Storm Siren Blog Tour: Dream Cast, Review + Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Storm Siren blog tour! Today I have my dream cast along with my review of the book to share - and don't forget to enter the giveaway! To follow the rest of the tour, click on the banner above.

Storm Siren (Storm Siren #1)

Author: Mary Weber

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: August 19, 2014

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins)

Description:

“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”

In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.

As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth — meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.

Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.

Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.

But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?

Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win. 

 

Here are some picks for my dream cast of the book!

Jennifer Lawrence as Nym

Laura Benanti as Adora

Jennifer Stone as Breck

Logan Lerman as Colin

Chris Hemsworth as Eogan

Storm Siren is the first book in a sensational new YA fantasy trilogy. The story is about Nym - a girl who has been a slave since a very young age. Nym is also an Elemental - which aren't supposed to exist anymore, and it's a known fact that there are no female Elementals. Except Nym. She's always hated her "curse" and the destruction that she brings to those around her. Nym believes that she's doomed to lead a terrible life as a slave and that it would be better for everyone if she were dead. One day when Nym is being sold at a slave auction, her powers are unleashed in front of the entire marketplace. When she wakes up, she's told that a very wealthy woman - who is one of the King's highest court - has taken her in. Adora - Nym's new mistress - tells her that she can learn to use her gift in order to protect the people of her country in the terrible war that's been raging for years. Finally, her life could mean more than a peasant slave who bears the guilt of the curse she carries. Will Nym be able to control her powers and save the people of Faelen? Is she capable of being the greatest weapon that the kingdom has?

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. I don't read a lot of fantasy novels, so I just sort of jumped right in. I was immediately sucked into the world that the author created. It's a dangerous yet beautiful world that has similarities to our own - but there's also big differences, like Elementals. The concept of Elementals completely intrigued me. I loved learning all about them - their history, their powers, the lore - it was all really fascinating. I hope that the author gives us more background and history in the next book. The characters were all very well rounded, especially Nym. She's been a slave for the majority of her life; has been beaten and her left hand is even permanently maimed. As an Elemental, Nym should have been killed at birth just for being what she is. It's also well known that there is no such thing as a female Elemental - except that's exactly what Nym is. She's not sure why she's the exception to the rule, but feels like it's a heavy burden and curse that she must bear throughout her life. I loved watching her character slowly transform in the book. She starts out as a snarky girl who is full of shame and guilt, but as she learns to control her powers and is given the chance to fight in the war to save her kingdom's people, Nym gains self confidence and starts to come into her own. The other major characters in the book - Nym's quirky new mistress Adora, the blind slave named Breck who befriends Nym, Colin - another Elemental like Nym and also Breck's twin brother, and finally Eogan - the handsome and mysterious man who is training Nym to control her powers - are all very well written. They each have distinctive personalities with strengths and flaws like everyone else - which made them feel all the more realistic to me. By the end of the book I felt like I knew each of them personally and that I had experienced everything right alongside Nym.

The plot was full of action along with political intrigue, twists and turns, and romance. The author did a wonderful job meshing all the different genres together to create an original and fresh new series. There's lots going on throughout the book, which had me devouring each page as fast as I could in order to find out what was going to happen next. I don't do spoilers, so I'll just say this: the ending turned everything upside down and backwords. Talk about something you didn't see coming until it smacks you in the face and leaves you reeling. Overall, I found this to be a phenomenal book in what promises to be an amazing fantasy trilogy. The writing had a quick pace and a natural flow with tons of vivid imagery and detailed descriptions. Like I mentioned earlier, I was immersed fully in the story from very early on and I didn't come up for air until after it was finished. And I'm still thinking about the book and the ending. Needless to say, I very highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy, as well as readers who enjoy well written stories with an unique story. I'm definitely counting down until the release of the next book and will likely be re-reading this one at least a couple more times in the interim.

An Epic New Fantasy!!

Aside from Goodreads, I hang out on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and my BLOG. Come say hi!

Officially though: Mary Weber is a ridiculously uncoordinated girl plotting to take over make-believe worlds through books, handstands, and imaginary throwing knives. In her spare time, she feeds unicorns, sings 80’s hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California, which is perfect for stalking L.A. bands, Joss Whedon, and the ocean. She likes orange trees, tattoos, and ALL the music. ;0) 

BOOK 1 in my YA fantasy STORM SIREN trilogy releases Aug 2014 from Thomas Nelson, HarperCollins. Eep!

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: http://mchristineweber.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7391763.Mary_Weber

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mchristineweber

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marychristineweber

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/maryweberYA/

BOOK LINKS:

Amazon Paperback: http://tinyurl.com/q8ogfsl

Barnes & Noble (B&N): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/storm-siren-mary-weber/1117260740?ean=9781401690342

The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Storm-Siren-Mary-Weber/9781401690342

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/es-ES/ebook/storm-siren

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Magnolia Blog Tour: Review, Dream Cast + Giveaway

Magnolia
Author: Kristi Cook
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: August 5, 2014
Rate: 3.5 Stars

Synopsis:

In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.

Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn’t exist.

But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over.

Magnolia felt like a cross between a "Romeo and Juliet" type romance only backwards. The Cafferty family and the Marsden family have been close neighbors since the Civil War. They do everything together - from barbeques to parties, vacations, and holidays. The only thing they believe could bring their families closer together would be a marriage between the clans. It seems as though their wishes come true when Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden are born at the same time. Fast forward seventeen years - the two families are still pushing the marriage between Jemma and Ryder, only they can't stand each other. Jemma has big dreams of leaving Magnolia Branch and going to film school and Ryder thinks Jemma is stubborn and fiesty. They absolutely don't have marriage on their minds - especially when they're only seventeen. When a huge storm hits their small town, it brings Jemma and Ryder's true feelings about each other to the surface. They always say that it's a thin line between love and hate - but are Ryder and Jemma willing to cross it?

I thought the concept of this book sounded light and fun - a sweet contemporary romance. It turned out to be just that, with a couple of curveballs thrown in for good measure. I immediately felt like the author did an inversion of the Romeo and Juliet story - in this story the families adore each other and want nothing more than a marriage to unite them, but the two in question hate each other. It's an interesting flip on the star-crossed lovers tale. I liked all the characters in the book, although I found some of them to be a bit flat - especially the secondary characters. Jemma and Ryder were both well rounded with their flaws and strengths, making them realistic and accessible to the reader. Jemma had a serious attitude problem, which was funny at times and a tad annoying in others. Ryder was the typical "golden boy" with secrets underneath. The attention to detail and description throughout the book made the setting come alive - which I absolutely loved. I felt like I was right there in Magnolia Branch alongside the characters. The writing as a whole was well done, except for the few issues I personally had with the predictability and flat characters. The author included some twists in the plot to keep things moving - and those definitely blindsided me. Overall, it was all a little predictable for my taste, but made for a fast and entertaining read. I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy sweet YA contemporary romance novels.

Jemma played by Emma Watson

Ryder played by Liam Hemsworth

Follow the FFBC Magnolia Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

As a child, Kristi Cook took her nose out of a book only long enough to take a ballet class (or five) each week. Not much has changed since then, except she’s added motherhood to the mix and enjoys penning her own novels as much as reading everybody else’s. A transplanted southern gal, Kristi lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

That’s the official version–here are some other fun facts:

~ As an undergrad, I majored in History and minored in English at the University of Southern Mississippi. While at Southern Miss, I was a member of Phi Mu sorority, and I was a Dixie Darling. And yep, Brett Favre was our quarterback at the time!

~ I studied American History in grad school at Columbia University. I *love* history, especially the Civil War era (U.S.) and Regency- and Edwardian-era British history.

~ My all-time favorite book *and* movie is GONE WITH THE WIND. My favorite literary characters are Rhett Butler, Atticus Finch, and Mr. Darcy. I kind of want to add Peeta Mellark to that list!

~Weirdly enough (or maybe not so weirdly?) I’m also a big fan of STAR TREK (the original series). I never can remember if I’m supposed to call myself a “Trekkie” or a “Trekker,” though!

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Strange and Ever After Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Strange and Ever After blog tour! Today I'm sharing my review of the book with you - and don't forget to go to the bottom of the post to enter the giveaway and follow the rest of the tour!

Strange and Ever After (Something Strange and Deadly #3)
Author: Susan Dennard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 22, 2014
Rate: 5 Stars

Synopsis:

In the conclusion to the trilogy that Publishers Weekly called “a roaring—and addictive—gothic world,” Eleanor Fitt must control her growing power, face her feelings for Daniel, and confront the evil necromancer Marcus...all before it’s too late.

He took her brother, he took her mother, and now, Marcus has taken her good friend Jie. With more determination than ever to bring this sinister man to justice, Eleanor heads to the hot desert streets of nineteenth-century Egypt in hopes of ending this nightmare. But in addition to her increasingly tense relationships with Daniel, Joseph, and her demon, Oliver, Eleanor must also deal with her former friend, Allison, who has curiously entangled herself in Eleanor’s mission.

With the rising dead chomping at her every move and Jie’s life hanging in the balance, Eleanor is convinced that her black magic will see her through to the bitter end. But there will be a price. Though she and the Spirit Hunters have weathered every battle thus far, there will be consequences to suffer this time—the effects of which will be irreversible. And when it’s over, only some will be able to live a strange and ever after.

Susan Dennard will leave readers breathless and forever changed in the concluding pages of this riveting ride.

With this book being the last in the trilogy - and a series that I truly love - I went into reading it with high hopes. I am so glad that I wasn't disappointed. It lived up to the previous books and then flew past any expectations I might have had. In this installment, Eleanor - along with her assortment of friends, including Daniel, Joseph, Oliver, and even her old friend from Philadelphia, Allison - travel to ancient Egypt. The evil necromancer Marcus, who has been causing Eleanor nothing but grief, has taken her close friend Jie - and it's up to her and the gang to make sure Marcus is dealt with - permanently. On top of the mess with Jie, Eleanor is still trying to figure out her feelings for Daniel and how to control the growing power she has inside of her. Will Eleanor give in to the same black magic that took over her brother's life? Will she and her friends be able to stop Marcus in time to save the city and Jie?

I have seriously loved every single thing about this trilogy from the very beginning. The author made the alternate history that the books are set in enchantingly realistic. The world building was phenomenal - and that doesn't change when the setting shifts to Egypt. I've never been to Egypt before, let alone one from an alternate past, but I was able to shut my eyes and envision myself alongside the characters throughout the novel. All the details in the book - from the intricate settings to the minute details of the surroundings and the characters - were so vivid and precise that I easily immersed myself into the book almost from the very first sentence, and I didn't come back out of it until the last word. The fact that a setting from the past with foreign countries, magic, and zombies could feel so realistic is a true marker of the author's talent. 

By this final book, I've come to love each of the characters. They are all well written with their unique quirks and flaws - and their own personalities that made it easy to identify with them right from the start. I loved watching each of them change in their own ways - how they all matured and gained more self-confidence - as well as how their relationships with each other grew; whether it was friendship, trust, or romance, I enjoyed watching them all. I feel like I know these characters on a personal level, which was hard while reading the book due to some parts of the plot. I won't say anything else about this - but those of you who have read the book understand what I mean.

Honestly, I can't praise the writing of this book enough. It was very well written and fast-paced, but with the exact right amount of tension and setting. The character and world building were superb. Sadly, most series seem to go downhill with each book. This trilogy didn't have that issue at all - the last book was just as phenomenal - maybe even more so - than the first. I could go on fangirling for a really long time, but I'll stop now. This is a fantastic final book in one of the most unique and mesmerizing trilogies that I've ever read. It begs to be devoured - and should be - and I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you're a fan of YA fantasy, science fiction paranormal, zombies - whatever - READ THIS SERIES. I promise you won't regret it! The only issue I have is that now the series is over - but I don't want it to end. It's bittersweet - and the only thing I can do now is stalk the author and wait for her next release in the fall.  :)

Follow the FFBC Strange And Ever After Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

I am a writer, reader, lover of animals, and eater of cookies. I used to be a marine biologist, but now I write novels. And not novels about fish either, but novels about kick-butt heroines and swoon-worthy rogues (I reallylike swoon-worthy rogues).

I live in the Midwest with my husband and two dogs (Asimov and Princess Leia), and you can learn more about my crazy thoughts and crippling cookie-addiction on my blog or twitter.

My debut, SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY is now available from HarperTeen along with the prequel, A DAWN MOST WICKED, and the sequel A DARKNESS STRANGE & LOVELY.

Look for STRANGE & EVER AFTER in summer 2014 and TRUTHWITCH in fall 2015!

Note: I am on Goodreads to READ. So, if you want to discuss books and the joys of literature, add me as a friend!

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