Saturday, August 30, 2014

[Blog Tour] Athena's Ashes by Jamie Grey




Publisher: Clever Crow Press
Release Date: August 26th 2014

Synopsis:

It’s Renna’s biggest job yet – convincing MYTH leadership that she’s put away her lock picks and is ready to save the galaxy, despite the dangerous implant in her brain. But with the Athena on the run, she’s working solo and facing her most ruthless enemy, the traitor Pallas, who’ll go to any lengths to destroy the MYTH organization. Including framing Renna for a devastating assault on MYTH HQ that leaves their defenses crippled and hundreds dead. 

Now that MYTH believes she’s a dangerous double-agent, Renna escapes their firing squad before they put more holes in her than a pair of fishnet stockings. But the ticking time-bomb in her head is the one thing Pallas needs to complete his master plan and he’s not about to let her get away. Even worse, he’s discovered the only thing that will bring Renna to her knees – threatening Captain Nick Finn.

Out of time and options, Renna’s got one shot to take down the traitor before he annihilates everything she loves, even though winning this battle may cost her everything.






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



Jamie Grey spent most of her childhood writing stories about princesses who saved the day and pretending to be a daring explorer. It wasn’t until much later that she realized she should combine the two. Now, as a tech-obsessed gamer geek, her novels mix amazing scientific developments, future worlds, and the remarkable characters that live in them.

Jamie lives in Michigan with her boyfriend and their pets, who luckily tolerate her overspending on tea, books, and video games. You can learn more about her at www.jamiegreybooks.com, or follow her on twitter via @jamie_grey.


Win (1) copy of The Star Thief and Athena's Ashes, along with a copy of the ebook novella (All the books in the Star Thief Series) + some Athena's Ashes swag (INT)

Win (1) $25 Amazong Gift Card (INT)





Thursday, August 28, 2014

[Update] Hiatus!

Hi everyone,
We just wanted to let everyone know that we will be on a hiatus from blogging.
College has started for both of us, and we may occasionally still post, but we will not be as active as we were since the start of our blog.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to read as much (at least YA novels... I have more than enough assigned readings and articles!) I'm not sure when I'll be back, but hopefully soon! - Alice

In addition to college, I also moved and is experiencing internet problems, which hinders my ability to actively blog. - Yiling

We hope you all have a great rest of the summer and school/work year.

xoxo

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Waiting On Wednesday (8) - The Young Elites

Waiting on Wednesday



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Young Elites by Marie Lu
Series: The Young Elites #1


Publication Date: October 7th, 2014




Goodreads Summary:


I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.


Why The Young Elites?
There has been a lot of hype for this book and the ARC reviews have been generally positive! I never paid much attention to this until recently and realized that the plot is really intriguing and unique. I am really excited to see how the relationship between the three characters play out. :-)

Friday, August 22, 2014

Freebie Friday

Freebie Friday
Hi all! I thought I'd make a post featuring some of the YA free ebooks available for Kindle. I'm not sure if this will be a weekly, bimonthly, or monthly thing yet, but I thought it'll be interesting! For those that prefer reading print like me, you can get the free ebook and if you really like it, then you can get the paperback! This is in no way sponsored, it's just some freebies that I have read and/or found interesting.

 
Twin Souls by K.A. Poe
Seventeen year old Alexis finds herself on the eve of her eighteenth birthday. What generally means a step into adulthood instead opens its way to a terrifying truth about not only her family, but herself. She comes from a long line of vampire hunters, and her real dad wants her to carry on the family quest. At the same time, she is falling for a new boy at school who has his own secret. He is a vampire. Alexis is forced to make a decision from which there is no turning back. - Will she deny this newly discovered heritage, or embrace it. 

UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn
Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated; that is until she saves her crush's life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her new found fame brings misfortune in the form of an old family curse come to light. For Mina is a descendant from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her its' next fairy-tale victim. To break the fairy tale curse on her family and make these deadly occurrences stop, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.

The Sorcery Code by Dima Zales and Anna Zaires
Once a respected member of the Sorcerer Council and now an outcast, Blaise has spent the last year of his life working on a special magical object. The goal is to allow anyone to do magic, not just the sorcerer elite. The outcome of his quest is unlike anything he could’ve ever imagined – because, instead of an object, he creates Her. 

She is Gala, and she is anything but inanimate. Born in the Spell Realm, she is beautiful and highly intelligent – and nobody knows what she’s capable of. She will do anything to experience the world . . . even leave the man she is beginning to fall for. 

Augusta, a powerful sorceress and Blaise’s former fiancée, sees Blaise’s deed as the ultimate hubris and Gala as an abomination that must be destroyed. In her quest to save the human race, Augusta will forge new alliances, becoming tangled in a web of intrigue that stretches further than any of them suspect. She may even have to turn to her new lover Barson, a ruthless warrior who might have an agenda of his own . . .


Thursday, August 21, 2014

[Blog Tour] The Legacy by Necole Ryse


The Legacy by Necole Ryse 
Release Date: 06/17/14


Summary from Goodreads:
Nineteen-year-old Raevyn Jones has never worn a designer gown. She's never had access to unlimited champagne or chauffeured limo rides.

But when she is dropped in the midst of the Black Ivy League--against her will--she has to pretend that everything is normal, as if she belongs.

When her new friends start to question her sketchy past and her shaky legacy at Benjamin Wallace Fitzgerald University, Raevyn realizes she will have to rely on her street smarts more than ever before.

Raevyn starts to receive cryptic text messages and emails from an anonymous sender and she soon discovers that not only does someone want her to leave B.W.Fitz--someone also wants to end her life.


Buy Links:

Book Excerpt #3:

I turned around when I saw someone standing there.
Watching.
I froze, too scared to move. Heavy puffs of smoke expelled from the person’s lungs. I watched it dissipate into the air. The person was dressed head to toe in black. A ski mask covered most of his or her face.
B?
And just when I thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse, they did.





About the Author
Necole Ryse graduated from Towson University with Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications.
Bored with life as an adult, Necole decided to follow her dreams to write fiction and she hasn’t looked back. She joined the Winslet Press family to release her first novel, THE LEGACY.
She enjoys chocolate covered pretzels, Criminal Minds marathons, and all things Harry Potter. 
Author Links:

And now for the GIVEAWAY:

$20 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

Blog Tour Organized by:


Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Waiting On Wednesday (7) - I'll Give You the Sun

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson 


Publication Date: September 16th 2014




Goodreads summary:

  Jude and her brother, Noah, are incredibly close twins. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude surfs and cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and divisive ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as an unpredictable new mentor. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world. 

Why the Sun?

Jandy Nelson's writing is gorgeous. After reading the amazing The Sky is Everywhere I have been dying for her next book. I've been getting into a lot of contemporary lately and this sounds like a perfect read to fuel my addiction.

Friday, August 15, 2014

[Review] Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Rating: 2 Stars
Series: Wings #2
Release Date: June 23th 2009

Goodreads synopsis:

Although Laurel has come to accept her true identity as a faerie, she refuses to turn her back on her human life - and especially her boyfriend, David - to return to the faerie world.

But when she is summoned to Avalon, Laurel's feelings for the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani are undeniable. She is forced to make a choice - a choice that could break her heart.






FAERIES ARE FLOWERS

Spells is the second book of Aprilynne Pike's Wings series. After discovering that she is a fairy is the first installment, Laurel attempts to learn more about not only what but who she is, and who she wants to become. To due this she visits Avalon, the magical faerie homeland and learns about her powers to protect the ones she loves. There she is both enchanted and disturbed by fairy society. Away from Avalon, life becomes only increasing chaotic as Laurel deals with her family, best friend,old enemies, and new allies who still may be more foe than friend. 

What I liked was the expanded mythology. It seemed so interesting, strange and unique. With out giving specifics away, not only are the fey plants but they have a strict class system based on what season they bloom. This is justify by the increased rareness and power of each class. I found the lifestyles and interactions of various fey very interesting.There are a few hints of Arthurian, Celtic, Japanese, and miscellaneous mythology but so far these are only tidbits as Pike continues to draw primarily from her own imagination for a magical system.

What I disliked was the choose to focus on romance over both plot and mythology.The book starts with the main character ENTERING the faerie realm. Not only that, but she is going to LEARN about magic. Yet Pike doesn't go into much detail about what she's studying besides listing half a dozen random plants and their uses use here or there. I mean their's a scene where Laurel is a room FULL of magical experiments and the narrative focuses on another girl's jealous and Laurel's amazement at seeing serious students. SERIOUSLY I would love to have seen different plant species,potion recipes, a clue to how they work, instead we get one sentence about a plant grow faster. Avalon is used mostly as an excuse for Laurel to spend time with Tamani. Most of story taking place there focuses on their growing relationship. Likewise most of the story outside of Avalon has Laurel spending time with David or thinking of one of them. Even when she is in danger,the moments when the story is most plot driven, she is with one of them. I can't fairly determine how strong a main character Laurel is because she is rarely forced to deal with problems on her own. However, worrying more about boy issues than murderous trolls is never a good sign. 

Overall The thing is I usually like fantasy romance books, but I need there to be a main conflict that supersedes the romance. I need to feel like plot is the prime rib, with action, humor and romance all added to the dish like accentuating flavors, adding to my enjoyment. In this book it was the other way around, the one conflict being addressed continuously throughout the book being the main character's love life. The other (often life threatening) problems were secondary, focused only here and there by the narrative, and consequently the readers thoughts. Overall these conflicts made up a comparatively small portion of the book, leaving the love triangle as the main course. It's not that the Pike's magically mythology didn't stand in it's own right, just not enough.


Friday, August 8, 2014

[Review] Turned by Morgan Rice

Turned by Morgan Rice

Rating: 3 Stars
Series: The Vampire Journals #1
Version: E-book
Release Date: January 24th 2011

Goodreads synopsis:

Eighteen year old Caitlin Paine finds herself uprooted from her nice suburb and forced to attend a dangerous New York City high school when her Mom moves again. The one ray of light in her new surroundings is Jonah, a new classmate who takes an instant liking to her. Before their romance can blossom, Caitlin suddenly finds herself changing. She is overcome by a superhuman strength, a sensitivity to light, a desire to feed--by feelings she does not understand. She seeks answers to what’s happening to her, and her cravings lead her to the wrong place at the wrong time. Her eyes are opened to a hidden world, right beneath her feet, thriving underground in New York City. She finds herself caught between two dangerous covens, right in the middle of a vampire war.

It is at this moment that Caitlin meets Caleb, a mysterious and powerful vampire who rescues her from the dark forces. He needs her to help lead him to the legendary lost artifact. And she needs him for answers, and for protection. Together, they will need to answer one crucial question: who was her real father? Caitlin finds herself caught between two men as something else arises between them: a forbidden love. A love between the races that will risk both of their lives, and will force them to decide whether to risk it all for each other


YES, this in another vampire book, foo, got that off my chest. Now lets get started. 

The novel Turned is meant to be an interest peeking introduction to Morgan Rice's The Vampire Journals series. And at this, for me, it succeeds.

I was intrigued by the mythology,plot and main character in that order. With out giving much away the mythology focuses on the existence of different vampire species and a prophesied war. There are also Biblical allusions. As this is an introductory book much is left to be revealed. The plot revolves around the main character's realization of who she is and the part she will play in the prophecy. And of course her romance between human Jonah and vampire Caleb. Caitlin has grown up constantly moving from town to town as result of her not so good single mother's incapability to keep a job. This has given her an amount of self-sufficiency but has not hardened her into a loner who doesn't want to make a friend or two. In this book she plays both the savior and the damsel in distress (though even then she tries to hold her own.)

What I didn't like about this book was the common typos and romance. Yes there is a love triangle forming is this book, but the boys seem to also represent her conflict over wanting to just be normal or become something more. The main issue I have with this book is that both relationships seem forced. Especially the one between her and Caleb.

Over all I found this book an interesting start to a new vampire series. Those who like vampire or just general paranormal romance should defiantly give this book a try. Those who are not a big fan or looking for a really different or original take should stay clear. This book is new version of an old formula but a good one. Hey if it ain't broke why fix it?

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Our new Guest Reviewer!

We are so excited to announce that we have a new guest reviewer joining us! Our friend Sarah will be joining us and posting reviews.


Yiling and Alice: Welcome to our blog! Thank you so much for joining us.

Sarah: Thank you for inviting me :D

Y&A: So Sarah tell our readers a little bit about yourself.

S: I just graduated high school and I'll be heading off to college soon. Go bio major! I've always loved to read, usually reading at least 3 at a time. I love fantasy and sci-fi books, Charmed, Stargate, rainforests, my kitten Cassie, and all things Joss Whedon.

Y&A: Have you read any good books lately?

S: Yes, Pink Boots and a Machete by Mireya Mayor and The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Y&A: Who is your favorite author?

S: My favorite author is Cassandra Clare, I just love the extended shadowhunter world she creates and the complex cast of characters that have been shaped by it.

Y&A: What was your first book love?

S: I think my love for reading started with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, it was the only Harry Potter book we had in the house and I had just seen the first movie, I still remember that illustration of them escaping in the flying car at the beginning of chapter one.


I hope that you are all as excited as we are to welcome Sarah onto the team and read her reviews and thoughts!

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Waiting On Wednesday (6)- Storm Siren

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


Storm Siren by Mary Weber
Series: Storm Siren

Publication Date: August 19, 2014





Goodreads summary:

“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.

Why Siren?

The Summary! This book sounds so great and has such an interesting premise. I love fantasy books for the vast world building and Storm Siren is no different. War? Human Rights? Magic? Being addressed in the same book? YES. I'm so excited for this book and so excited that we got to be part of the book tour that takes place next week.