The Son of Sobek

Engrossing..... Presenting The Son of Sobek by Rick Riordan.

Here is the summary of the book:

In this e-book short story by Rick Riordan, Carter Kane is investigating rumored sightings of a monster on Long Island when he runs into something else: a mysterious boy named Percy Jackson. And their meeting isn't exactly friendly. . . . Includes a sneak peek chapter from HOUSE OF HADES, Book Four in the Heroes of Olympus series.

 Its a tease.... Its a tease.... oh this is such a tease alright. Greece meets Egypt is what this is..... And I must explain.... 40 pages is not enough.....no sir not at all.

Carter Kane and Percy Jackson meet, fight and bond together over the crocodile terrorizing Long Islands.... You've read it and this is just what it us, a tease.... a crossover we all have been fantasizing about.... In all its cannonicity, this is a true brainchild of the megamind that is Rick Riordan.

Although it is not clear as to the timeline of this short.... oh why did it have to end so quickly.... But we have our own guesses, amd think it happens just before Heroes of Olympus began and Percy and Jason were brainwashed and taken to opposite camps (its just a thought, you guys can always contradict in the comment section, I welcome it)......

An idea just the same it could be the precursor of something even more dangerous coming their ways.... Finishing this I'm now counting days for "House of Hades" and "Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo".... oh why they have to be so far away.

"Rick Riordan you are and always shall be fantastic.... A crossover with explosive promises for the future"

Genre :     Young Adult, Short Story, Urban Fantasy, Mythology

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release Date: 18th June, 2013

My Copy: bought (ebook)

Rate:             5/5 (It was Awesome)

Series by Author(only those reviewed on blog):
         Heroes of Olympus 
         Kane Chronicles

Buy:         Amazon 

Lazy Days of Summer Spontaneous GIVEAWAY HOP [INT]

HOSTED BY BURGANDY ICE AND I AM A READER, NOT A WRITER

July 24 - Aug 4

(Since my blogger was playing tricks on me so this is going up today) 

Do enter you all...

some cool prizes to win ahead..... this time divided into batches

"1 Winner" will get their desired batch

And they are.......

"BATCH 1" -

"BATCH 2" - 

RULES : 

1. There will be only One Winner (subjected to change). 

2. Winner will be informed via email and *must* reply within 48 hours else I won't have a choice but to select another winner. 

3. All entries would be verified. 

4. Just fill in the rafflecopter below :

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oh and I am running my 2nd year Blogoversary too with 2 mega giveaways, do enter them too - Go Here

Owl Post #10 [July, 2013]

Guys, today I'm doing something new on my blog....been coming on for a long time. This meme, called Owl Post is created by Brodie of Eleusinian Mysteries inspired by In My Mailbox by The Story Siren. Been meaning to do this since forever and I just love this idea. I'm being a Ravenclaw since at the age of eleven and couldn't seem to remember to do this....kudos to Brodie for thinking about this!

Before you all proceed further, let me make something clear:-

1. Just like my IMM posts, this will not be done every Sunday but on the last Sunday of each month... the reason why you'll see a lot more books in here than normal.

2. This first Owl Post will have all the books that I received in July, 2013.

3. Also it will feature a list of recap link at the bottom of the page, which enlists all the review, interviews and tour posts I have done that particular month. Now I expect you all to visit each link and give out a comment here and there(would very much appreciate it) and you all can link your reviews too, i'd love to comment.

4. You are all welcome to share what you all got in the comment section below....i'd love to visit....

For Review

Netgalley

Lockwood & Co. #1 The Screaming Staircase - Jonathan Stroud

Shadowlands #2 Hereafter - Kate Brian

False Memory #2 False Sight - Dan Krokos

Bright Empires #1 The Skin Map - Stephen R. Lawhead

The Clann #3 Consume - Melissa Darnell

The Twixt #1 Indelible - Dawn Metcalf

Delia's Shadow - Jaime Lee Moyer

Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl - David Barnett

Edelweiss

Stoker & Holmes #1 The Clockwork Scarab - Colleen Gleason

From Hachette India

Theodore Boone #4 The Activist - John Grisham
Techie @ Heart: The Candid Confessions of a Software Engineer - Karthik S. 

Bought

Carrier #2 Shadow of the Mark - Leigh Fallon

Wiilliam Shakespeare's Star Was - Ian Doescher

Insignia #1.5 Allies - S.J. Kincaid

Insignia #2 Vortex - S.J. Kincaid

Confessions #1 Confessions of an Angry Girl - Louise Rozett

Unbound #1 Blood Bound - Rachel Vincent

Review Links

Demigods & Monsters

King Arthur - Daniel Mersey
Everneath #1.5 Neverfall - Brodi Ashton
Everneath #2 Everbound - Brodi Ashton
Paper Gods #1 INK - Amanda Sun
I'M PARTICIAPTING: Pages From My Thoughts: Win a copy of City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam F..
YA BOUND BOOK TOURS: Rush Book Blitz (+GIVEAWAY)
Hollow Earth #1 Hollow Earth - John Barrowman & Carol Barrowman
The Aether Chronicles #1 Innocent Darkness - Suzanne Lazear
ARC: Doctor Who Series 1: Winter's Dawn, Season's End
The Casual Vacancy - J.K. Rowling
The Sweetest Dark #2 The Deepest Night - Shana Abe
The Twixt #1 Indelible - Dawn Metcalf
His Fair Assassin #2 Dark Triumph - Robin LaFevers

His fair Assassin #2 Dark Triumph

Continues to be best of the best..... presenting His Fair Assassin #2 Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers.

Here is the summary of the book:

Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. The convent views Sybella, naturally skilled in the arts of both death and seduction, as one of their most dangerous weapons. But those assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

First blood red and bright colors, now Black an God. R.L. LaFevers knows how to change the mood of the story according to the characters and string us along for the read. Dark Triumph, is the second book in the "his Fair Assassin" series. While Grave Mercy was about Ismae, Dark Triumph is about Sybella. While Grave Mercy was a historical event, Dark Triumph is a much more of a personal battle against the homegrown darkness.

Battles are dark and ugly affairs, they always have been and always will be. But homegrown evil, the helplessness, the torture, the feeling of not fitting in, of despair is a prospect even darker than an open battlefield. Barricaded evil, the hardest to route out..... and Sybella returns to this evil of her past to conduct her duties as St. Mortain wishes, all the while keeping her faith in her divine father alive..... A tall order to face with no friends to help you for it.

In Grave Mercy, Ismae overshadowed everything, our introduction of Sybella then was all for nought, as Dark triumph forces us to re-evaluate everything we knew or felt about her. TrueIsmae and Duval were deeply missed but this was Sybella's turn in the tale and Robin LaFevers administered the worksperfectly leaving no room for mistakes at all.

The one thing I felt there would be no happy endings for Sybella. LaFevers paints her story with such darkness, such melancholy and despair. A life of hopeless torture, Sybella had no happiness in her life. Not even with her half-brother who was a bit too close for comfort.

Sent to the place of past horrors with the promise of the Mortain's will, Sybella finds that Ismae may have been right, the convent does not always know or misunderstood, the Lord's grace. It was her meeting with Beast that brought her that. Beast who teaches her the meaning of love.... And might I say that the author did wonder molding them together and shaping them like that.

An all round winner for me. And with Ismae and Sybella's story done it seems the next one "Mortal heart" is of Annith as she discovers her might...... 2014 looks so distant right now.... so excited for the book.

"Dark and Enticing, the much talked about and discussed sequels leaves its own mark, of darkness and sheer hope that he light will guide you to a more better place"

Genre :     Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Release Date: 2nd April, 2013

My Copy: bought (ebook)

Rate:             5/5 (It was Awesome)

Books in Series(review links):
         #1 Grave Mercy

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository

The Twixt #1 Indelible

This is why Harlequin Teen is one of my favorites..... Presenting The Twixt #1 Indelible by Dawn Metcalf.

Here is the summary of the book:

Some things are permanent.

Indelible.

And they cannot be changed back.

Joy Malone learns this the night she sees a stranger with all-black eyes across a crowded room—right before the mystery boy tries to cut out her eye. Instead, the wound accidentally marks her as property of Indelible Ink, and this dangerous mistake thrusts Joy into an incomprehensible world—a world of monsters at the window, glowing girls on the doorstep, and a life that will never be the same.

Now, Joy must pretend to be Ink’s chosen one—his helper, his love, his something for the foreseeable future...and failure to be convincing means a painful death for them both. Swept into a world of monsters, illusion, immortal honor and revenge, Joy discovers that sometimes, there are no mistakes.

Somewhere between reality and myth lies…

THE TWIXT

 Unique and indelible at its core.... By author Dawn Metcalf, Indelible in the first book of her brand new series called The Twixt. The thing I like about Harlequin Teen, they always have something cool and something new to present with each of their books and i'm happy to say that this holds true the most.

This is the story of Joy Malone who accidentally stumbles upon this dark ad dangerous and equally fantastic and overwhelming world of the Twixt when she catches the eye of the mysterious Ink and sister Inq...... and tackles the coming battles her way without hesitation and head held high.

Going into this book was like solving the greatest mystery ever because the synopsis pretty much keeps the awesomeness of the tale within its pages under lock and key only to be explored as the reader reads. Also this book made me actually ponder rather slowly with the happenings within the pages rather than reading it at top speed like i do sometimes......

If the mysterious awesomeness isn't enough, we get to see some pretty interesting characters too. joy, the female human protagonist f he tale. The thing I admired, while she resisted at first sooner than later she starts to accept the world that exists at the corner of the eye (the one place we never look for... a whovian reference i know) and she doesn't whine at all but instead taking it all in strides and understanding the ways of this old world (Faery tales anyway!).

Another one I would like to introduce is the make supernatural protagonist, Indelible Ink. It actually took me a bit of time to understand him and his motivations. He is a scribe just like his sister Invisible Inq and it is their job to maintain the balance between the human world and that of the Twixt by the Signatura. Also he is not born but made, which gives his body the ability to mold itself as he wants (something we all envy). There is and aura of mystery about him that makes not only us but Joy too to want to get to know him more. And might I say i'm relieved it is not an insta-love. They become acquaints first, then friends and finally fall so deep and hard that the level of devotion is enough to pull us even harder into the sway of the book.

A sweet and empowering, passionate love and the coming hardship of battle that could decide the fate of both world coupled with the newness of the tale is enough to warrant a 5/5 star to this jewel.

"Dawn Metcalf produces a unique & fresh tale Indelible in its existence"

Genre :      Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: 30th July, 2013

My Copy:  publisher and netgalley

Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

The Sweetest Dark #2 The Deepest Night

Into the deepest night they fly to rescue.... Presenting The Sweetest Dark #2 The Deepest night by Shana Abe.

Here is the summary of the book:

A rich portrait of post-Victorian England, The Deepest Nightseamlessly blends thrilling romance with riveting history and adventure—perfect for fans of Libba Bray and Lauren Kate.

It’s 1915, and sixteen-year-old Lora Jones is finishing up her first year as a charity student at Iverson, a prestigious, gothic boarding school on England’s southern coast. While she’s always felt different from everyone around her, now she finally knows why: She is a drákon, a rare, enchanted being with astonishing magical abilities.

As war hits Britain’s shores, and Lora reels from an unimaginable loss, she finds that her powers come with grave and dangerous responsibilities. At the request of Armand Louis, the darkly mysterious boy whose father owns Iverson, Lora will spend her summer at his lavish estate. To help the war effort—and to keep Lora by his side—Armand turns his home into a military hospital, where Lora will serve as a nurse. For Armand is inescapably drawn to her—bound to her by heart-deep secrets and a supernatural connection that runs thicker than blood.

Yet while Lora tries to sort out her own feelings toward Armand, fate offers an unexpected surprise. Lora discovers there is another drákon, a prisoner of war being held in Germany. And that only she, with her newly honed Gifts, will be able to rescue him.

With Armand, Lora will cross enemy lines on an incredible mission—one that could bond her to Armand forever, or irrevocably tear them apart.

Beautifully written, deeply romantic, and filled with daring adventure and magic, The Deepest Night is a mesmerizing novel of the enduring pull of destiny, and the eternal strength of love.

With the Sweetest Dark we discovered that there is more to this world than we realize.... right in the corner of the eye (the one place we never look.... ok I need to stop channeling the Doctor there....). Shana Abe introduced this world in her Dakon series..... which sadly I haven't yet..... continuing on to her new series and now to the new book in the series, the deepest night.

They lost Jesse at the end of the end of the last book but the night is still deep and much to be done. Things are changing fast in the dark age, the infernal war has reached London and it seems like Armand's brother is still alive and both Lora and him must brave the skies of their war-torn world to rescue him..... a mission that may serve to bond between them or break them apart from each other.

There is some seriously good character development in this book. Particularly Armand. In book 1, it was Jesse who occupied central position as their teacher, teaching the Drakon ways but this time Armand is given room to evolve. After the disaster in the first book, the lordship has fallen to Armand, the mysterious boy. When at first he seemed a reluctant bystander, a good looking one at that. But now he has been saddled with responsibility and he comes to it with a sound mind. In his own way he had always cared, just never showed. His attraction to Lora grows by the minutes, helped along with the fact that both are connected with their Drakon blood. It is rather endearing to watch both Armand and Lora skirting around their feeling throughout....

While his heart-warming love for Lora may seem wrong to some after Jesse with the instant heart stopping short romp they shared but in the sense while that one had its own merits. I found Lora's chemistry with Armand and this slow bonding even more heart-warming to behold.

I don't have much to say for Lora, she established herself already and this one is about Armand and his coming into his abilities. But Lora plays an important role of the duo throughout, As she mourns for Jesse, she must also master her transformations if they are to succeed ...... Abe beautifully advanced the Drakon world with this book and just with the right material too..

"Definitely a rich and fantastical setting of WWI era blending the right amount of thrilling romance and heart stopping adventures"

Genre :     Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: Bantam Dell

Release Date: 13th August, 2013

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:             4 /5 (Really Liked It)

Books in Series(review links):
         #1 The Sweetest Dark

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository

The Casual Vacancy

Its a giant book about a small town indeed.... and a giant check into reality with this adult genre book. Presenting The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling.

Here is the summary of the book:

A BIG NOVEL ABOUT A SMALL TOWN ...

When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils ... Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

This was actually a birthday gift last year but only now was I able to read and review it. Aside from it being written by J.K. Rowling and it being of adult genre but this book also marks her departure from the children's fantasy genre and the magical land of the Harry Potter books. After Harry Potter's fantasy, The Casual Vacancy comes as a strong reminder of reality.

Centered around the English town of Pagford, the events of the death of Parish Councillor and a much loved member of Pagford community, Barry Fairbrother. Whereby creating a casual vacancy on the council. Not only is the whole of Pagford shaken by Barry's death, but his seat has become the much sought after commodity. Sparking all sorts of calamity in the small town, lies, deceit, gambling, and all sorts of shoddy business as they all fight to the death for one single and powerful seat.

A lot of people have decked this book with negative reviews. Well I must tell you, The Casual Vacancy is definitely in no ways exaggerated, slow or boring or even a waste of time. I admit it took me a bit of time to finish it but...... it was an enlightening experience...... If you are going to read it with Harry Potter and its magical premise in mind..... then change your mindset because this book has no magical bone at all. 

What this book teaches is? Reality. Us humans are no perfect creatures, we make mistakes, and we learn from them or keep making them again and again.... but something that is constant among is, we pretend. We pretend everyday something that we are not. A smoke screen hiding our true selves, to face the society like that..... Almost every character in the book pretends to be something they are not - Fats, Gavin, Sam, Cubby, Shirley, Miles, Howard, Kay and every other character in this giant book.

Calling this book a waste is like saying Rowling is not deserving of her own mettle. There is bit of reality in this. Its emotional, thought provoking and a heavy multiple character journey converging on the events after Barry's death. I totally had no problem with this...... Rowling has proved her mettle with this, give her children's or adult's and we will have he story for the ages...... Just remember folks - this is not Harry Potter.... this is real life.

"Rich with the painstakingly obvious human reality, J.K.'s first venture in this genre has us awestruck at the sheer brilliance and simplicity of The Casual Vacancy"

Genre :      Adult, Contemporary

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Release Date: 27th September, 2012

My Copy:  Bought (hardback)

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository | 
                 Shoppingwish (best prices for India)

ARC: Doctor Who Series 1: Winter's Dawn, Season's End

My weirdest review ever. Presenting Doctor Who Series 1: Winter's Dawn, Season's End by Tony Lee, Jonathan L. Davis, Matthew Dow Smith, Al Davison, Blair Shedd, Kelly Yates.

Here is the summary of the book:

Writer Tony Lee is joined by artists such as Matthew Dow Smith, Al Davison, Blair Shedd, and Kelly Yates to bring you the last comic adventures of the 10th Doctor! The complete 16-issue Series 1 featuring the 10th Doctor, as portrayed by David Tennant, plus the 2010 Annual are collected in this oversized hardcover.

This ARC was provided by Netgalley and IDW Publishing and the included galley does not coincide with the description and cover photo provided at all.

Now like me a lot of you are having the same issue, the description of this on every website featuring this (amazon, book depository, goodreads, etc.) maintains that this is a 408 paged volume containing 16 issues, all adventures of David Tennant's 10th Doctor (my favorite).... But this pre-release ARC only has 2 issues (not the described 16) and featuring Matt Smith's 11th Doctor, Amy and Rory. It is currently unclear if these are to be a part of the book or IDW has been providing the wrong information.... or only the Netgalley upload is paired wrong.

that being said while the galley may not be what it proclaimed I still enjoyed the two adventures of the 11th Doctor and the Ponds. The 2 issues ("The Hypothetical Gentleman" & "The Doctor & The Nurse") brings the adventures with its illustrations upto par with the character's styles. The first story as a more of a water color illustration is artistically almost like the characters themselves and marvelous. The second one has a rather cartoonish sort of artwork.

The Hypothetical Gentleman takes place during 1815, the hypothetical man, invading from another reality and stealing time from unsuspecting people to gain a corporeal form in this universe, clearly a recurring character. The second one, the Doctor & the Nurse is about Amy ordering both Rory and the Doctor to bond and get to know each other more, a comical adventure very much keeping to the dynamics with the character in the show.... And the artwork to both sets the tone of the plot rather perfectly.

"While the stories are perfect, I would urge IDW to please check the description and upload the correct material in the future"

Genre :      Graphic Novel, Tie-in


Publisher: IDW Publishing


My Copy:  Publisher and netgalley


Rate:              3/5 (Liked It)

The Aether Chronicles #1 Innocent Darkness

A beautiful and fantastic Steampunk find...... Presenting The Aether Chronicles #1 Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear.

Here is the summary of the book:

Wish. Love. Desire. Live.

Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock's hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer's eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish.

After finishing Innocent Darkness I can safely say that although my reading portfolio for Steampunk is still quite young (it began with Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel), I must concur that barring 2 or 3 that i didn't like, the rest of them were simply the best of the best.... and now Suzanne Lazear's Innocent Darkness is added to it and I definitely am more than happy. 

Circa 1901, Innocent Darkness is not just history but also the appropriate amount of Steampunk as well...... hovercraft, and steam engines, and airships, and zeppelins and what not steampunky gadgets and inventions. Add to it the mysterious, mischievous, swoon-worthy, intense, lithe and dangerous Faery of the Otherworld and you have yourself a new favorite and another marvelous edition to the list.

And this is how the story begins with Noli right in the middle of it all. A girl of an era where for a girl to have free independent thinking is frowned upon by society, where the only interest for a girl should be of marrying well. Strong-willed, confident, determined, and as free thinkers, something never seen for the girl of the era, she becomes a favorite character. An affinity for fixing things and test driving without permit is what gets her into trouble and sent off to Findlay, a reform school. Confident at first, she quickly succumbs to the abuse and loss of the only friend at that horrible place. She breaks down and in her grief wishes herself away.

But doing this has some serious repercussions........leading straight into the arms of the Fae hunter Kavighn Silver-Tongue, a ruthless faerie on the lookout for a girl for sacrifice to the high queen to maintain the realm. He is cunning, ruthless, devious and knows how to seduce women (hence his another name "women-maker") but somehow through the course of time he falls for her too....... But it is V/Steven, her neighbor and long time friend gets to her n time and long suppressed feeling and desires are revealed and returned.......

V is another, or should I say one of the main characters after Noli, and while I say he is the good guy.... But he hides a big secret too, he is an exiled Fae Prince and had more than friendly feelings for Noli (*giddily-swoons*) which she returns......... he is quite the dashing Prince too...... What follows is a high octane, tense and passionate romance between them both penned beautifully by Lazear..... And Noli's life gets spared in the process through the most unlikeliest of solutions... you need to read to find that out.

I'd say not does Suzanne Lazear delivers a light read, a passionate read but a balanced read too. It has a wonderful plot, a new re-telling of the Fae myths (very original though)...... and most of all pretty strong characters. I would have liked it if there was a bit more Steampunk in there but i'm pretty happy and satisfied with it. This is a series and only the first book, so there is definitely going to be much more where it comes from.... Definitely excited to read the next one Charmed Vengeance......

"Innocent Darknees had the right mix of YA, the right mix of paranormal and steampunky enough for our tastes"

Genre :      Young Adult, Paranormal, Steampunk, Romance, Historical Fantasy

Publisher: Flux

Release Date: 8th August, 2012

My Copy:  bought (ebook)

Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

Hollow Earth #1 Hollow Earth

Oh definitely worth the reading. Presenting Hollow Earth #1 Hollow Earth by John Barrowman and Carol Barrowman.

Here is the summary of the book:

Imagination matters most in a world where art can keep monsters trapped—or set them free.

Lots of twins have a special connection, but twelve-year-old Matt and Emily Calder can do way more than finish each other’s sentences. Together, they are able to bring art to life and enter paintings at will. Their extraordinary abilities are highly sought after, particularly by a secret group who want to access the terrors called Hollow Earth. All the demons, devils, and evil creatures ever imagined are trapped for eternity in the world of Hollow Earth—trapped unless special powers release them.

The twins flee from London to a remote island off the west coast of Scotland in hopes of escaping their pursuers and gaining the protection of their grandfather, who has powers of his own. But the villains will stop at nothing to find Hollow Earth and harness the powers within. With so much at stake, nowhere is safe—and survival might be a fantasy.

While only few it seems that art coming to life is fast becoming the fad in fiction. The first for me was the amazingly authored Ink(by Amanda Sun) and this is the second one(although I know this is a reprint edition).

This is a story of siblings (twins) written by siblings. Twins Em and Matt know that their art can come to live if they concentrate. But everything changes when they animate themselves into a painting at the National Gallery when they wanted to go swimming. This has them running for their lives as negative forces rear their ugly heads wanting very much to use the twins to bring out the darkest creatures from the far reaches of the universe.They are called Animare and their lives just got even more complicated than it already was.

To be fair this amazing cover with the Peryton (a mythical creatures with the physical features of a stag and a bird), it was later that I realized that one of the authors is John Barrowman, who plays the omi-sexual and hot Captain Jack Harkness in "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood" and the anytagonist Malcolm Merlin/ Dark Archer in the new CW show "Arrow". Carol Barrowman, his sister is also pretty famous in literary circles..... AND BY GOD do they make a powerful duo.

I have to say that the twin connection between Matt and Em and the way they interact and recognize each other's feelings was one of the best points of this.... Them being Animare and pretty strong ones actually gave this a fantastical approach..... What Hollow Earth (kind of like the void in Doctor Who).. and what it represents for them all and the havoc it would ensue if opened is what this book is all about...... and you readers should definitely give this book a go even if it is to discover about this strange and fantastic world Matt and Em seems to have stumbled upon using their creativity and their imagination.

"Get pulled into the painted world of Em and Matt and be amazed at what such levels of creativity could achieve"

Genre :      Middle Grade, Children's, Fantasy

Publisher: Aladdin

Release Date: 30th October, 2012

My Copy:  publisher and edelweiss

Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository | 
                 Shoppingwish (best prices for India)

YA BOUND BOOK TOURS: Rush Book Blitz (+GIVEAWAY)

Rush (The Game #1)

by Eve Silver

Release Date: June 11, 2013

Publisher: Harper Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

Available from:

    

MY REVIEW:

"Its a game and its a question of life and death.... Eve Silver spins a tale that is new, action-packed, gametastic, and intense.... BRAVO. BRAVA"

- Aparajita @Le' Grande Codex 

You May Also Read My Full Review Here



Teaser #1:

He smiles, a faint curve of his lips that reveals the barest hint of a long dimple carved in his right cheek. “No, but I can read your expression. And I’ve been doing this long enough that I know what most people tend to think when they first open their eyes.”

“Doing what long enough?”

“This,” he says, and nothing more.

A second of silence stretches into two. Though I can’t see behind his glasses, I have the feeling he’s not looking at me anymore, that he’s scanning the area, looking for…something. But as I stare at him, I see me—tiny distorted reflections of me in the shiny, convex lenses.

Copyright © 2013. Eve Silver. All Rights Reserved.

Teaser #2:

I stare at the things in front of me: the Drau. I can’t look away.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remember Jackson talking about Medusa.

Don’t look at their eyes.

Their mercury eyes.

They’re poison.

They will kill me.

Copyright © 2013. Eve Silver. All Rights Reserved.

Teaser #3:

Color and sound explode, too bright, too loud. Even the air on my skin feels like it’s too much. My fingers go lax. The bag’s handle slides down my palm, then along my fingers to the tips, impossibly slow. The world tips and tilts and I flail for balance.

Luka grabs my hand and holds tight.

I blink. My house, my open front door, Dad, they’re all gone. My breath comes in short gasps and every muscle in my body feels like it’s knotted up tight.

I’m standing in a grassy clearing bounded by trees.

The lobby.

We’ve been pulled.

Copyright © 2013. Eve Silver. All Rights Reserved.

About the Author
Eve Silver lives with her gamer husband and sons, sometimes in Canada, but often in worlds she dreams up. She loves kayaking and sunshine, dogs and desserts, and books, lots and lots of books. Watch for the first book in Eve’s new teen series, THE GAME: RUSH, coming from Katherine Tegen Books, June 2013. She also writes books for adults.

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