By: aquafortis,
on 4/1/2013
Reader Gut Reaction: The first book in this trilogy, Under the Never Sky, was on my radar since it launched, but I hadn't gotten around to reading it until my library recently dangled a free e-book version of it and its sequel in front of me. Being... Read the rest of this post
By: Julie,
on 2/26/2013
  |
Title: What’s Left of Me Author: Kat Zhang |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
I should not exist. But I do.
Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t. . . .
For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable—hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.
Review:
Wow, wow, wow! This is one of the most original YA books I’ve read in a long time. The narrative is tense and compelling, and the setting, which is revealed in small, teasing snippets, is thought-provoking. I admit that when I first picked this up, I was skeptical about it holding my interest. Eva, the narrator, is the less dominate soul, and she shares her body with Addie. Addie has complete control of their body, and Eva, at first, just seems to be along for the ride. As they make two new friends, however, Eva is given the hope that someday she might have some control back over the limbs and voice she shares with Addie. Once the government discovers that Eva still exists, however, she and Addie are imprisoned in a medical facility where the evil Mr Conivent promises their parents that Addie will be “cured.” Using their ill brother’s medical treatments as the bait to take custody of the girls, Eva and Addie discover a sinister plot to cut one of the forbidden souls from the hybrids the scientists are experimenting on.
Addie and Eva are deviants in their society. Everyone is born with two souls, and by the age of ten, most of the lesser souls have “settled,” leaving only the dominant soul behind. Eva and Addie never settled, but after being shuttled from doctor to doctor, they have learned to keep Eva’s continued existence at secret. They pretend that they have settled because they realize how important it is to be considered “normal.” They are tired of doctors, tests, and examinations, and they are afraid of what will happen if it’s discovered that Eva’s soul still very much entwined with Addie’s.
When Addie and Eva form an uneasy friendship with Hally, their secret is exposed, and they are confined to Nornand, a government institution. They discover the terrible truth about the fate of the children who they have been told have gone home. With their lives on the line, they desperately seek a way to escape the institution.
I liked both Addie and Eva. They are scared to death, but they take frightening risks to find a way to freedom, not just for themselves, but for all of the hybrids at Nornand. In order to learn more about what’s going on, they do some things that had my heart pounding. Sneaking around and learning the secrets of Nornand, when it’s obvious that the doctors and nurses, and later, the review board, don’t care about their health, safety, or well-being, had me on the edge of my seat. I hated having to put the book down to go to work!
I’m going to keep this review short because I don’t want to give away any spoilers. I loved the main protagonists and the the secondary characters, and I completely bought into the plot. I found What’s Left of Me to be a suspenseful, exciting read. This book lived up to, and even exceeded, all of my expectations. I enjoyed the time I spent with Addie, Eva, Hally, and Devon, and hope to spend more time with them in the future.
Grade: B+/A-
Review copy obtained from my local library
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By: Julie,
on 12/20/2012
I am super geeked to welcome Elsie Chapman to the virtual offices today. Her book DUALED, Random House, hits stores shelves February 26th 2013. This is one of my most anticipated 2013 reads, so I’m thrilled to chat with Elsie.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Elsie Chapman] Mangler and consumer of words, nurturer of little humans and furballs, lover and friend, loud music hound, sushi and caffeine enthusiast.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Dualed?
[Elsie Chapman] At its heart, I can say it’s a story about finding self-worth, and what it means to different people, under different circumstances.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Elsie Chapman] My son asked me one day, how did we know we all didn’t have a twin out there and just didn’t know about them. So the idea pretty much took off from there. I wanted a girl MC who was strong but still vulnerable, and a main love interest who was able to let her be her own person.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe West?
[Elsie Chapman] Loyal, solid, stubborn.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If West had a theme song, what would it be?
[Elsie Chapman] Run by Snow Patrol. I listened to that one a lot while I was writing Dualed!
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing West won’t leave the house without.
[Elsie Chapman] Her gun. Or her set of switchblades.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Elsie Chapman] Music, movies, lyrics, the odd quote.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?
[Elsie Chapman] Music, tea, time. I tend to write in major gluts, so if I’m on a roll, I just kind of disappear for a while.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?
[Elsie Chapman] The very last book I read that still had me thinking about it days later was The Curse of the Wendigo by Ricky Yancey. It’s book 2 of the Monstrumologist series, and I absolutely cannot wait until I have time to read book 3, The Isle of Blood.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?
[Elsie Chapman] For reading in general, I can’t remember. But I read a lot of Stephen King when I was young, and he was the author who kept me reading.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
[Elsie Chapman] My to-be-read pile keeps growing, so I try to work on that. I’ll clear out the PVR, marathon some movies, bake. Most recently, while I was waiting for edits to come in, I decided to finally check out Tumblr. It was way too much fun so now I’m on that, as well. Though it’s not author or book or writing related at all, just super random stuff I happen to enjoy.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?
[Elsie Chapman] You can find me at all these places! And thank you for having me on your blog, Julie!
Goodreads: goodreads.com/elsiechapman
Blog: elsiechapman.com
Twitter: twitter.com/elsiechapman
Facebook: facebook.com/elsiechapmanauthor
Pinterest: pinterest.com/elsiechapman
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!
You can pre-order DUALED from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the widget below. Available in print and digital
DUALED Blurb:
Two of you exist. Only one will survive.
The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.
Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.
Elsie Chapman’s suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better.
Author bio:
Elsie Chapman’s suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better.
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By: Julie,
on 12/31/2012
Welcome to my Happy New Year 2013 Giveaway Hop, hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and co-hosted by Babs Book Bistro. This hop runs from January 1st – 7th 2013, and you can win lots of new reads. Click here for a complete list of blogs participating in the hop.
I am giving away a finished copy of Tim Lebbon’s London Eye.
About the book:
The Hunger Games meets The X-Men in an exciting post-apocalyptic debut.
Two years after London is struck by a devastating terrorist attack, it is cut off from the world, protected by a military force known as Choppers.
The rest of Britain believe that the city is now a toxic, uninhabited wasteland. But Jack and his friends, some of whom lost family on what has become known as Doomsday, know that the reality is very different.
At great risk, they have been gathering evidence about what is really happening in London, and it is incredible. Because the handful of Londons survivors are changing. Developing strange, fantastic powers. Evolving.
Entering is easy! Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following! US addresses only, please.
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By: Julie,
on 1/29/2013
  | Title: Breathe Author: Sarah Crossan |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe . . . The world is dead. The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.
Alina has been stealing for a long time. She’s a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she’s never been caught before. If she’s careful, it’ll be easy. If she’s careful.
Quinn should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it’s also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn’t every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.
Bea wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they’d planned a trip together, the two of them, and she’d hoped he’d discover her out here, not another girl.
And as they walk into the Outlands with two days’ worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?
Review:
The premise of Breathe hooked me and made me what to read it. I am a huge fan of dystopian fiction, and though I have been disappointed by many of them lately, Breathe kept me completely engaged in the plot. That’s not to say that there weren’t any flaws, because there were quite a few, but I was so caught up in the story that I overlooked most of them. One that was hard to overlook was the personality reversal of Petra, the leader of the Resistance. When the chips were down, she went from being tough as nails to completely caving in and giving up. I don’t understand how she was the leader of this rebel group for so long, how she sent her people out on dangerous, life-threatening missions that lead to many of their deaths, when she couldn’t even find it in herself to fight back when she’s confronted with a war. Yes, the odds were so against her people that it didn’t look like they had a chance in Hell of winning, but just rolling over and giving up without a fight made me dislike her even more. How she ever became the leader of the resistance in the first place is beyond me.
When Bea and her best friend, Quinn, head out of the pod for a short camping trip, their plans are disrupted by Alina, a member of the Resistance, who is fleeing from the Ministry. Alina’s crime? She stole some plants. Yup, in this horrific vision of the future, all plant-life has been destroyed, the oceans have been polluted, and as a result, there isn’t enough oxygen left in the atmosphere to support life. The oppressive Breathe, the corporation that developed the pods and the life giving machines that fill them with breathable air, making a fortune selling air to the citizens of the pod. If you think having a gas meter or an electric meter is a pain, imagine having a monthly bill for the air you breathe. The poor struggle to make ends meet, while the wealthy have so much money they can splurge on personal air tanks so they can jog or play sports. Stewards patrol the streets, punishing those who walk too fast, or carry burdens without a permit. In the public areas of the pod, there are strict rules dictating how quickly you can move or what you can do because you are sucking up all of that valuable free air into your lungs. I love the concept behind this story!
After Bea and Quinn help Alina, their lives are thrown into chaos. Quinn’s father holds a high ranking position in Breathe, and as a Premium, there is little that Quinn has had to do without. Bea, on the other hand, has parents who are working themselves to death to pay for her air. As she attends school and works hard to be promoted, Bea is consumed with guilt. Her parents are always so tired, and always so worried about everything. When she fails to secure a spot in the Breathe Leadership Program, she is devastated. That was going to be her ticket to an easier life for her and her parents, and she blew it. So a trip outside, to the Outlands, sounds like just the thing she needs to clear her head and forget her disappointment. Quinn is providing everything she needs for the trip, so she might as well go and enjoy herself. And she is, until they run into Alina. Quinn, a very clueless, privileged young man, sees Alina, finds her beautiful, and immediately falls for her. He’ll do anything in his power to help her. Even hurt his best friend, Bea, who has loved him forever.
The love triangle did get a little annoying, because I didn’t think Quinn was worthy of Bea’s unyielding devotion, and Alina wasn’t my favorite character. While I thought that Quinn and Alina deserved each other, I didn’t want to see Bea hurt, because she is so kind. She is willing to risk herself for others, without hesitation. Neither Alina nor Quinn have her best interests at heart when they both have the power over her to keep her from harm. That was disappointing, because after everything that they had been through together, I expected better behavior from both of them. Plus, Bea would have put herself in harm’s way to protect both of them, and they didn’t deserve that.
The ending is one of those non-endings that seem inevitable in YA books, and it left me disappointed. I have been trying to resist starting new series until most of the books are out, but this was sitting on the library shelf, and despite a few reservations, I checked it out. Now. When I knew the next book won’t be out until later this year. Ugh. I am glad that I read it now, but I worry that I won’t be in the same frame of mind when Book 2 hits shelves.
If you are in the mood for a fast-paced dystopian with a compelling premise, give Breathe a try. I gobbled it up in a few short hours, and was engaged in the plot the entire time.
Grade: B
Review copy obtained from my local library
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By: Julie,
on 9/30/2012
There are a ton of awesome releases this week, so I split the adult list into two parts. First up are the PNR/UF and Fantasy titles. So many of these are on my wish list! What’s on yours?
Check back tomorrow for new romance releases.
Click on the covers for the Amazon product page.
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Dark Currents: Agent of Hel by Jacqueline Carey (Oct 2, 2012)
Daughter of the Sword: A Novel of the Fated Blades by Steve Bein (Oct 2, 2012)
Death’s Rival: A Jane Yellowrock Novel by Faith Hunter (Oct 2, 2012)
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Ember’s Kiss: A Dragonfire Novel by Deborah Cooke (Oct 2, 2012)
Ghosts of Memories: A Vampire Memories Novel by Barb Hendee (Oct 2, 2012)
Ironskin by Tina Connolly (Oct 2, 2012)
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London Eye (Toxic City Book One) by Tim Lebbon (Oct 2, 2012)
Mate Claimed (Shifters Unbound) by Jennifer Ashley (Oct 2, 2012)
Mortal Ties (Lupi) by Eileen Wilks (Oct 2, 2012)
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Phantom Shadows (Immortal Guardians) by Dianne Duvall (Oct 2, 2012)
Revelation (A Novel of the Seven Signs) by Erica Hayes (Oct 2, 2012)
Savage Hunger by Terry Spear (Oct 2, 2012)
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Skarlet: Part One of the Vampire Trinity (Vampire Babylon Trilogy) by Thomas Emson (Oct 2, 2012)
Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone (Oct 2, 2012)
Werewolf in Denver: A Wild About You Novel by Vicki Lewis Thompson (Oct 2, 2012)
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Wicked Whispers (Castle of Dark Dreams) by Nina Bangs (Oct 2, 2012)
Courting Trouble by Jenny Schwartz (Oct 1, 2012)
Mark of the Witch (The Portal) by Maggie Shayne (Oct 1, 2012)
Wild Hearts in Atlantis by Alyssa Day (Oct 2, 2012)
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By: Julie,
on 10/2/2012
Here are this week’s YA releases. A ton of these are on my wish list, including Breathe, Death and the Girl Next Door, Poison Princess, and Fall to Pieces. Which titles are you most anticipating?
Click on the cover for the Amazon product page.
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The Assassin’s Curse (Strange Chemistry) by Cassandra Rose Clarke (Oct 2, 2012)
Breathe by Sarah Crossan (Oct 2, 2012)
Chasing the Skip by Janci Patterson (Oct 2, 2012)
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Broxo by Zack Giallongo (Oct 2, 2012)
Dark Lord: The Early Years by Jamie Thomson (Oct 2, 2012)
Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones (Oct 2, 2012)
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Emily’s Dress and Other Missing Things by Kathryn Burak (Oct 2, 2012)
Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant (Oct 2, 2012)
Fall to Pieces by Vahini Naidoo (Oct 2, 2012)
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Fangirl by Ken Baker (Oct 2, 2012)
Feedback by Robison Wells (Oct 2, 2012)
Fire Season (Star Kingdom) by David Weber and Jane Lindskold (Oct 2, 2012)
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Forget Me Not by Carolee Dean (Oct 2, 2012)
The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Catherynne M. Valente and Ana Juan (Oct 2, 2012)
Kiss & Make Up by Katie D. Anderson (Oct 2, 2012)
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Live Through This by Mindi Scott (Oct 2, 2012)
The Last Dragonslayer (Chronicles of Kazam) by Jasper Fforde and Jane Collingwood (Oct 2, 2012)
Lucid by Adrienne Stoltz and Ron Bass (Oct 2, 2012)
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Lula Bell on Geekdom, Freakdom, & the Challenges of Bad Hair by C. C. Payne (Oct 2, 2012)
Pirate Cinema by Cory Doctorow (Oct 2, 2012)
Poison Princess (Arcana Chronicles) by Kresley Cole (Oct 2, 2012)
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Poltergeeks (Strange Chemistry) by Sean Cummings (Oct 2, 2012)
Promised (The Birthmarked Trilogy) by Caragh M. O’Brien (Oct 2, 2012)
Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt (Oct 2, 2012)
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Shifter (Wicked Woods #6) by Kailin Gow (Oct 2, 2012)
Son by Lois Lowry (Oct 2, 2012)
The Suburban Strange by Nathan Kotecki (Oct 2, 2012)
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Through to You by Emily Hainsworth (Oct 2, 2012)
Villain School: Hero in Disguise by Stephanie Sanders (Oct 2, 2012)
Whispers at Moonrise (Shadow Falls Novel (Quality)) by C. C. Hunter (Oct 2, 2012)
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Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed and Larkin Reed (Oct 1, 2012)
Black Painted Fingernails by Steven Herrick (Oct 1, 2012)
The Dogs of Winter by Bobbie Pyron (Oct 1, 2012)
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League of Strays by L. B. Schulman (Oct 1, 2012)
Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch (Oct 1, 2012)
Pinned by Sharon Flake (Oct 1, 2012)
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Samantha Sutton and the Labyrinth of Lies by Jordan Jacobs (Oct 1, 2012)
The Savage Fortress by Sarwat Chadda (Oct 1, 2012)
Skinny by Donna Cooner (Oct 1, 2012)
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Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally (Oct 1, 2012)
Undertakers: Queen of the Dead by Ty Drago and Eric Williams (Oct 1, 2012)
Who I Kissed by Janet Gurtler (Oct 1, 2012)
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Following Scott's excellent post on Banned Books Week, I wanted to add my personal experience regarding this topic.
I was born in Argentina at the peak of the last military dictatorship, in 1977. The society in which I was born and raised was oppressed for years until the people united against tyranny and said "Nunca Mas," Never Again. When I was young, there were a lot of things that weren't available to me and the rest of the population. Some of them were books, music, and theater. Whatever made it to the public was dubbed in Spanish with all the consequences this brings. The message was diluted to what a small group of people thought it was okay for society. In fact, it wasn't until I was in my twenties that I read Little Women in English for the first time and discovered that several paragraphs and whole chapters had been deleted from the translated version I had memorized as a child. I felt like I had been hit in the stomach by a futbol going a hundred miles an hour (and I have in real life. I know that feeling very well)
Among other things, I had never even heard of The Hobbit or of the Lord of Rings Trilogy. When I arrived at BYU, one of the first things I did was go to the library. I was overwhelmed by the amount of books that the walls and countless shelves of not one floor, but five! I could have stayed there forever and never go to class. In fact, if I never stepped in a classroom but was allowed to spend as much time as I wanted in that library, I would have been satisfied.
Fortunately, I did go to class; one of the first ones was an English honors in which we discussed The Lord of the Rings. I remember the very first quizz. I studied for hours, unused to the difficult language of the book (English is my second language after all, but Tolkien's wasn't the English I had studied for years).
I was dismayed when I read the questions. I had no idea who Bilbo was, and there were five questions on this character. When I complained to the professor, he said he had included questions from The Hobbit, and since it was popular culture we all should know it.
I still disagree with his logic, although it makes sense in a way. Eventually I did very well in that class, and I think the professor had a reality check: not all students came from the same background and culture, and as a consequence defined popular culture a little different from him.
Where I'm going with this is, no small group of people has the right to say what I am allowed to consider writing/reading/seeing/saying. During the military dictatorship countless artists were exiled from Argentina because their work was deemed revolutionary, anti-patriotic.
When I was in high school I had the blessing of being friends with a group of girls who, like me, loved reading and discussing the ideas we read. We borrowed and lent books to each other, and we talked. There were many books I read that I didn't like. But I could read them, or put them away if I didn't want to continue giving my time to something I didn't enjoy. Yesterday, I was reading a Stephen King's book in English for the first time, and I reached a passage that really disturbed me because of the violence. I put it away. Do I think no one should ever read that book? No. Everyone has the right to read whatever they please. My son is almost twelve, and he's a read-a-holic like his mother. However, there are some books I don't want him to read yet. There is plenty of time for some things. But when he's old enough, they'll be available for him.
Sometimes when we read these now so popular dystopian books, we as readers are horrified by some aspects of those fictional societies. I'm horrified because I lived in one, and the effects of the lack of freedom TO THINK are devastating. My country still hasn't recovered.
Read books. Banned or not. Think for yourself. Give others the same right.
By: Julie,
on 10/7/2012
Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?
I’m not too enamored with the dress, but I love the title font and graphic for The Elite by Kiera Cass. Are you reading this series? What do you think of this cover?
In stores April 2013.
Not available
By: Julie,
on 10/9/2012
There are a couple of big buzz titles this week. Velveteen, Mystic City, and Valkyrie Rising are at the top of my wish list. What’s on yours?
Click the covers for the Amazon product page.
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All You Never Wanted by Adele Griffin (Oct 9, 2012)
After by Ellen Datlow (Oct 9, 2012)
Samurai Awakening by Benjamin Martin (Oct 10, 2012)
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The Bridge by Jane Higgins (Oct 9, 2012)
Bushman Lives! by Daniel Pinkwater (Oct 9, 2012)
Guardian (A Halflings Novel) by Heather Burch (Oct 9, 2012)
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Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh (Oct 9, 2012)
The Katerina Trilogy, Vol. II: The Unfailing Light by Robin Bridges (Oct 9, 2012)
My Own Revolution by Carolyn Marsden (Oct 9, 2012)
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Mystic City by Theo Lawrence (Oct 9, 2012)
The Opposite of Hallelujah by Anna Jarzab (Oct 9, 2012)
Paradise by Joanna Nadin (Oct 9, 2012)
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Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay (Oct 9, 2012)
A Thunderous Whisper by Christina Gonzalez (Oct 9, 2012)
Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone (Oct 9, 2012)
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Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson (Oct 9, 2012)
Velveteen by Daniel Marks (Oct 9, 2012)
What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton (Oct 9, 2012)
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Demon Eyes (Witch Eyes) by Scott Tracey (Oct 8, 2012)
Foxfire (An Other Novel) by Karen Kincy (Oct 8, 2012)
The FitzOsbornes at War (The Montmaray Journals) by Michelle Cooper (Oct 9, 2012)
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By: Julie,
on 10/10/2012
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.
Yeah, yeah, everyone seems to be waiting for Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans. Me, too! I’m officially tossing my hat into the waiting pile.
In stores January 2013
s
In this gripping exploration of a futuristic afterlife, a teen discovers that death is just the beginning.
Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved.
Then a girl in a neighboring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again.
Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.
What are you waiting on?
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By: Julie,
on 10/16/2012
Lots of nice stuff here! I am looking forward to The Space Between Us, Zom-B, and Crewel. What’s on your want to read list?
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Beta by Rachel Cohn (Oct 16, 2012)
Break My Heart 1,000 Times by Daniel Waters (Oct 16, 2012)
Crewel (Crewel World) by Gennifer Albin (Oct 16, 2012)
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Game Changer by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Oct 16, 2012)
Have a Nice Day by Julie Halpern (Oct 16, 2012)
Hidden (House of Night) by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast (Oct 16, 2012)
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The Innocents by Lili Peloquin (Oct 16, 2012)
The Islands of the Blessed (Sea of Trolls Trilogy) by Nancy Farmer (Oct 16, 2012)
Kiss, Kiss, Bark! by Kim Williams Justesen (Oct 16, 2012)
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Lily the Silent: The History of Arcadia by Tod Davies and Mike Madrid (Oct 16, 2012)
Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara (Oct 16, 2012)
Out of Reach by Carrie Arcos (Oct 16, 2012)
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Sanctum (Book 1 in the Guards of the Shadowlands series) by Sarah Fine (Oct 16, 2012)
Shadow of the Hawk (Wereworld) by Curtis Jobling (Oct 16, 2012).
The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski (Oct 16, 2012)
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The Space Between Us by Jessica Martinez (Oct 16, 2012)
Starstruck: A Fame Game Novel by Lauren Conrad (Oct 16, 2012)
This Is Not Forgiveness by Celia Rees (Oct 16, 2012)
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TimeRiders: The Doomsday Code by Alex Scarrow (Oct 16, 2012)
Zom-B by Darren Shan (Oct 16, 2012)
Daniel X: Armageddon by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein (Oct 15, 2012)
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By: tanita davis,
on 12/11/2012
One of the rare straight SF novels of the Cybils season (not that rare overall, but this year has some better science than last, I think) this book was meant to be a quick sip whilst doing something else, and I ended up putting off whatever else it... Read the rest of this post
By: Julie,
on 8/15/2012
Here are some cheap YA reads for the Kindle. There are some popular dystopian and fairy tale retellings going on the cheap!
All These Things I’ve Done (Birthright)
In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city’s most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.’s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she’s to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight–at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.
Engrossing and suspenseful, All These Things I’ve Done is an utterly unique, unputdownable read that blends both the familiar and the fantastic.
Uglies (The Uglies)
Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can’t wait. In just a few weeks she’ll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she’ll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.
But Tally’s new friend Shay isn’t sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world–and it isn’t very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally’s choice will change her world forever..
Pretties (The Uglies)
Gorgeous. Popular. Perfect. Perfectly wrong.
Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she’s completely popular. It’s everything she’s ever wanted.
But beneath all the
By: Julie,
on 8/18/2012
Here are some inexpensive YA and MG sale books for your Kindle reader or Kindle apps.
Sometimes It Happens
On the last day of her junior year, Hannah’s boyfriend Ryan dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah’s side…until it’s time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava’s boyfriend, Noah, who’s such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah’s good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction–and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Ryan, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think..
Shatter Me
Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are w
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By: Julie,
on 9/4/2012
Sarah Crossan is the author of Breathe, a post-apocalyptic read chronicling a dark future where people have to pay for the very air they breathe. This book sounds fantastic, so I asked Sarah if she could answer a few of my questions. Check out what she has to say below:
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Sarah Crossan] Young adult author of novels. Irish but grew up in England, now living in New Jersey. Former English teacher missing the classroom.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Breathe?
[Sarah Crossan] Breathe is a novel set in a post-apocalyptic future at a time when the earth’s oxygen levels have plummeted and humans are forced to live in pods and breathe chemically manufactured air which they must pay for. Sadly, some people can afford a lot more air than others.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Sarah Crossan] Like many people, I fear for our planet. After seeing logging firsthand, whole mountainsides cleared, I wondered what life would be like on earth with no trees at all. The idea of living without an abundance of oxygen was a concept I found very frightening and the novel unraveled in my mind from there.
I don’t remember creating the characters. They seemed to exist before I imagined them. Quinn was the first character to come to me though, and his voice was always entirely clear in my head.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What was the most challenging aspect of writing Breathe?
[Sarah Crossan] The world was easy to imagine. The challenge was writing about it so readers could see what I see. That’s always the challenge for a writer, I suppose.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Alina?
[Sarah Crossan] Tough, impatient, dependable
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are three things Quinn would never have in his pocket?
[Sarah Crossan] Quinn is the kind of person who could be carrying anything. Those pockets of his are probably brimming with unusual odds and ends.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Bea’s single most prized possession?
[Sarah Crossan] Bea doesn’t care about material possessions. She is a people person. She prizes relationships above all else.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Sarah Crossan] I am inspired by nature, whether I am writing about it or not. I love the countryside and the ocean. Bleak weather isn’t necessary, but it helps!
Obviously I find myself inspired by the arts too: books, plays, art, music—anything that provokes emotion.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?
[Sarah Crossan] Time, space, and tea.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?
[Sarah Crossan] The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt. It is so darkly funny and yet sad and true. It fully deserves all its accolades.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?
[Sarah Crossan] Paul Zindel’s The Pigman was the first book to made me cry, and I remember staying awake at night worrying for the characters. After that I became a voracious reader and found myself constantly impacted by literature.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
[Sarah Crossan] I paint a little, love to travel, and practice yoga. I have been learning Greek for over fifteen years, but I’m still a beginner: it’s a difficult language!
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?
[Sarah Crossan] Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Crossan/266594186686482
Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/SarahCrossan
Email sarah@sarahcrossan.com
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!
You can preorder Breathe from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the widget below. Available in print and digital.
By: Julie,
on 9/5/2012
I am a bit behind on reviews, and probably won’t be able to catch up until the weekend. I returned home from vacation to a broken well, and let me tell you, not having water is not pleasant. All of the little things you take for granted are suddenly no longer possible – flushing the toilet, washing your hands, taking a shower – even cooking and making coffee! Thankfully we had it repaired in a few days, but now I have piles of laundry and a billion other things I had to put off until it was fixed.
In the meantime, one of my favorite 2012 releases, Under the Never Sky, is currently discounted to $2.99 for the Kindle. If you haven’t read this yet, give it a try. I am counting down the days until the release of Through the Ever Night.
Under the Never Sky
Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.
Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive.
A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.
In her enthralling debut, Veronica Rossi sends readers on an unforgettable adventure set in a world brimming with harshness and beauty.
By: Julie,
on 9/7/2012
C J Redwine is the author of the recently released YA title, Defiance. This is the first book in a planned trilogy that is being released by HarperTeen. C J stopped by the virtual offices to chat about her book.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[C J Redwine] Quirky, book geek, adoption advocate, lemon bar addict, Johnny Depp fangirl, slightly nuts.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Defiance?
[C J Redwine] Sure! Here’s the synopsis:
Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.
At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.
As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[C J Redwine] For years, I’d had the idea of an unkillable (Look at me making up words!) beast living far beneath the earth’s surface. But the rest of the story’s world refused to appear until one day when I saw a picture of a city-state, and my fertile little brain said HELLO, MY PRECIOUS. The characters came from the world. It’s a tough place to live, and so I knew my characters would be capable and resourceful and when pushed to their limits, would do whatever they had to do to get things done. It was interesting to discover that while Rachel and Logan are both tremendously capable and resourceful, it comes out in very different ways. She’s impulsive and he’s a compulsive planner. 
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What was the most challenging aspect of writing the story?
[C J Redwine] The level of emotional authenticity I had to bring to the manuscript was daunting some days. I had to go to some very dark places to deliver the kind of story I wanted to tell.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Rachel?
[C J Redwine] Fierce, loyal, impulsive
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are three things Logan would never have in his pocket?
[C J Redwine] I tried to answer this! I really did. But Logan is a compulsive planner. He likes to map out all possible scenarios and be prepared for any contingency. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t have in his pocket if he thought he might need it to accomplish his mission.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?
[C J Redwine] Music and movies! I have a huge music library and go to the theater as often as possible.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?
[C J Redwine] My playlist, my laptop, and a stretch of uninterrupted time.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?
[C J Redwine] The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. I read it in second grade. I’d read other books before this (mostly Nancy Drew), but this is the book that opened up a world outside of the one I lived in everyday and showed me that no journey is impossible if you have a book as your guide.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
[C J Redwine] Hang with my family, watch Harry Potter movies, read books, and laugh.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?
[C J Redwine] Talk to me on my blog, Twitter, or Facebook!
blog: http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/cjredwine
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/cjredwine
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!
You can purchase Defiance from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the widget below. Available in print and digital.
By: Christina Farley,
on 9/9/2012
By: Julie,
on 9/12/2012
Here’s a small round-up of nicely priced YA eBooks for your Kindle or Kindle app.
Eve
Where do you go when nowhere is safe?
Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth’s population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school’s real purpose—and the horrifying fate that awaits her.
Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust . . . and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.
In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying. Readers will revel in Eve’s timeless story of forbidden love and extraordinary adventure.
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Partials
The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.
Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what’s left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she’s not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.
Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulsepounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival.
These Harper Collins’ contemporaries are at a lower price point, so check them out. I enjoyed both of these.
Where I Belong
Meet Corrinne. She’s living every girl’s dream in New York City—shopping sprees at Barneys, open access to the best clubs and parties, and her own horse at the country club. Her perfect life is perfectly on track. At least it was. . . .
When Corrinne’s father is laid off, her world suddenly falls apart. Instead of heading to boarding school, she’s stripped of her credit cards and shipped off to the boonies of Texas to live with her grandparents. On her own in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the life she’s supposed to be living. She doesn’t care who she stomps on in the process. But when Corrinne makes an unlikely friend and discovers a total hottie at work, she begins to wonder if her life B.R.—before the recession—was as perfect as it seemed.
A Long Way from You (Where I Belong)
For too long, Kitsy has had to satisfy her dreams of becoming a real artist by giving her friends makeovers before prom. So when her best friend Corrinne’s family offers to sponsor her for a summer art course in New York City, Kitsy bids a temporary good-bye to Texas to say hello to the West Village.
Between navigating the subway and the New Yorkers—namely, the Art Boy who has a nice trick of getting under her skin—Kitsy knows that this summer is going to be about a lot more than figure drawing.
By: Julie,
on 9/13/2012
Here are some cheap YA dystopian reads for your Kindle reader or Kindle app.
Memento Nora
On an otherwise glossy day, a blast goes off and a body thuds to the ground at Nora’s feet. There are terrorist attacks in the city all the time, but Nora can’t forget.
In Nora’s world you don’t have to put up with nightmares. Nora goes with her mother to TFC–a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic. There, she can describe her horrible memory and take a pill to erase it so she can go on like nothing ever happened. But at TFC a chance encounter with a mysterious guy changes Nora’s life. She doesn’t take the pill. And when Nora learns the memory her mother has chosen to forget, she realizes that someone needs to remember.
With newfound friends Micah and Winter, Nora makes a comic book of their memories called Memento. Memento is an instant hit, but it sets off a dangerous chain of events. Will Nora, Micah, and Winter be forced to take the Big Pill that will erase their memories forever?
Angie Smibert’s remarkable debut novel takes readers on a thrilling ride through a shadowy world where corporations secretly rule and consumerism is praised above all.(
The Forgetting Curve (Memento Nora)
Aiden Nomura likes to open doors—especially using his skills as a hacker—to see what’s hidden inside. He believes everything is part of a greater system: the universe. The universe shows him the doors, and he keeps pulling until one cracks open. Aiden exposes the flaw, and the universe—or someone else—will fix it. It’s like a game.
Until it isn’t.
When a TFC opens in Bern, Switzerland, where Aiden is attending boarding school, he knows things are changing. Shortly after, bombs go off within quiet, safe Bern. Then Aiden learns that his cousin Winter, back in the States, has had a mental breakdown. He returns to the US immediately.
But when he arrives home in Hamilton, Winter’s mental state isn’t the only thing that’s different. The city is becoming even stricter, and an underground movement is growing.
Along with Winter’s friend, Velvet, Aiden slowly cracks open doors in this new world. But behind those doors are things Aiden doesn’t want to see—things about his society, his city, even his own family. And this time Aiden may be the only one who can fix things… before someone else gets hurt.
Watersmeet
From her birth, Abisina has been outcast–for the color of her eyes and skin, and for her lack of a father. Only her mother’s status as the village healer has kept her safe. But when a mythic leader arrives, Abisina’s life is ripped apart. She escapes alone to try to find the father and the home she has never known. In a world of extremes, from the deepest prejudice to the greatest bonds of duty and loyalty, Abisina must find her own way and decide where her true hope lies.
The Centaur’s Daughter
Abisina had found a home in Watersmeet–the community her father led until he was killed by the evil White Worm. But now, Watersmeet is as divided as the village she fled as an outcast. The land faces a new threat, and an uneasy alliances between the humans and the creatures will have to be formed to survive. If Abisina doesn’t become the leader Watersmeet needs, she may lose everything. But can she take her father’s place? This powerful and moving fantasy deals with timely issues about identity, prejudice, and war. This is the sequel to Watersmeet, which was an IRA Young Adult Book Award Notable and a YALSA Teens’ Top Ten Nominee.
By: Julie,
on 9/19/2012
Laura Bickle is a favorite around the virtual offices, and I’m always delighted when she has time to drop in for a chat. Today we are going to talk about her soon to be released young adult title The Hallowed Ones. This is a scary glimpse at the end of the world! I enjoyed this thrilling, frightening, exciting read, and I wanted to ask Laura a few questions about it, so let’s see what she has to say.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Laura Bickle] Cat-rancher, Tarot enthusiast, and sometime salamander chaser. Writing urban fantasy and YA as Laura Bickle and Alayna Williams.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about The Hallowed Ones?
[Laura Bickle] Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers are free to experience non-Amish culture before officially joining the church. But before Rumspringa arrives, Katie’s safe world starts to crumble. It begins with a fiery helicopter crash in the cornfields, followed by rumors of massive unrest and the disappearance of huge numbers of people all over the world. Something is out there…and it is making a killing.
Unsure why they haven’t yet been attacked, the Amish Elders make a decree: no one goes outside their community, and no one is allowed in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man lying just outside the boundary of their land, she can’t leave him to die. She refuses to submit to the Elders’ rule and secretly brings the stranger into her community—but what else is she bringing in with him?
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Laura Bickle] I was thinking about what would happen if the end of the world came…I know this is a common thing to think about on an everyday basis! But that’s part of the joy in being a writer. I get to think about odd things.
I was wondering who would be best-equipped to survive a large-scale disaster. It occurred to me that the Amish would be uniquely equipped to survive. They are incredibly self-sufficient and are not dependent upon things we take for granted in our world, things like electricity and cars.
I live not too far from a large Amish settlement. When I was a child, my parents would take me to visit, and I was fascinated by a world very different than the one I lived in. I’d see Amish girls my age over the fence and wonder what their lives were like. And that’s where Katie came from.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you research Amish culture and traditions?
[Laura Bickle] I spent some time visiting the Amish settlement near where I live. I also did a good deal of reading…there are a lot of great books out there that look at the Plain way of life from a sociological perspective. National Geographic has also done a number of very good documentaries about the Amish. Many of the ideas were very foreign to me. For example, the Amish do not wish to be connected to the outside world, so power lines, phone lines, and electricity are not used. That kind of voluntary isolation is fascinating to me. The only parallel I can draw in my own life is when storms came through our area and we were without phone, cable, electricity, and internet for a week. It was very still and very peaceful.
I’m acutely conscious that I can’t know or understand everything about the Amish, never having lived in an Amish community. But I learned enough to develop an immense respect for the Amish way of life.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Katie?
[Laura Bickle] Katie is strong, quiet, and resolute. She’s a young woman growing into her power.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things would Elijah never have in his room?
[Laura Bickle] Hmmm…Elijah is the boy Katie has grown up with, who she expects to marry someday. Elijah is something of a straight arrow. He’d never have the keys to a car, a secret stash of Star Wars action figures, or anything with a remote control.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are three things Alex would never have in his pockets?
[Laura Bickle] Alex is an injured man Katie finds outside the boundaries of her community. Katie brings him inside her barn to recover, but can’t be sure what kind of evil he’s bringing in with him.
Alex is a graduate student in anthropology. You wouldn’t find any of the following in his pockets: more than twenty bucks, a comb, or directions to the nearest church.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Katie had a theme song, what would it be?
[Laura Bickle] Hmmm. Katie doesn’t spend much time listening to popular music, but she was caught by her father humming “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones while milking the cows.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Laura Bickle] My herd of cats would say they’re my greatest influences. There’s always one or two draped on me while I’m trying to type, trying to hit the delete key.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?
[Laura Bickle] Quiet, Coca-Cola, and someplace to sprawl out.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?
[Laura Bickle] FEVER by Lauren DeStefano. Her voice is so incredibly powerful – I can’t wait for the third book in the Chemical Garden trilogy. Both WITHER and FEVER were books that lingered with me for a long time after I finished – I love it when a story takes up real estate in my head and haunts me like that.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?
[Laura Bickle] My all-time favorite is Robin McKinley’s HERO AND THE CROWN. I read it when I was a pre-teen, and fell in love with fantasy ever after. It was the first book I’d read that had a female protagonist who slew her own dragons. I was hooked.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
[Laura Bickle] In my day job, I work in a library. I get to pet all the new books and come home with armloads of books to read for research and pleasure.
My husband and I are amateur astronomers. We were excited to finally get a break in the cloud cover to see a bit of the Perseids meteor shower this year.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?
[Laura Bickle] I love to connect with readers! My website is www.laurabickle.com. I blog about nerdy stuff like my action figure collection at http://laurabickle.com/category/blog/ I’m also on Twitter and Facebook.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!
You can order The Hallowed Ones from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the widget below.
By: Julie,
on 9/24/2012
Here are this week’s new and notable releases for romance and UF/PNR readers. What’s on your list?
Check back tomorrow for this week’s Young Adult releases.
Click the covers for the Amazon product page
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Blaze by Joan Swan (Sep 25, 2012)
Unleashed by Crystal Jordan (Sep 25, 2012)
Dawn’s Desire by Donna Grant (Sep 25, 2012) – Novella, only .99!
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Lord of Temptation (Lost Lords of Pembrook) by Lorraine Heath (Sep 25, 2012)
Hunk for the Holidays by Katie Lane (Sep 25, 2012)
Josh by R.C. Ryan (Sep 25, 2012)
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My Scandalous Viscount (Inferno Club) by Gaelen Foley (Sep 25, 2012)
Outlaw Derek by Kay Hooper (Sep 25, 2012)
An Outlaw’s Christmas (Mckettricks) by Linda Lael Miller (Sep 25, 2012)
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Rules to Catch a Devilish Duke by Suzanne Enoch (Sep 25, 2012)
Secrets of a Wedding Night by Valerie Bowman (Sep 25, 2012)
Seduction’s Shift (Shadow Shifters) by A.C. Arthur (Sep 25, 2012)
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Shadow Rising: The Shadow Slayers, Book 2 by Cassi Carver (Sep 25, 2012)
When the Duchess Said Yes (Wylder Sisters) by Isabella Bradford (Sep 25, 2012)
The Undead In My Bed by Katie MacAlister and Jessica Sims (Sep 25, 2012)
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How a Lady Weds a Rogue by Katharine Ashe
Thirst by Karen E. Taylor (Sep 25, 2012)
Alchemystic by Anton Strout (Sep 25, 2012)
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Blood Riders by Michael P. Spradlin (Sep 25, 2012)
Boyfriend from Hell (Saturn’s Daughters) by Jamie Quaid (Sep 25, 2012)
The Sundering (Time of Legends) by Gav Thorpe (Sep 25, 2012)
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Dark Light of Day by Jill Archer (Sep 25, 2012)
Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel (Sep 25, 2012)
Earth to Hell: Journey to Wudang: Book One by Kylie Chan (Sep 25, 2012)
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How to Marry a Warlock in 10 Days by Saranna DeWylde (Sep 25, 2012)
Immortal Surrender (Curse of the Templars) by Claire Ashgrove (Sep 25, 2012)
The Moonstone and Miss Jones (Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator) by Jillian Stone (Sep 25, 2012)
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Personal Demon by Susan Sizemore (Sep 25, 2012)
Sacrifice the Wicked: A Dark Mission Novel by Karina Cooper (Sep 25, 2012)
Something Witchy This Way Comes: A Jolie Wilkins Novel by H. P. Mallory (Sep 25, 2012)
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A Star Shall Fall by Marie Brennan (Sep 25, 2012)
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By: Julie,
on 9/26/2012
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.
I am such a sucker for post-apocalyptic books! I don’t know that I would be setting off on the adventure of a lifetime in a pair of shorts and a tank top, but Solstice by P J Hoover looks intriguing anyway.
In stores June 2013
Piper’s world is dying. Each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles that threaten to destroy the earth. Amid this global heating crisis, Piper lives under the oppressive rule of her mother, who suffocates her even more than the weather does. Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, when her mother is called away on a mysterious errand and Piper seizes her first opportunity for freedom.
Piper discovers a universe she never knew existed—a sphere of gods and monsters—and realizes that her world is not the only one in crisis. While gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper’s life spirals out of control as she struggles to find the answer to the secret that has been kept from her since birth.
What are you waiting on?
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I'm preeeeeety sure this one was a Cybils nom - the first one, anyway. It was, unfortunately, a victim of the "survival of the fittest" plot memory; it was trampled under by some two hundred or so other books, but I did remember thinking it was a good book that would build in its sequel.
There've been a glut of dystopians in recent years; good, because I enjoy them, but not so good, because the standouts need to do more to...stand out.