecca at all whilst writing Phantom? 
I relate very much to, Becca. I was raised with the same type of conservative views of the world. When I was her age, I would have been just as intimated by someone who was different. Happily, I have grown up enough to learn to look beyond the exteriors, and I think Rebecca has too.

6. What made you decide to write for a YA audience? 
I started writing books when I was a teenager, and set my books into the world I have living in. I stuck with YA because it worked best with my storylines. I do have a few ideas for adult novels that I plant to work on in the future.

7. Which other YA authors do you admire most? 
Christopher Pike was my favorite young adult author when I was a teenager, and he remains my idol to this day. His stories are unique and original. It was his influence that made me decide to stick to the YA genre, even after I “grew up.”

8. Are you currently working on any other projects? 
I am currently working on editing a fantasy novel called Morrigan. Morrigan is a teenage witch who has been shuffled from one foster home to another all her life. Now she is about to discover she is a princess from the mystical land of Tír Na NÓg. The handsome werewolf Filtiarn guides her through countless perils to find her mother, Ceridwyn, and grandmother, Hecate. Only together can they complete the magical triad and save their world. This YA novel will be released 10/5/12.
I’m also in the process of writing a sequel to Phantom inspired by the musical, Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. I’m hoping to have it finished and released by the Spring 2013.

I can't wait for the sequel to Phantom! Thanks for stopping by Laura! 


Author Bio
Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart.  In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.

Conect With Laura:


Check out my review of Phantom below:

Bookish Details:
Pages: 262
Publisher: Pagan Writers Press 
Genre: YA Thriller
Release Date: March 30th 2012
Buy It From: Amazon

Synopsis:
The “Phantom” was a musical phenomenon that Rebecca had always found enchanting. She had no idea that her life was about to mirror the play that was her obsession. When her high school drama club chooses “Phantom” as their annual production, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker who uses the lines from the play as their calling card.

Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva, and like her character, she is torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer and basketball star who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist.

Almost immediately after casting, strange things start to happen both on and off the stage. Curtains fall. Mirrors are shattered. People are hurt in true phantom style. They all seem like accidents until Rebecca receives notes and phone calls that hint at something more sinister. Is Justyn bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or in real life are the roles of the hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she’s running out of time as she gets closer and closer to opening night. Only when the mask is stripped away, will the twenty first century phantom finally be revealed.

My Review:

Phantom had me hooked from just reading the synopsis. I was completely drawn in by the idea of a modern twist on the story of The Phantom of the Opera. 

Phantom follows Rebecca during her senior year. Throughout her high school life she has stayed in the shadows but when she discovers that the school play for the year will be Phantom of the Opera, she just has to audition. After the play is cast, all hell starts to break loose. 

There are so many unpredictable twists throughout the book. The plot is seriously awesome – I actually couldn’t stop reading.

The characters are fabulous. Rebecca’s typical high school life before she gets the part in the play is very relatable. She is strong when she needs to be and is a very likable character.

Justyn, or should I say Lord Justyn, is totally awesome. I adored him and his lifestyle - he isn't your average teenage guy! He is a fascinating character to read about and I can totally understand why Rebecca is so taken by him. The building of the relationship between him and Rebecca is adorable.

I also liked Tom. He was sweet and I did feel sympathy towards him throughout the story. The three of them made a really entertaining love triangle and there were some funnier moments when Tom and Justyn were both fighting for Rebecca’s affections. 

The ending was spectacular! I couldn’t see it coming from a mile off. It was such a spooky and heart-racing ending to everything.

Phantom was a great mysterious read and I definitely recommend it to anyone, especially lovers of a good mystery thriller! There are plenty of 'OMG!' moments to keep you entertained until the end.

Royal Rating:











*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
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