A Dream Within A Dream: Kate Ormand

August 28, 2015

The Wanderers Blog Tour: Guest Post + Giveaway

The Wanderers
Author: Kate Ormand
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Sky Pony Press

Synopsis:

A Unique Twist on Shape-Shifters with Fast-Paced Action, Thrilling Adventure, Mystery, and a Bit of Romance

Flo lives an eccentric life—she travels with a popular circus in which the main acts star orphaned children with secret shape-shifting abilities. Once Flo turns sixteen, she must perform, but she’s not ready. While practicing jumping a flaming hurdle in a clearing beside the circus, she spots a dark figure in the trees and fears he saw her shift. The news sends the circus into a panic.

In Flo’s world, shifters are unknown to humans with the exception of a secret organization—the EOS, referred to as “hunters.” Hunters capture and kill. They send some shifters to labs for observation and testing—testing they don’t often survive—and deem others useless, a danger to society, and eliminate them. To avoid discovery, shifters travel in packs, constantly moving and keeping themselves hidden. Up until now, the circus was the perfect disguise.

Believing she has brought attention to the group, Flo feels dread and anxiety, causing her to make a mistake during her performance in front of the audience—a mistake that triggers a violent attack from the hunters.

Flo manages to flee the torched circus grounds with Jett, the bear shifter who loves her; the annoying elephant triplets; and a bratty tiger named Pru. Together they begin a new journey, alone in a world they don’t understand and don’t know how to navigate. On the run, they unravel secrets and lies that surround the circus and their lives—secrets and lies that all point to the unthinkable: Have they been betrayed by the people they trusted most?

Top 10 Favourite Books/Authors

I thought this would be really easy for me, but it was so hard to stop at ten. I even had to go back and strike some from the list – it was horrible!!! So here’s my final decision… *clicks send before I can change my mind again*

1. Amanda Hocking

This year I wrote a post about ten reasons why I love Amanda Hocking and had similar problems as I did here where I could go way over ten. With a unique take on mythology and folklore, it’s tough to find anything close in comparison to Amanda Hocking’s books. If you want to see the full post about how much I love her, you can check it out on the My Kinda Book website here: http://mykindabook.com/blog/january-2015/10-reasons-to-love-amanda-hocking

Favourite book: SWITCHED

2. Maggie Stiefvater

A couple of years ago I really struggled with reading. I rarely found a book that I connected to. I didn’t really know much about the different genres. I didn’t have a favourite author. I didn’t have a clue what I liked to read. I discovered YA after reading SHIVER, LINGER & FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater, and I haven’t looked back!

Favourite book: THE SCORPIO RACES

3. Jackson Pearce

Jackson Pearce’s books are a must for my shelves. I became a fan after reading AS YOU WISH in one sitting. Her YA book are mostly inspired by fairy tales, but the stories she chooses to retell aren’t ones you come across often, making the books feel unique and special.

Favourite book: SISTERS RED

4. Suzanne Collins

I loved THE HUNGER GAMES books (and the movies!) and they’re a must for my top ten lists. I remember starting reading and knowing right away that I was going to love these books. The series also pointed me in the direction of dystopia, opening the door to a genre I fell in love with.

Favourite book: CATCHING FIRE

5. JK Rowling

I don’t feel like I really have to explain this one! Harry Potter is everything.

Favourite book: HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

6. Tahereh Mafi

I found the SHATTER ME series so unique in both the story and the writing style. The whole trilogy was absolutely beautiful and I always wanted to go right back to the beginning after finishing each one.

Favourite book: IGNITE ME

7. Danielle L Jensen

I discovered the MALEDICTION trilogy last year when the first book released. After waiting (impatiently) for the second book to release I’ve now read that and am waiting (very impatiently) for the third. It’s a truly magnificent story of magic, politics, love, and deception. I love it so much it hurts!

Favourite book: STOLEN SONGBIRD

8. Jennifer L Armentrout

I started the COVENANT series and that was enough to secure JLA a spot on lists like this forever. I ordered pretty much every JLA and J Lynn book ever written after that and I’m still making my way through them all!

Favourite book (so far!): DEITY

9. Amy Plum

Amy Plum’s books are stunning! The writing is so beautiful and enchanting, and the imagery is breathtaking.

Favourite book: DIE FOR ME

10. Cassandra Clare

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS! I read the final book as soon as I got it, both happy to be back in this world, and sad to be saying goodbye to these characters. I’ll miss this series a lot. It is on my to-re-read list as I loved all six. Fortunately, there are many more books in the Shadowhunter world to enjoy!

Favourite book: CITY OF GLASS

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your favorite books & authors with us Kate!

Follow the The Wanderers by Kate Ormand Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

KATE ORMAND is a YA writer represented by Isabel Atherton at Creative Authors Ltd. She lives in the UK with her family, her partner, and a cocker spaniel called Freddie. She recently graduated from university with a first class BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art Painting. It was during this course that Kate discovered her love of reading YA books, prompting her to try a new creative angle and experiment with writing. Kate is also a member of an online group of published writers and illustrators called Author Allsorts. And she writes children’s picture books under the name Kate Louise.

You can see more about Kate and her writing by visiting her website (www.kateormand.wordpress.com) or on Twitter (@kateormand).

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June 18, 2014

Dark Days Blog Tour: Review, Dream Cast + Giveaway

Dark Days
Author: Kate Ormand
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Release Date: June 3, 2014
Rate: 3 Stars

Synopsis:

The future world has been divided into sectors--each the same as the other. Surrounded by thick steel fences, there is no way in and no way out. Yet a cyborg army penetrates each sector, picking off its citizens one by one, until no one is left. Behind the sectors' thick walls, the citizens wait to die. Few will be chosen to survive what's coming; the rest will be left behind to suffer. A new world has been created, and its rulers are incredibly selective on who will become a citizen. They want only those with important roles in society to help create a more perfect future.

Sixteen-year-old Sia lives in one of the sectors as part of a family that is far too ordinary to be picked to live. According to the digital clock that towers high above her sector, she has only fifteen days to live. Sia has seen the reports and knows a horrific death is in store for her, but she is determined to make the most of her final days. Sia refuses to mourn her short life, instead promising herself that she'll stay strong, despite being suffocated by her depressed mother and her frightened best friend. Just when Sia feels more alone than ever, she meets Mace, a mysterious boy. There is something that draws Sia to him, despite his dangerousness, and together, they join a group of rebels and embark on an epic journey to destroy the new world and its machines, and to put an end to the slaughter of innocent people.

Dark Days is a young adult dystopian novel that shows the reader a terrible world where the leader of the government is destroying sectors - and everyone in them - one by one. His goal is to save the "best" of people so they can begin a New World with only the best. Sia is the main character of the book - a sixteen year old teenager who's sector is about to be demolished in 15 days. Sia's determined to spend her final days the best she can, without wasting any precious time. Sia meets the handsome and mysterious Mace while out at the store - and although everything about him screams trouble - Sia can't deny the strong pull she feels towards him. Both Sia and Mace believe that what's happening to the people and the sectors is wrong and should be stopped. They find a group of rebels and join the ranks in the hopes of destroying the cyborgs tearing apart the country and ending the idea of the New World for good.

I had been looking forward to reading this book for quite some time, after reading the description. It sounded like a fresh and original dystopian novel with a strong female lead, tons of action, and a sexy romance mixed in. Although the book didn't really meet my expectations for it (which may have been a bit high to begin with), it certainly fulfilled the part of excitement and action. Sia was a good main character, if a bit cookie-cutter for the genre. She's smart, strong, determined to fight for what she believes in, etc. Mace, the love interest in the book, was another cliche to me. A gorgeous guy who is mysterious and who the "good girl" main character feels drawn to - and then it turns out that he's the one who will help her take it all down. It felt a bit too familiar and there wasn't enough distinctive personalities to allow me to connect with the characters. The plot was intense - it starts right off with the characters only having 15 days left before they all die a terrible death. The pace doesn't slow down from there - the book is full of action and fighting - with lots of tension. There were some original aspects to the plot - like the cyborgs. That was a new one that I haven't encountered lately and it made the book creepier and also more interesting. The main gist of the plot was pretty straight forward and mediocre, but I still found it entertaining and worth the read. The writing was well done - especially with the fast pace and the vivid details. I think that this book had a ton of potential, but the characters and some parts of the story line made if fall short. I'd still recommend it to fans of the genre along with those who enjoy science fiction and action novels.