A Dream Within A Dream: Sing Sweet Nightingale Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

http://www.rockstarbooktours.com/2014/02/tour-schedule-sing-sweet-nightingale-by.html

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Sing Sweet Nightingale! Today I have my review of the book to share with you and don't forget to enter the giveaway! To follow the rest of the tour, click on the tour banner above!

Sing Sweet Nightingale (The Dream War Saga #1)

Author: Erica Cameron

Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal

Release Date: March 4, 2014

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Purchase Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Description:

Mariella Teagen hasn't spoken a word in four years.

She pledged her voice to Orane, the man she loves—someone she only sees in her dreams. Each night, she escapes to Paradise, the world Orane created for her, and she sings for him. Mariella never believed she could stay in Paradise longer than a night, but two weeks before her eighteenth birthday, Orane hints that she may be able to stay forever.

Hudson Vincent made a pledge to never fight again.

Calease, the creature who created his dream world, swore that giving up violence would protect Hudson. But when his vow caused the death of his little brother, Hudson turned his grief on Calease and destroyed the dream world. The battle left him with new abilities and disturbing visions of a silent girl in grave danger—Mariella.

Now, Hudson is fighting to save Mariella's life while she fights to give it away. And he must find a way to show her Orane’s true intentions before she is lost to Paradise forever.

Sing Sweet Nightingale is the first book in a magnificent new young adult fantasy/paranormal series. It follows our two main characters - Hudson Vincent and Mariella Teagan - as they both fight incredible battles against the dreamworld that has enraptured them for years. Hudson learned the truth about the dreamworld after his little brother died. After defeating the demon who was controlling him, Hudson received some of her powers - including prophetic dreams. These dreams lead him to a small town where Mariella is in grave danger - her very life is at stake. Mariella has been visiting the dreamworld since she was only eight years old and has fallen in love with the man who brought her there. She hasn't spoken out loud in four years because of a promise made to him and now he's promising her that she can spend forever with him in Paradise. Will Hudson be able to make it to Mariella in time to save her? Does she even want to be saved?

The premise of this novel immediately drew my interest and I knew that I had to read it. The story is very unique and original - unlike anything I've read before. I wasn't sure what to expect with the book being a debut along with what seemed to be a complex storyline. Whatever expectations I may have had for the book were far outpassed. If I hadn't known that this was a debut novel, I would never have guessed it. The writing is very well done with the talent of a seasoned author. It had a quick pace and a natural flow to it that made it impossible for me to put down until the end. The characters were all well written, even the secondary ones. Hudson and Mariella are both great main characters - strong, determined, loving, kind and smart. I liked that Hudson was like a knight in shining armor coming to save Mariella, but he definitely wasn't perfect either. He had his scars (physical and emotional) and weaknesses, just like anyone else. Of course, I loved watching the two of them get to know one another and to see how their relationship would progress. The book is told in alternating viewpoints - between Hudson and Mariella - which I loved because it gives the reader an inside look at how each character is thinking and feeling during everything that's happening in the book.

The plot was incredible - highly detailed and intricate with smaller storylines woven in to create a layered story. Everything from the settings to the characters and the different occurrences throughout the book were written with vivid imagery - so much that I easily immersed myself into the book alongside Mariella and Hudson from the beginning. I loved learning all that I could about the dreamworld - how they got there, what it looked like, what happened there, etc. I ate up all the information I could get about it and the author definitely gives us a taste of more that we don't know yet, so I'm excited to learn more about it in the coming books. Overall, this was a magnificent start to what promises to be an exciting and enchanting series! Highly recommended for fans of YA fantasy and paranormal fiction and those who want something fresh and different from the rest of what's out there. How long until the next book comes out?!

Erica Cameron knew that writing was her passion when she turned a picture book into a mystery novella as a teen. That piece wasn’t her best work, but it got her an A. After college, she used her degree in Psychology and Creative Writing to shape a story about a dreamworld. Then a chance encounter at a rooftop party in Tribeca made her dream career a reality.

Erica is many things but most notably the following: writer, reader, editor, dancer, choreographer, singer, lover of musical theater, movie obsessed, sucker for romance, Florida resident, and quasi-recluse. She loves the beach but hates the heat, has equal passion for the art of Salvador Dali and Venetian Carnival masks, has a penchant for unique jewelry and sun/moon décor pieces, and a desire to travel the entire world on a cruise ship. Or a private yacht. You know, whatever works.

Her debut novel Sing Sweet Nightingale releases March 4, 2014 from Spencer Hill Press. It is the first book in The Dream War Saga.

Erica is represented by Danielle Chiotti at Upstart Crow Literary. However, for subrights inquiries on Sing Sweet Nightingale, contact Rebecca Mancini at Rights Mix. Regarding publicity for The Dream War Saga, contact Cindy Thomas at cthomas {@} spencerhillcontemporary {.} com.