What Lies Within
by James Morris
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date: June 2, 2015
4.5/5 Rating

Book Summary (Goodreads):

“You’re going to die”

A single text message and Shelley Marano’s world is upended. A normal high school senior, Shelley discovers she is adopted. She goes on a journey to uncover her past, only to find she was part of a horrific experiment to test the theory of nature versus nurture. In a culture of violence committed by young people, she may be one of these killers. With the lives of her and her friends in the balance, one thing is certain: she will never be the same.

My Review:

Rarely do I find books that have just the right amount of description, the right amount of dialogue, the right amount of suspense, and the right amount of a love story, but What Lies Within is a perfect balance of all these things. I’m very picky with thriller stories. When I was in high school I went through a phase where those types of movies were all I watched. In fact, I used to read these Lois Duncan books that were like paranormal thrillers. But after high school, those thriller stories all became the same. And over time those stories turned into “gore” stories. It’s been awhile since I’ve found a classic thriller story that is both surprising and unexpecting and a tale worth while. What Lies Within would be a perfect candidate for a book turned into a movie, it was just that good! Not just good, but bone-chilling awesome! It’s a book that won’t disappoint!

What Lies Within is a captivating, intense ride, about a girl named Shelley that relatively has a normal life until she gets a text message telling her that her life is in danger. Before she knows it she’s thrown into impossible situations and gripping truths. She finds out she’s adopted and sets out on a hunt to discover who she is, and more importantly, to find out why the man on the motorcycle is killing people from a list, a list she happens to be on. What Lies Within is suspenseful and intense, and a real page turner.

There are so many things to love about this book! For one, it was like watching a thriller movie, and it’s very obvious that this talented author, James Morris, has written for television. The story itself was very well written, and the character development was substantial. I loved Shelley’s character ARC. It was great to see her fly down that dark path, and you feel for her every step of the way. Her story is so terrifying and it keeps you on the edge of your seat! I also really enjoyed her friend, Winston and loved their interactions with each other. I simply love his personality and how devoted and loyal he is to her, clear to the end of the book. He is a true friend, through and through. I was a little bummed that you could clearly see how much Winston adored her and how much Shelley just disregarded it. And the boy she did like? Remy? He was total bad news. But everything that happens to Shelley in the book is all important because it all helps create the person she ends up by the end of the book. Not only does James Morris give us a fast-paced thriller ride, but also an emotional roller coaster as well. There is so much that happens to Shelley, and it’s hard to put the book down because you hope she makes it out of that situation, and you’re afraid what’s going to happen to her next. And the dynamic between her and the other characters, especially Winston and her Dad is so well done. I love her Dad, and I love how hard he tries to help her and be there for her even though he doesn’t understand what’s happening to his daughter at all. I don’t want to spoil too much since it does have such a surprising, climatic ending, but if you like thriller stories that keep you on the edge of your seat and something unexpecting around each corner, then this book is definitely for you! I honestly didn’t see the ending coming, which I loved even more. There were things that happened to her that made me think that maybe she was crazy and her mind was making all of this up. I was definitely waiting for the ending where you find out that nothing was real. It’s just that crazy of a story, but a good kind of crazy! The kind of crazy that keeps you on your toes and on the edge of your seat!

There are some unanswered questions in the story, and I’m secretly hoping for a sequel. And I honestly can’t think of a single thing I really disliked about the book. It’s a great story, amazingly well written, characters are awesome… There’s just so much to love and enjoy about the book!

And I’m sure you’re wondering what happens to Shelley at the end of her story? Does the truth set Shelley free? Does it cage her? Does it change her entirely? And the experiment she discovers, is it nature or nurture that turns a person violent? Well, you’ll have to read it to find out!

About the Author:

James Morris is a former television writer who now works in digital media. When not writing, you can find him scoping out the latest sushi spot, watching ‘House Hunters Renovation’, or trying new recipes in the kitchen. He lives with his wife and dog in Los Angeles.

Readers, if you enjoyed one of my books, please feel free to leave a review!

Author Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Author Interview:
Be sure to check out our author interview with James Morris here!

GIVEAWAY:
Since I liked this book so much The Page Unbound is hosting a giveaway for one ebook copy of What Lies Within.
Giveaway is opened internationally!

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They Call Me Alexandra Gastone

by T.A. Maclagan (Goodreads Author)

Book Synopsis(Goodreads):

When your life is a lie, how do you know what’s real?

Alexandra Gastone has a simple plan: graduate high school, get into Princeton, work for the CIA, and serve her great nation.

She was told the plan back when her name was Milena Rokva, back before the real Alexandra and her family were killed in a car crash.

Milena was trained to be a sleeper agent by Perun, a clandestine organization from her true homeland of Olissa. There, Milena learned everything she needed to infiltrate the life of CIA analyst Albert Gastone, Alexandra’s grandfather, and the ranks of America’s top intelligence agency.

For seven years, “Alexandra” has been on standby and life’s been good. Grandpa Albert loves her, and her strategically chosen boyfriend, Grant, is amazing.

But things are about to change. Perun no longer needs her at the CIA in five years’ time. They need her active now.

Between her cover as a high school girl—juggling a homecoming dance, history reports, and an increasingly suspicious boyfriend—and her mission in this high-stakes spy game, the boundaries of her two lives are beginning to blur.

Will she stay true to the country she barely remembers, or has her loyalty shattered along with her identity?

My Review:

This book did a lot of things right.  The premise of the story was very interesting and it draws you in.  The writing was good and the characters were fairly well developed.  In fact, I loved the grandfather, Albert.  He was my favorite character in the whole book.  I take that back, not just in this book, but he is one of my favorite characters from all the books that I have read.  On the other hand, I wasn’t even sure if I liked Alexandra(Milena) until about a third of the way through the book.   Even though the book is written from her point of view,  you only get little pieces of the real Milena at a time.  She spends most of the time hiding behind who she is supposed to be, Alexandra.

There is a small love story in the book, but it wasn’t a main part of the book and to tell the truth, I was never very invested in it.  I never cared if she stayed with him or dumped him and it never mattered in the story line either.  The relationship was pretty much just a cover for Milena.  Every high school girl needs a boyfriend, especially if he is the quarterback of the football team.  Although I do believe she had feelings for him, but had a hard time admitting that to herself.

My real problem with this book was the pacing.  The first half of the book was very slow.  I think that more needed to be happening and sometimes the author was a little too descriptive of unnecessary things.  Also I realize that Milena was brainwashed, but I found it hard to believe that she lived with Albert for six years and never once questioned the organization that she worked for.  She was a teenager and teenagers question everything.

If you are tired of the YA fantasy genre and like spy thrillers, you might want to check this book out.  I would love to hear what you think about the book.

About the author:

T.A. Maclagan is a Kansas girl by birth but now lives in the bush-clad hills of Wellington, New Zealand with her Kiwi husband, son and four pampered cats. With a bachelor’s degree in biology and a Ph.D. in anthropology, she’s studied poison dart frogs in the rainforests of Costa Rica, howler monkeys in Panama and the very exotic and always elusive American farmer. It was as she was writing her ‘just the facts’ dissertation that T.A. felt the call to pursue something more imaginative and discovered a passion for creative writing. They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is her first novel.

This is our stop on the review tour for the Age of Alandria Series by Morgan Wylie! To read more reviews and posts on Morgan Wylie  check out the Age of Alandria review tour schedule here!

Summary from Goodreads:

A dying realm.

The ancient evil of the Droch-Shúil has been unleashed.

The Orchids have been silenced… but for how long?

Daegan, elite of the Ferrishyn warrior tribe of Faeries, is charged with a mission to find the Sol-lumieth, a mysterious new power that could change the fate of all in the realm of Alandria. But he is conflicted by his purpose, and he cannot trust the motives of those he serves. He has too many questions and they must be answered.

Kaeleigh, a girl abandoned as a small child just outside Missoula, Montana, is now 18. She is trying to discover who she is and where she belongs. In her heart, she feels she has family out there… somewhere. Desperate to unravel the mysteries of her past, she embarks on a journey that will forever change her along with her two best friends, Finn and Chel—who have secrets of their own.

Silent Orchids (The Age of Alandria #1)

by Morgan Wylie

Release Date: 05/05/13

238 pages

Rating: 4/5

My Review:

Silent Orchids by Morgan Wylie caught my attention not only with the beautiful cover, but the intriguing story line as well.  I love books about Faeries and this one did not disappoint.

Silent Orchids is about Kaeleigh, an orphan living in Missoula, Montana.  Her only sentimental thing of value is a locket in the shape of an orchid, which came with her to the orphanage when she was two.  Today is her 18^th birthday and for Kaeleigh, it’s just an ordinary day, which includes her trying to find out where she fits in.  For as long as she can remember she’s had these vivid visions of places and people she’s never seen or met before.  She’s never been sure why these visions happen or why orchids are always present, but today the visions are changing, becoming stronger and feel more real.  Kaeleigh would love to tell her two best friends Finn and Chel, who’re not only her friends, but the only family she’s ever known, about these flashes but is afraid they’ll think her crazy.  Kaeleigh will soon find out that she’s not the only one hiding something.

As Kaeleigh heads off to start her new job, little does she know that her life is about to be turned upside down when she meets mister tall, dark and handsome, Daegan, who’s under strict orders to find the new power as foretold in the prophecy and bring it back to Elnye.

I really enjoyed the world building and character development.   Sometimes I felt like Kaeleigh was a little whinny, but it didn’t deter from the story.  Wylie gives you a little bit of everything:  self-discovery, love triangle, and danger lurking behind every corner.

Silent Orchids is an action-packed book that will keep you on your toes as you get to learn more about Alandria and the race to save the realm.

I enjoyed the book so much; I had to find out what happened next, which turned into reading the entire series!

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes&Noble│Smashwords│Kobo│iTunes

Want more of The Age of Alandria?  You don’t have to wait!

Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria #2)

by Morgan Wylie

Release Date: 10/01/13

360 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Shadows linger where light is obstructed, and truth is veiled.

Evil is an untreated disease in the once beautiful realm of Alandria.

Kaeleigh is faced with a revelation that she must reconcile. She will decide if discovering the truth is worth the unknown consequences to both herself and her friends.

Daegan, the Ferrishyn warrior, is conflicted by more than his loyalties, and is confronted with emotions he doesn’t know how to deal with. A choice must be made. A choice… that may cost him more than he ever wanted to give.

The Droch-Shúil—enforcers and servants of the ancient darkness—continue to cast their shadow over Alandria seeking those who can be turned to their side.

The magic of The Orchids is growing, but not everyone will survive what is to come.

Veiled Shadows is the second installment in The Age of Alandria series: the story of the Sol-lumieth’s quest for freedom of self and the power to battle the evil of the Droch-Shúil.

Buy Links:

Barnes and Noble│ Kobo│Smashwords 

Fractured Darkness (The Age of Alandria #3)

by Morgan Wylie

Release Date: 01/29/15

325 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

The darkness in Elnye is growing.

There is screaming in Exhile.

The mysterious woman, known only as “She”, is in a rage. Her pawn, Maleina has made a dangerous move and severed her communications with the dark mistress. Now as dueling dark forces, master and willing initiate, they begin to jockey for power as the stage is set for the coming war. 

 Kaeleigh and her small band of loyal companions have escaped the dungeons of Elnye and found their way to the secret home of the Ehsmia. After breaking the vicious bond that enslaved Daegan to Maleina’s will, the walls between Kaeleigh and her Ferrishyn warrior begin to fall, as their feelings for each other begin to give way to passion.

 The darkness is fractured, but its relentless quest for power goes unabated. A war is coming. However, the power of the Sol-lumieth has finally come together and found its light. A blinding light of freedom, that may be the salvation for all of Alandria. 

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes and Noble │iBooks 

About the Author:

Book Tour Organized by:

Dorianna
by Catherine Stin
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Release Date: November 7, 2014
4.5/5 Stars

Book Summary (Goodreads):

Internet followers, beauty, power. It all sounded good.

Until it transformed into a terrifying reality Dorianna couldn’t stop.

Dorianna is a dark twist for the Internet generation on A Picture of Dorian Gray.

When her father is jailed, her mother ships lonely, plain Dorianna to her aunt’s. There, Dorianna yearns to build a new identity, but the popular Lacey bullies her—mostly for getting attention from her ex, Ander.

Ander takes Dorianna to Coney Island where Wilson, a videographer, creates a stunning compilation of her. She dreams of being an online sensation, as she’s never even had a birthday party, and vows she’d give anything to go viral. Wilson claims he’s the Prince of Darkness and warns her the pledge has downsides.

Dorianna thinks he’s joking. She has no idea of how dire the consequences might be.

My Review:

What would you do for good looks, charming personality, popularity, social status, friends, and a certain amount of power that you’ve never had before? Have you ever been so lonely that you’ve wanted nothing more than to be accepted, included, beautiful, and cherished? That’s exactly what Dorianna Gilliam wanted…

Dorianna by Catherine Stine is a take on the story of Dorian Gray. Stine’s rendition of the tale is a horrifying, dark, and twisted story of a girl that is willing to pay the ultimate price for good looks and immortality. The story begins with Dorianna Gilliam looking plain, simple, buck-toothed, and pretty much disliked by everyone at school. When her father is imprisoned, her mother decides to send Dorianna across the country to live with her aunt on Coney Island. Dorianna learns quickly that this teenage society is pretty much the same as her last. Dorianna at this point is lonely and isolated, and believes her world will always be this way. But what if someone offered a way out from this desolate life Dorianna lives? It just so happens that she meets a boy named Ander whom is charming and wonderful. His friend Wilson takes to Dorianna instantly and decides he wants to give her a makeover. This makeover is exactly what Dorianna believes she needs… or is it? Wilson wants to transform Dorianna, but not for free. This make cover comes with a steep price. Needless to say, Dorianna gets the make over, and spends the rest of the book paying the price. As Dorianna continues down the dark path she’s on, she gathers “followers”, throws parties for her friends, and as she turns darker and darker a beast within her grows hungrier and hungrier for the misdeeds she does, and whispers and encourages her as she sets herself down a cruel and self-destructive path. This beast pushes her until her story meets an epic conclusion that is intense and terrifying. And I’m sure you’re wondering, is there redemption for Dorianna after all the horrible things she’s done? You will have to read the book and find out if there’s hope for Dorianna after all!

There’s so much to love about Dorianna, and trust me, it’s a very dark ride! Even though it’s based on an older tale, it’s very a creative and unique story and very much holds its own. I love the modern twist of the story and I think Stine crafted it wonderfully to fit into today’s society. I also enjoy reads about characters that either are dark and become good or are decent people and become their own worse enemies. To me it’s fascinating to see that transformation over time. Dorianna is so intense, has an incredible story ARC and has an epic climax. It’s darkly enchanting, and you feel helpless as you read Dorianna’s story and watch her spiral into that darkness.

If you like dark, horrifying and twisted tales, then I highly recommend this read! It’s beautifully dark and wickedly captivating!

About the Author:

Catherine Stine’s novels span the range from futuristic fantasy to paranormal to contemporary. Her futuristic thriller companion novels Fireseed One and Ruby’s Fire are both indie award winners. Her paranormal-horror YA, Dorianna won Best Horror Book in the Kindle Hub Awards. Her YA contemporary Heart in a Box is forthcoming from Inkspell in Dec 2015.

She also writes new adult fiction as Kitsy Clare (see her separate GR Kitsy Clare page for 18+). Her Art of Love series featuring artist Sienna Karr, includes Model Position and Private Internship.

She suspects her love of dark fantasy came from her father reading Edgar Allen Poe to her when she was a child. Learn more at www.catherinestine.blogspot.com, www.catherinestine.com, and on her Catherine Stine and Kitsy Clare FB author pages.

Author Links:
Twitter | Facebook | Website | Goodreads

So tell me, do you think Dorianna is redeemable?

Protostar (Deluxe Edition)
By Braxton A. Cosby
Release Date: Sept. 23, 2011
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Book Summary (Goodreads)

On the brink of civil war, the Torrian Alliance continues with its mission to obliterate Star-children across the universe in order to suppress an intergalactic evil. Following the recommendations of his council, King Gregorio Derry reluctantly agrees to send his only son William on a mission to restore honor to his family name. William seeks to complete his assignment, the elimination of a Star-child named Sydney on planet Earth, but when the assassination is delayed he begins to realize an emotional connection with his target. With conspiracy threatening his home planet, and a hidden menace on Earth seeking to secure a vested interest, William finds himself torn between irrevocable duty and sacrificing everything he stands for to defend Sydney. As William and Sydney struggle to overcome their impossible circumstances, they start to wonder if the connection of two Star-Crossed lovers will be enough to save them from certain doom.

My Review

Protostar truly is a tale of star-crossed lovers with twists along the way. With its bittersweet moments between our romantics, William and Sydney, you truly are signing up for a whirling tale of two people quickly falling in love and desperately trying to stay together. Protostar, of course, has quite a bit of mystery surrounding just what a Star Child is and why she is so dangerous, but as you further delve into this mystery you become more and more attached to the passionate people within this thrilling tale.

Most dialogue, especially by William, is woven like a poem and is very artistically appealing to the reader while also reverting to a more old-fashioned style of love and mannerisms. What’s most curious is the internal switch between Sydney’s infatuation with William right away and mistrust when she sees through his lies. Our star-crossed lovers mostly act and react by impulse and sudden urges of what to do, making each movement a bit of a surprise in the story.

Besides following our two main characters, the book also follows the escapades of another duo. Dr. Jasmine Caruthers and Sheriff Henry Gladston that are determined to discover the reason for mysterious earthquakes occurring across the globe. What they discover can literally unravel the mind and leads them to an exciting destiny alongside William, Sydney, and another character.

This of course just reaches the tip of the iceberg with this book as it not only follows a few different characters on their journey but has many different plot lines and causes for mystery to the reader.

So what can an interested reader looking for a book find in this one?

Mystery, teenage romance, supernatural fight scenes, and future battles that may determine the fate of not just the world but also the galaxy. Also, a sarcastic Artificial Intelligence.

About the Author

Braxton A. Cosby is a dreamer with a passion for inspiring others to love, in spite of circumstance and convenience. His calling to pen a young-adult series that is smart, witty, and thought provoking, has challenged readers to answer the question: What would you choose, love or irrevocable duty? He is the CEO of the media production company Cosby Media Productions, Inc. where he develops content for film, television, music and print. Braxton lives in Atlanta, GA. He also has a blog where he discusses everything from health and entertainment to spirituality and relationships.

Author Links

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Production Site

Rogue (The Talon Saga book 2)
by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: April 28, 2015
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Book Summary (Goodreads):

Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can’t forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her—Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he’d signed his own death warrant.

Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order’s headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember’s own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George.

A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day…or start an all-out war?

My Review:

Rogue begins with Ember and Riley setting out to rescue Garret from The Order. Garret has committed treason by conversing with dragons and allow them to live. Garret, the Perfect Soldier, that has killed dragons for most of his life, showed two dragons mercy, allowing them to escape, and by doing so is subjected to firing squad. Riley and Ember manage to save Garret, and them, along with their computer hacker genius Wes, are on the run from both The Order of St. George, and Talon. But how long can they run before they get caught? Their luck is about to run out.

Rogue is action packed right from the start. It’s a page turner, and hard to put down. I really enjoyed reading more from Riley’s POV, and getting to know Riley from twelve years ago when he had decided to leave Talon and go Rogue. I think his POV as a major character brought a lot of insight and depth to the story. I enjoyed the inclusion of new characters, Ava and Faith. And I loved reading from Dante’s POV as well. Julie Kagawa is my all time favorite author, and she doesn’t disappoint in her story telling or character development.

Of all the main characters, my favorite is Garret, the Perfect Soldier. I think of all the characters, Garret has a lot to offer to the story, and has the most growth to do. Garret no longer knows who he is. And it might take him awhile to figure that out, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series entitled Soldier to see where the story takes him.

Riley is still bossy as ever, but he is exactly what all the rogues and hatchlings need. I don’t like him like I like Garret, but I have to admit he has surprised me at times with how considerate he can be. I love him and Garret’s interactions. They flat out hate each other, and with good reason. Yet there are moments when they have to rely on each other, and save each other. I can’t wait to see in future books how these two evolve. There’s a moment in Rogue when they fight back to back, and it’s amazing. I felt like we were getting a glimpse into their future, of how it could, and possibly will be between them once they get over who each other are. They work together in a way that is exactly what the other needs. I can definitely see a camaraderie in the future between these two characters.

Ember drove me a little nuts. Sure she’s stuck in a hotel room and going crazy and all the flashing and bright lights of Las Vegas are surely alluring for a dragon that didn’t leave the nest until recently. But on two occasion I remember for sure that she tried to use both the boys. Once with Garret, to get him to take her to the slot machines, and another on Riley, trying to get him to let her contact her brother. She flat out used them, and I didn’t like that. She knew that she would get her way if she was stubborn about it. It worked with Garret, but didn’t work real well with Riley. But Ember is a very stubborn, fiery dragon, and she isn’t used to the shiny allure of a beautiful city or the freedom to be able to do what she wants, so I get it. But still, try to be nice to those boys Ember! They obviously would do ANYTHING for you! Try not to take advantage of them!

And on that note….

 I’m also not a fan of love triangles and really hope Julie doesn’t plan to draw this one out much longer. I understand that the dragon side calls to Riley, and that her human form calls to Garret, but I’m not sure I can take many more books of Ember not being able to make up her mind, no matter how well it’s written (because lets face it, Julie rocks as an author and even though I don’t like love triangles Julie writes it very well in her books).  And to top it all of, I personally think Garret is the better person for her. Riley wants to be dominant. He get’s mad at her stubbornness. He wants her to stay put like a good little girl and fights her about it until he relents and gives in to her. Garret on the other hand accepts who she is and works with her as an equal, not as her leader. In fact, I think he likes her stubbornness and that fire burning inside of her. I think he makes her a better person, and I think she makes him a better person. I don’t think that is the case for her and Riley. Riley tries to hold her back, while Ember is very distracting to Riley, and he tends to lose control of his composure because of her. I’m definitely team Garret over here!

Another POV I loved was Dante, Ember’s brother, whom lets face it is still naive and stupid. It’s amazing how easily and quickly Talon can turn blood on blood. But even though he’s an idiot, I still love his character.

A new character I loved was Mist, a dangerous, icy blue dragon. Hoping we see more of her!

Overall I think Rogue was fantastic and a great sequel to Talon. I still think that Talon is my favorite of the two books but who doesn’t enjoy a good love story and surfing on the beach? 🙂 Rogue is more about trying to escape and survive. It’s more action packed, and a very enjoyable read.

If you haven’t read Talon yet be sure to do so! You are missing out if you haven’t read it yet! And if you have, and haven’t read Rogue yet DO IT! Especially for all those fans out there that prefer more action than a love story, there’s lots of action in Rogue, so you won’t be disappointed!

Some Favorite Book Quotes:

I waited, holding my breath, my whole body coiled and ready for a fight. I didn’t know what to expect, but whatever was coming, I was ready.

And then the door to the guard room opened, and I met a pair of vivid green eyes across the hall. Turns out, I wasn’t ready at all.

The breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, I could only stare. Not only a nervous breakdown, I’m also hallucinating. Because there was no way she could be here. no sane reason she would show up in the middle of a St. George base, minutes from my execution. My mind had snapped; I was seeing things that weren’t there.

– Julie Kagawa, Rogue 

There was no disgust. No regret. I stood on this roof, openly kissing a girl who was really a dragon, and I wasn’t sorry at all.

– Julie Kagawa, Rogue 

I reached out and put a tentative hand on her neck, feeling warm scales under my palm. My heart jumped, still thrilled by the idea of touching a real dragon.

– Julie Kagawa, Rogue

Did you notice all my favorite quotes were from Garret? Tell me, which team are you on?

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

I’m a writer and the YA author of THE IRON FEY trilogy, beginning with THE IRON KING. I love books, anime, sushi, writing, and video games. (Occasionally, the characters from my book will hijack the computer and make an appearence, but I take no responsibility for anything they say.)

Author Links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Etsy Store

This is my stop on the blog tour for the Ash and Ruin series by Shauna Granger! To read more reviews and posts on Shauna Granger  check out the Ash and Ruin blog tour schedule here!

World of Ash Book Summary (Goodreads):

There are two inherent truths in the world: life as we know it is over, and monsters are real.

The Pestas came in the night, spreading their pox, a deadly plague that decimated the population. Kat, one of the unlucky few who survived, is determined to get to her last living relative and find shelter from the pox that continues to devastate the world. When it mutates and becomes airborne, Kat is desperate to avoid people because staying alone might be her only chance to stay alive.

That is, until she meets Dylan. Dylan, with his easy smile and dark, curly hair, has nowhere to go and no one to live for. He convinces Kat there can be safety in numbers, that they can watch out for each other. So the unlikely couple set off together through the barren wasteland to find a new life – if they can survive the roaming Pestas, bands of wild, gun-toting children, and piles of burning, pox-ridden bodies.

World of Ash (Ash and Ruin #1)
by Shauna Granger
Release Date: 12/02/13
Rating: 4/5

My Review:

 Kat comes from a privileged, happy family, but that does little to prepare her for when the plague arrives. The Pestas are these monster like creatures that spread the plague like wildfire. Most of the population is dead from this virus. The government does what they can to contain the deadly virus but securing cities and bombing them. The virus is spread by touch. When the government plans to bomb Kat’s home, she makes it out just in time, but her family does not. Kat’s father contracts the pox and it doesn’t take too long for her family to realize that Kat’s mom will soon get it. Kat’s parent’s send her to her Uncles house, which is quite a distance from home. Suddenly Kat goes from a life of worrying about hair and make up to a life of brutal survival. On her journey Kat is attacked and beaten, and quickly realizes that she needs to be afraid of people she encounters just as much as she should be afraid of The Pestas. Very a good portion of Kat’s journey she is completely alone, but along the way she meet’s and befriends Dylan and a dog named Blue, and honestly if it weren’t for Dylan I’m not entirely sure she would have survived through book one, even though they both hold their own through out the book and save each other numerous times.  Kat is very leery of Dylan at first. Kat has a hard time trusting humans. She’s afraid of them just as much as she’s afraid of The Pestas, since humans are the ones that are going to such extremes in order to contain the deadly virus. Kat and Dylan’s friendship is wonderful, and it was so neat to see their companionship grow throughout the book.

This dystopian world Granger created I found fascinating. The story grips you from the beginning and it’s practically a non-stop heart pounding and palms sweating throughout the entire book, even though there isn’t necessarily a lot of action going on. The world Granger creates it just that scary, and Kat’s story is just so good, it’s a hard book to put down. And it’s hard not to be terrified for them as they set out on their journey.

Both Kat and Dylan were very well developed characters, they each had distinctive personalities and both had much to learn in this new apocalyptic world. Both Kat and Dylan had flaws and growth, and it made them very real. I enjoyed Kat’s character ARC, seeing her from being the teenage girl that pretty much had a perfect life, to having to endure many trials, and toughen up a bit. When we first meet Dylan he’s very naive and believes the government will help them, but over time and with Kat’s help he begins to realize the only ones he can depend on is himself and Kat.

World of Ash is a harsh world, but it’s an apocalyptic, dystopian story you don’t want to miss! It’s AMAZING!

This is my first read by author Shauna Granger, and I can’t wait to read the other two books in the series!

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Time of Ruin (Ash and Ruin #2)
by Shauna Granger
Release Date: 07/22/14

Summary from Goodreads:

The world has ended, and hope is the most dangerous thing left.

Battered and bruised after barely escaping San Francisco with their lives, Kat, Dylan, and Blue press north – desperate to reach the possibility of a new home.

But strange, monstrous ravens are tracking the remaining survivors, food is becoming scarce, gasoline is running short, and people are becoming suicidal, making survival almost impossible.

And the Pestas are growing bolder. Somehow, their numbers are growing.

The further north they go, the harder it becomes to ignore the signs that they’ve made a fatal mistake. Kat must face the impossible truth that there is no escape, there is no safe haven, and their worst nightmares don’t come close to their new reality.

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Age of Blood (Ash and Ruin #3)
by Shauna Granger
Release Date: 05/05/15

Summary from Goodreads:

Hope is a dangerous thing, but powerful. Hope keeps you going. Hope can keep you alive.

But hope can shatter your world.

Kat and Dylan have found a home, but the monsters are still out there. The pox and plague still ravage the world. They have hope of finding a vaccine, but their encampment isn’t equipped to develop it.

Dylan is still too weak from the pox to leave the encampment, so Kat must decide between staying by his side and protecting her last remaining family member as he leaves to find supplies. Separated for the first time since they came together, Kat and Dylan will have to fight their own battles to save what is left of their bloody world.

Kat will have to hold on to hope that she has anything left to save and someone to come home to. If she can survive.

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About the Author:

Like so many other writers, Shauna grew up as an avid reader, but it was in high school that she realized she wanted to be a writer. Five years ago, Shauna started work on her Elemental Series. She released the first installment, Earth, on May 1, 2011 and has since released four sequels, with the series coming to an end with Spirit. She is currently hard at work on a new Urban Fantasy series, staring a spunky witch with a smush-faced cat named Artemis.

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Awoken by Sarah Noffke
Release Date: November 24, 2014
Publisher: One-Twenty-Six Press
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Rating: 3.5/5

Book Summary (Goodreads):

Around the world humans are hallucinating after sleepless nights.

In a sterile, underground institute the forecasters keep reporting the same events.

And in the backwoods of Texas, a sixteen-year-old girl is about to be caught up in a fierce, ethereal battle.

Meet Roya Stark. She drowns every night in her dreams, spends her hours reading classic literature to avoid her family’s ridicule, and is prone to premonitions—which are becoming more frequent. And now her dreams are filled with strangers offering to reveal what she has always wanted to know: Who is she? That’s the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out. But will Roya live to regret learning the truth?

My Review:

Awoken by Sarah Noffke was an exciting fast paced novel.  It follows the story of Roya whom is part of a secret society called the Lucidites that can essentially dream walk.  Roya is chosen by the Lucidites to be their champion in conquering the evil villain.

I enjoyed how the author begins the story and how we are immediately thrown into everything that is going on. I will admit it was a little confusing to follow at first, but once I understood it was hard to put down.  I enjoyed how many twists and turns this book had and that things were happening that I wasn’t expecting to happen. It was a welcome surprise to this genre of literature! Sometimes novels like this can be so predictable, but I loved how this book wasn’t.

At moments in the book I felt that Roya seemed very immature, but I had to remind myself that she’s only sixteen and that’s typically how a sixteen year old would act in those situations.

I really enjoyed the world building, the character building, and the plot of Awoken. I found it interesting and intriguing. I wasn’t a fan of the love triangle but I feel like everything else in the story was more than enough to balance out what I didn’t like about it. I didn’t feel like the main love interests were very likable characters and I definitely felt like she could do better than them. But the love triangle wasn’t a major part of the story and so it didn’t disappoint me as much as it might have if it had been a huge part of the book.

I also enjoyed how descriptive the author was with the dream walking scenes. It was very imaginative and made you feel like you were there experiencing it yourself.

I loved the ending! I thought it was super epic, and I’m a huge fan of epic endings!

All in all I think Awoken is an excellent read! I look forward to reading the sequel.

Buy Links:
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About the Author:

Sarah Noffke writes YA sci-fi fantasy and is the author of The Lucidites Series. She’s been everything from a corporate manager to a hippie. Her taste for adventure has taken her all over the world. If you can’t find her at the gym, then she’s probably at the frozen yogurt shop. If you can’t find her there then she probably doesn’t want to be found. She is a self-proclaimed hermit, with spontaneous urges to socialize during full moons and when Mercury is in retrograde. Sarah lives in Southern California with her family.

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Awakening
by Shannon Duffy
Release Date: 04/07/15
Entangled Teen
3.5/5 Rating

Book Summary (Goodreads):

A thrilling, futuristic sci-fi novel set in a unique and thought-provoking world, from author Shannon Duffy.

Desiree Six (because she was born on a Friday) believes in everything the Protectorate stands for. She likes the safety and security of having her entire life planned out—her career, her mate, even the date of her death. She doesn’t even think to question when Darian, her childhood friend and neighbor, is convicted of murdering his parents. They had seemed like such a loving family. But if he was convicted, then he must have done it.

Then Darian shows up in her room late one night. He has escaped from the Terrorscape—a nightmare machine used to punish all Noncompliants—and needs Desiree’s help. What he tells her rocks her world to its core and makes her doubt everything she’s ever been told. With this new information, will Desiree and Darian be able to escape the Protectorate before it’s too late?

My Review:

I really enjoyed Awakening by Shannon Duffy. Right from the start this book caught my interest. It’s a very original story line filled with mystery, suspense, and very likable characters. The story takes place in  a dark, Dystopian society. and is about a girl named Desiree that lives in a world where people die based off the day of the week they were born.  At night they are hooked up to a machine that is called the Dreamscape and is the only way they can sleep at night. One night Darian, her childhood friend, shows up in her room. Darian is a wanted murderer that escaped the Terrorscape. Desiree decides to help him, not entirely believing that he really did kill his parents. Their paths continue to cross as Desiree uncovers more and more about the Protectorate and all it truly means. But as Desiree discovers more and more, she finds out how much the Protectorate has actually stolen from her.

I think Awakening is a great novel from an upcoming author and I think Shannon Duffy has a bright future ahead of her as she continues to grow and excel as an author. The story itself is VERY original and creative. And I think Shannon Duffy is a great story teller.  I especially enjoyed Desiree’s character development. I think the characters in Awakening are very well defined and this, along with a very original story, are strengths of Shannon Duffy’s. I’d be very interested to read more books by her.

One of my favorite moment’s in this book is when Darian appears in Desiree’s room asking her for help. You can tell from their encounter right from the beginning that there’s something between them. And Desiree decides to help him anyway, even though he’s a convicted murderer. She listens to her heart instead of what others are telling her, and in that moment when she first meets him, I love her character. I also love Darian too, but he’s pretty charming in the book and it’s hard not to love him. And their love story is super cute. I loved it because there’s no love triangle, and their love isn’t complex. Sure there’s alot of complexity going on around them, but their story itself is sweet and perfect. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book where the love just happens naturally, but in this book it does and it’s wonderful to read a YA book like that.

One character I was surprised to enjoy was Archer. And I won’t say why because I don’t want to spoil anything. But Archer is a very complex, and intriguing character and his story plays out not as I expected, but as a welcoming surprise.

I love the concept of the Terrorscape. I love how little we know about the Terrorscape until towards the end of the book, which REALLY builds the suspense. Throughout the entire story we are told it’s more than it appears. And when it finally happens and we get to see what the Terrorscape is all about, its so fascinating and dark, it truly doesn’t disappoint! It’s pretty epic!

I can’t wait to read the sequel!

What I didn’t like:

Now, this is a small thing. But in the book there is some mentioning of women getting pregnant, having babies, and no one noticing.  And every now and then I couldn’t help but think “how does no one notice these pregnant women?” These women work. People see them on a regular basis. Chances are some are going to have to have time off, maybe there’s complications, maybe someone has their baby early. Anywhere from a few days to a month at least will have to be taken off.  How does no one notice these pregnant women? And these kids will live for years before anyone notices. It doesn’t make sense to me. If there had been some sort of explanation, lets say that every year employees get some sort of medical leave for being sick, or whatever, then I wouldn’t have mind. But in my head  I just couldn’t understand how no one was noticing pregnant women. Again it’s a small thing, and it probably just didn’t catch anyone’s attention since the book itself is very suspenseful.

What I liked:

I loved the story, the concept of the Dreamscape and Terrorscape, and the very well developed characters. It’s definitely a book worth reading!

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About the Author:

Author of MG and YA books full of adventure. I grew up on the east coast of Canada in the province of Newfoundland and now live in Ontario. I love writing, reading, fashion, fitness, and traveling.

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Hidden Deep (Book 1 of the Hidden Trilogy)
by Amy Patrick
Release Date: 03/23/15
Oxford South Press
319 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
Give in to the Glamour…

Sixteen-year-old Ryann Carroll has just run into the guy who saved her life ten years ago. You might think she’d be happy to see him again. Not exactly. She’s a bit underdressed (as in skinny-dipping) and he’s not supposed to exist.

After her father’s affair, all Ryann wants is to escape the family implosion fallout and find a little peace. She also wouldn’t mind a first date that didn’t suck, but she’s determined not to end up like her mom: vulnerable, betrayed, destroyed. Ryann’s recently moved back to her childhood home in rural Mississippi, the same place where ten years earlier she became lost in the woods overnight and nearly died.

She’s still irresistibly drawn to those woods. There she encounters the boy who kept her from freezing to death that long ago winter night and was nowhere to be seen when rescuers arrived. He’s still mysterious, but now all grown-up and gorgeous, too. And the more she’s with him, the greater the threat he poses to Ryann’s strict policy– never want someone more than he wants you.

Seventeen-year-old Lad knows the law of his people all too well: Don’t get careless and Don’t get caught. It’s allowed his race to live undetected in this world for thousands of years, mentioned only in flawed and fading folklore…

Lad’s never been able to forget about Ryann since that night ten years ago. When he sees her again, his fascination re-ignites and becomes a growing desire that tempts him to break all the rules. He’s not even supposed to talk to a human, much less fall in love with one.

And the timing is atrocious. The Assemblage is coming, the rift between the Light and Dark is widening, and mysterious celebrity fan pods are becoming more and more widespread and influential. Lad may have to trade his own chance at happiness to keep the humans, especially Ryann, blissfully unaware and safe.

My Review:

I really liked this book and I loved the two main characters, Ryann and Lad.  Ryann has just returned to her Grandmother’s rural Mississippi home.  She loves hiking in the woods and comes upon a nice little pond.  It is so hot that she can’t resist taking a dip.  She doesn’t actually go skinny dipping.  She leaves on her bra and underwear, just in case someone should happen to come along.  She dunks herself under the water and when she comes up there is a very gorgeous boy watching her.  This is how Ryann and Lad meet for the first time or so Ryann thinks, but they have met before.  Ten years ago he saved her life when she was lost in the woods.  Although her family never believed her about the boy who helped her and over the years she convinced herself that he wasn’t real.  Now that they have met again, they are irresistibly drawn to each other.

Ryann has had a lot of recent turmoil in her life.  Her parents are divorcing and she and her mother have moved back in with her grandmother.  She loves being back at her grandmother’s house.  She is finishing her junior year in high school and has already made some good friends.  After what happened to her mother, boys are not really on her radar.  Her mother always tells her to go after her dreams and just let a man be icing on the cake.  She doesn’t want Ryann to make the same mistake that she did. to make a man the center of your world and then have them leave you.  Ryann has no trouble obeying her mother until she meets Lad.  She just can’t resist sneaking into the woods to see him and he quickly becomes very important to her.

Lad has been dreaming of Ryann since he saved her life in the woods ten years ago.  He hasn’t been able to forget her and no other girl can compare.  He is not allowed to become involved with humans or the human world, but how can he resist when Ryann has returned?  She is everything that he hoped she would be, but would she still like him if she knew what he was?

What I didn’t like about the book:

There were a few places in the book that dragged a little.  It wasn’t bad enough to make me stop reading, but I would have liked to have a little more action.  The love story was a little cheesy at times, but not as bad as some books I have read.  This story contains  a few secrets and Ryann never figures any of them out.  She is oblivious to all of the clues.  I would have liked to see her at least suspect some of the truths that were coming her way.

What I liked about the book:

Ryann and Lad are great characters and their love story is very cute.  This book is very clean.  There is only some kissing.  I was a little worried when I read the synopsis, but my worry was for nothing.  The story is well written.   I really liked the idea for this book and the two different worlds that are shown.  I liked the interaction between Ryann and her family and Lad and his family.  There are a lot of secrets in this book and I can’t tell you anything about them.  It would totally ruin the story for you.  I adore Ryann’s grandmother.  She is awesome.

The sequel to Hidden Deep, Hidden Heart, comes out at the end of May and I will have to read it.  I really want to know what happens to Ryann, Lad, and both the worlds they live in.  I give this book four stars and I would recommend it to those who like a good clean love story with some paranormal activity added in to the mix.

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About the Author
Amy is a two-time Golden Heart finalist (2013 and 2014). She lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two sons and actually craves the heat and humidity of Mississippi, where she grew up. She’s been a professional singer and news anchor and currently narrates audio books as well as working as a station host for a Boston TV station.

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