The Neptune Challenge Review

Posted on September 6, 2015 by The Page Unbound

The Neptune Challenge
by Polly Holyoke
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion (May 19, 2015)
Genre: YA/Middle Grade
352 pages
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Book Summary

Genetically engineered to survive in the ocean, Nere and her friends are recovering from their long, treacherous journey to refuge and settling in at Safety Harbor. Despite its name, plenty of dangers still lurk just outside the colony’s boundaries. When two among them are kidnapped, the remaining Neptune kids and their loyal dolphins must set out on a mission even more perilous than their first: infiltrate the kidnapper’s fortress to save their friends and steal away a vital scientific secret that may save the world and its oceans. Fighting terrifying mutated creatures and teens, will the Neptune kids find a way to save their friends, themselves, and their underwater world? The stakes couldn’t be higher in this thrilling sequel to the award-winning The Neptune Project.

About the Author

The Neptune Challenge is a story filled with intriguing sci-fi elements and a fast paced adventure! Nere and her friends, genetically altered to survive the seas, have survived the journey to Safety Harbor and now live comfortably with her friends and others from the project within it’s cave-like underwater structure. But it doesn’t last long! Soon two of her friends are kidnapped by the enemy. Nere does what she can to ensure that she and her comrades are on the rescue mission to save her friends. But there’s so much more at stake. The world beyond the sea is destroyed by global warming. The ground scorched, the land inhabitable. Perhaps the sea plankton can do some good in helping to restore the world. The only problem is that the plankton resides in the kidnappers undersea base. To get to it, Nere will have to be caught in order discover where it’s being kept. Little does she know that Dai, her friend and crush from The Neptune Project would be amidst enemy hands, and even worse, that he happens to be one of them. Will Nere be able to rescue her friends, save the plankton, and return to Safety Harbor?

There is so much to love about this book. One thing in particular is that this book is definitely an enjoyable read no matter the age. Sure there’s a slight love story, but it’s mild and cute. The adventure is definitely the forerunner in this novel. Polly Holyoke has created such a magical world and such a wonderful story line filled with lovable characters that has you turning the pages until you realize you’ve finished the book.

I simply loved all the “mutants” in this. The mutant sharks, the mutant octopus, and several others. Children’s DNA is basically coded with sea animals to give them the ability to live in the water. Nere and her friends from The Neptune Project were genetically coded with dolphin and whale DNA. But the children from the high-tech undersea enemy base are coded with sharks, octopus, and other scary sea monsters. My favorite villain in this is definitely Wasp. I’m not entirely sure what sea monster she was altered after, but she is definitely poisonous and evil! And my goodness I just really liked her even though she was bad. She’s just a very well written villain! I also love the fact that Nere and a few others can communicate with dolphins and whales. Just how amazing would that be!

Nere and Dai were wonderful too! Nere is always there to help her friends when they are in need and to do what it takes to make sure everyone survives. Dai is a complicated character that has his on demons to deal with. Not only is it hard for him to deal with who he is, but also who his father is, and ultimately, the person he wants to be.

The Neptune Project and The Neptune Challenge are, in my opinion, a great read for anyone. It’s a fast paced read, filled with adventure, mystery, slight love story, and such an amazing, creative world. Definitely be sure to check it out! It can definitely be a book you can read and enjoy with your kids!

If you are interested in reading this book be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of this post!

Also don’t forget to check out the first book in the series, The Neptune Project.

Purchase Links:

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | indiebound

Polly Holyoke

Polly Holyoke is a former teacher and loves reading, camping, skiing, scuba diving and hiking in the desert. She lives in Plano, TX with three rescue dogs, two spoiled cats and a nice husband who tolerates piles of books all over their house. Her debut middle-grade novel,The Neptune Project, was published by Disney/Hyperion and was selected to the 2014-15 Texas Bluebonnet Master List along with state reading lists in Maryland and Ohio. It was also named one of Bank Street’s Best Children’s Books of 2014. Her second children’s book, The Neptune Challenge, was released May, 2015.

Blog Tour Schedule

Aug 24 – Books and Broomsticks – Guest Post

Aug 25 – Because This is My Life, Y’all – Promo Post

Aug 26 – Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books – Promo Post

Aug 27 – Texas Book-aholic – review

Aug 28 – TexasBookLover – Guest Post

Aug 29 – All For the Love of the Word – promo post

Aug 30 – Bookishjessp – promo

Aug 31 – Feather Pens, Tartan Dreams – Promo Post + Author Q&A

Sept 1 – A Novel Reality – review

Sept 2 – Book Crazy Gals – Guest Post + promo

Sept 3 – The Crazy Bookseller – review

Sept 4 – Secret Asian Girl – review

Sept 5 – My Book Fix – review

Sept 6 – The Page Unbound – review

Sept 7 – Hall Ways – Author Q&A

Giveaway Details: Polly Holyoke is hosting a giveaway for one signed copy of The Neptune Challenge and one dolphin necklace. The giveaway is opened internationally.

GIVEAWAY:

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The Lost Tribe Review

Posted on September 5, 2015 by The Page Unbound

The Lost Tribe
by Matthew Caldwell
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date: May 27, 2015
Paperback: 348 pages
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Book Summary (Goodreads):

1939. Harry Pike struggles with the rest of the country through the latter stages of the Great Depression. As a sportswriter, he watches as his jobs keep disappearing. As a Jewish zamler, or luck pusher, he feels the need to help his friend Abner, who is lost in the minor leagues in his quest to play baseball.

But when German forces challenge America to a baseball series, another need arises—Harry knows he must mend the broken zamler trails to get the European Jews to safety before the war machine crushes them all.

Review:

The Lost Tribe by Matthew Caldwell is a captivating tale that grabs you from the very first page. Prior to the start of World War 2, Jewish sympathizers are being rounded up and taken to concentration camps. On one such night a twelve year old boy named Johann is given a set of instructions from his father that will take him to America. Johann, a German with a great fondness for baseball, is sent on a path that will lead him to Harry Pike with a message from his father. The European Jews, including their zamlers, are in trouble and they need help. When Johann finds Harry, he is in the process of gathering a team to Germany to play a baseball game against the Germans. Harry, a zamler himself, puts together a team that has different ethnicities and even a female baseball player. Prior to getting this team together, Harry had spent a great deal of time searching for his friend Abner, a Jewish baseball player that has gone off the radar. Once Abner receives word of this baseball team he arrives to help Harry, and together they take the team to Germany to play an epic baseball game of their lives. Harry goes as their sponsor, but goes on a secret and dangerous mission himself to mend the broken zamler trails to save the European Jews.

One thing I absolutely loved about this book is how much history it holds. I had no idea about the happenings of baseball at this time. I didn’t even realize that there were Jews playing on baseball teams or how hard the Great Depression really impacted everyone and how if a Jew worked on one of their spiritual or holy days in order to support their family that it was looked down upon by others from their community. Another thing that surprised me with this book is the fact that I’m not actually a fan of baseball, but I really enjoyed this story regardless. It’s such a heart warming story that takes place in such a dark, dark time.

The zamlers was something new and interesting to me and of course I had to go research it. These zamlers really are a part of the Jewish Community and from what I can tell from what I’ve researched is that they are collectors of scattered things. I loved how it’s used in this book, and I loved the slight element of supernatural the author uses with the term zamler. In this story, a zamler is a luck pusher. And they seem to have a good or bad feelings about different things. Like they go with their gut, their intuition. When I first started reading the book the slight insert of supernatural kind of caught me off guard because I wasn’t expecting it at all. But I think it was a nice blend of history, baseball, and that ever so slight insert of supernatural abilities that really made this story interesting and exciting to read. There’s so much detail, so much character development, and overall just an amazing story.

My favorite character in this story is definitely Harry Pike. He is such an honorable and noble character. And when he gets the message from the boy he doesn’t even bat an eyelash about it. He simply moves into action and begins planning a way to help the European Jews. He is such an amazing character. I also really liked the boy Johann. His escape from Germany was so incredible and intensely written. I couldn’t even put the book down until I knew he made it safely to his destination. I really enjoyed Abner as well and my heart really ached for him. For part of the book Harry is searching for Abner, a baseball player that pretty much goes MIA. Abner is a character that would do anything to support his family to ensure they have food on the table, that feels like the only thing he is good at is baseball, and is basically shunned by his people because of a decision he makes to ensure his family gets fed, causing him to go under the radar.

The story itself is magical. It’s purely inspiring. It’s heart felt and deeply moving. The characters all stand their own, and each of them are enchanting. It’s an incredible story that takes place in such a depressing time of our world, and yet there’s so much hope that exists on the pages of this story and even though our characters are stacked against all odds, it shows us what people are willing to do in order to save humanity.

If you enjoy history, baseball, a unique tale, great characters, a little supernatural, and a story that makes your heart warm and weep then this story is definitely for you! I highly recommend reading it!

Giveaway Details: Since I loved this book so much The Page Unbound is hosting a giveaway for one ebook copy of The Lost Tribe. Opened International.

GIVEAWAY:

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Stepping Stones Book Review and Giveaway

Posted on September 4, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Stepping Stones (The Stone Series, #1)
by Kacey Vanderkarr
Release Date: 08/25/15
Urban Fey Press

Summary from Goodreads:

Onnaleigh Moore is part of a plan—and it isn’t hers. When her brother dies in a car accident, Onna is desperate to preserve the tatters of her family. Any hope of finding normalcy vanishes when her mother runs off and her dad turns to booze to numb his pain. Onna’s grief is crippling, but the boy who showed up just when she needed him is helping her cope.

Everett’s presence is comforting, though he knows things—Onna’s name just before they met, where she lives, and sometimes he comments on thoughts she doesn’t say aloud. She pegs him for a stalker, or maybe psychic, but the truth is deadlier than she imagines. As their feelings for one another deepen, Everett confesses a horrifying secret: Onna’s brother is only the beginning of the plan, and some fates are worse than death.

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My Review:

I really liked this book. It was well written and kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. That said, this was a very hard book for me to read. I cried through the whole first part of the book. Onna’s brother dies in a car accident and the author describes her feelings, the wake , and the funeral so well that it brought back memories of my own brothers death, which also occurred when I was a teenager.I will warn you that this is a very sad book and the death of Onna’s brother is just the beginning. Onna’s life seems to be ruled by Murphy’s law: anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. After reading the book, I understand why all this tragedy was necessary, but it is still very sad.

What I liked about the book:

The book was well written and the characters were fairly well developed. I liked all of the main characters. My favorites being Onna and her best girlfriend, Hunter. Through thick or thin, Hunter is always there for her. Everett is a great character too. He obviously adores Onna, but he is full of secrets and may not be trustworthy. The book ends at a good spot, but this is definitely the first book in a series, because we are left with a lot of unanswered questions. I like a book that keeps me guessing and this book did that in spades.

What I didn’t like about the book:

The fact that it made me cry through a good portion of the book. I will be honest here. This is not the kind of book that I normally read. If I find out a book is sad, I usually stay away from it. I don’t enjoy crying and I’m not one of those women that looks beautiful when they cry. I’m a mess and it’s ugly. Of course the real reason is because I have had more than enough tragedy in my own life. But I’m not sorry that I read this book and I did enjoy it in spite of the crying.

The other thing I didn’t like was how wishy-washy Onna was when it came to Everett. She would beg him to tell her what he was hiding, but then when he did, she would run away and vow never to see him again. Then after a few days, she would go back to him. He even warned her that he wasn’t a good person, but she just kept going back. Either your with someone and accept them good and bad or you’re not with them.

This book is a good start to Kacey Vanderkarr’s new series. I think that Kacey is a good author and I love her Reflection Pond series. I am already hooked on this new series and I will be reading the next book to find out the answers to my unanswered questions. I give this book 4 stars.

About the Author
Kacey Vanderkarr is a young adult author. She dabbles in fantasy, romance, and sci-fi, complete with faeries, alternate realities, and the occasional plasma gun. She’s known to be annoyingly optimistic and listen to music at the highest decibel. When she’s not writing, she coaches winterguard and works as a sonographer. Kacey lives in Michigan, with her husband, son, and crazy cats. Along with her novels, Reflection Pond and Antithesis, Kacey’s short fiction can be found in Sucker Literary Vol 3, and the upcoming Spark Vol 7, Ember: A Journal of Luminous Things, and Out of the Green: Tales from Fairyland.

Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Cover Reveal Organized by:
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Superstition Book Promo

Posted on September 4, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Superstition
by Lucy Fenton
Release Date: 08/03/15

Summary from Goodreads:

What happens when your childhood nightmares of being bitten by strange creatures in a dark wood aren’t just dreams?

Sixteen-year-old Arden St. John’s life takes a strange turn when she finds an unusual animal injured near her new house on the south east coast of Australia. When she takes it to the local vet, a terrible truth is inadvertently exposed to her.

She discovers a secret underworld, where witches are commonplace and trolls masquerade as queen bees, terrorising the other students with impunity. A world where vampires traffic in the lives of children, draining their bodies once they reach maturity. Where adults auction their own children to extend their lives.

Arden finds out she’s one of those kids, her life traded by the mother she never knew. Now she’s caught up in this ancient and corrupt economy operating just below the surface of modern society. She’s a hot commodity, and it’s only a matter of time before the vampire who bought her comes to claim his prize.

But Arden’s not going down without a fight.

Purchase Links:
Amazon

Book Excerpt:

The further into the bush she went, the more anxious Arden felt. If something happened to me, how long would it be before Dad noticed? I could be dead for days before someone found me, Arden thought, unhappily. The compulsion to turn around and seek out others grew stronger and her footsteps slowed.

And then through the trees, she saw something. Curiosity overcoming her disquiet, at first she thought it was a rocky outcrop and moved towards it, trying to see what was veiled by the leaves of the trees. The flash of sunlight whitened out her vision as she stepped out of the shade into the clearing. Blinded, she waited for her eyes to adjust. Squinting, the blurred shapes gradually resolved into the ruins of a stone building. The roof was gone and the walls stuck up like the blunt teeth of a fallen giant. Arden walked around what had once been a large structure that had been left to crumble back into the earth. It was built on a headland, the view of the ocean clear on the far side. A lone gum tree clung to the edge of the cliff, roots visible where the earth had crumbled away. Dead, its bare branches stood out starkly white against the dark clouds forming over the ocean. There was a storm coming in, but it was still a way out to sea. Catching sight of a marking on the stone, she moved towards it to examine it more closely. It was weathered almost flat, but tracing the rough gritty surface with her finger, she made out the distinctive shape of a convict arrow.

Amazed, she walked in through a doorway, trying to work out what type of building it had been. There had been a large central room with many tiny rooms opening from it. They were small, storerooms perhaps? Exploring deeper into the ruins, there was a room that had been more protected at the rear and the purpose became apparent. The stubbed remains of bars were still embedded in the stone in one section and in the corner of the room were cross hatched markings on the walls, counting off the days. She was standing in a convict gaol.

About the Author

C. Fenton lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and two children. In addition to her cake- making business, she works as a freelance copywriter and pens occasional articles for various online magazines.

Not being one of those people who had a burning desire to be anything in particular, L. C. worked her way alphabetically backwards through the available degrees at Sydney University. Surprisingly, given the amount of fun she had at school, L.C. finally managed to graduate with a completely unemployable degree in Philosophy. A Law degree soon followed, however, simply to make it possible for some organization to hire her.
After ten soul-destroying years wandering aimlessly in the corporate wilderness, L. C. threw it all in and reassessed. Deciding to bring the “one day I will write a book” idea to the present, she started and hasn’t stopped. As a huge fan of the romance genre, she writes the kinds of books that she enjoys to read.
In her spare time, L. C. Fenton…actually she has no spare time. She sleeps or reads copious amounts of romance novels instead of sleeping.

Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

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T4T: Scion of the Sin and The Looking Glass Blitz

Posted on September 3, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz

#T4T presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy, and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

You just might find your next read!

This week, #T4T presents to you:

Scion of the Sun by Nicola Marsh and The Looking Glass by Jessica Arnold

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Book Summary

When she least expects it, sixteen-year old Holly Burton’s unremarkable life is shaken to the core. A vision of the mother Holly never knew leaves her questioning everything she believes.

Eager for answers, Holly enrolls at a boarding school for highly gifted students in Wolfebane, New Hampshire. But things will get worse before they get better, as Holly accidentally transports to a parallel existence where she’s confronted by a dark and ancient evil.

With the help of Joss, a sexy alpha warrior sworn to protect her, and her new BFF, the equally swoon-worthy Quinn, Holly faces her fears and an unlikely adversary in a showdown that is worse than anything she could’ve possibly imagined …

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

“Charmed and drawn in by Holly’s spunk and snark, Scion of the Sun will leave you spinning and falling for Joss right along with Holly. Marsh’s unique story is packed with action, mystery, romance and suspense. This is not to be missed!” – Jennifer L. Armentrout, USA TODAY Bestselling Author

” It’s a unique novel in YA literature, and I hope it won’t be under-appreciated! An excellent start to a new mythology-based series, this is!” – Alyssa – Eater of Books

“This was a unique tale about a heroine who is not perfect by any means, but does her best despite her failings.” –Grace – Grace Books of Love

about-the-author

Nicola currently writes for Harlequin Mills and Boon Romance and Riva/Presents series, Entangled Publishing, Month9Books, Harlequin Teen and Crimson Romance, has published 39 books and sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide. She’s a Bookscan, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Waldenbooks bestseller, has finalled in several awards including the prestigious HOLT (Honoring Outstanding Literary Talent), Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award,

Booksellers’ Best, Golden Quill, Laurel Wreath, More than Magic and won several CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Awards. Nicola loves the hip, vibrant, cosmopolitan vibe of her home city, Melbourne, where she’s set the bulk of her novels, highlighting fabulous cultural and food havens like Acland Street (St. Kilda), Brunswick Street (Fitzroy) and Lygon Street (Carlton). When she’s not writing she’s busy raising her two little heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, cheering on her beloved North Melbourne Kangaroos footy team and her favorite, curling up with a good book!

Author Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Book Summary

Find the diary, break the curse, step through The Looking Glass!

Fifteen-year-old Alice Montgomery wakes up in the lobby of the B&B where she has been vacationing with her family to a startling discovery: no one can see or hear her. The cheap desk lights have been replaced with gas lamps and the linoleum floor with hardwood and rich Oriental carpeting. Someone has replaced the artwork with eerie paintings of Elizabeth Blackwell, the insane actress and rumored witch who killed herself at the hotel in the 1880s. Alice watches from behind the looking glass where she is haunted by Elizabeth Blackwell. Trapped in the 19th-century version of the hotel, Alice must figure out a way to break Elizabeth’s curse—with the help of Elizabeth’s old diary and Tony, the son of a ghost hunter who is investigating the haunted B&B—before she becomes the inn’s next victim.

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

“Curses, ghosts, betrayal and love. All elements to a perfect ghostly story..” – Jasmyn, Bitten by Romance

“I think one of the creepiest things about The Looking Glass was the way it made me feel so claustrophobic. It was similar to the way I felt when I read Stephen King’s Under the Dome–trapped and a bit panicked.” – Kelly, Reviewer

“It was so different and so beautifully written and detailed that I really could not put this story down and I felt as though I was there with Alice throughout the story.” – Melissa, SimplisticReviews

about-the-author

Jessica Arnold writes YA, codes ebooks, and is currently a graduate student in publishing at Emerson College in Boston. She spends most of her time in class or work or slogging through the homework swamp. If she has a spare moment, she’s always up for a round of Boggle. Given the opportunity, Jessica will pontificate at length on the virtues of the serial comma, when and where to use an en dash, and why the semicolon is the best punctuation mark pretty much ever.

Author Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway

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The Deep Beneath (H.A.L.F.) Promo

Posted on September 2, 2015 by The Page Unbound

The Deep Beneath (H.A.L.F) by Natalie Wright
(H.A.L.F #1)
Publication date: January 7th 2015
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Book Summary:

H.A.L.F. 9 has taken his first breath of desert air and his first steps in the human world. Created to be a weapon, he proved too powerful for his makers and has lived a sedated life hidden from humans. But H.A.L.F. 9 has escaped the underground lab he called home, and the sedation has worn off. He has never been more alive. More powerful. Or more deadly.

Erika Holt longs to ride her motorcycle east until pavement meets shore. She bides her time until graduation when she’ll say adios to the trailer she shares with her alcoholic mother and memories of her dead father. But a typical night in the desert with friends thrusts Erika into a situation more dangerous than she ever imagined.

Circumstances push the two together, and each must make a fateful choice. Will Erika help H.A.L.F. 9 despite her “don’t get involved” rule? And will H.A.L.F. 9 let Erika live even though he was trained to kill?

The two may need to forget their rules and training and if either is to survive the dangers of the deep beneath them.

Purchase Links:

Amazon |B&N

Book Excerpt:
Be Careful What You Wish ForErika didn’t want to see her two best friends killed. She closed her eyes tightly while she prayed for a miracle. She would have closed her ears too if she could. Erika waited to hear the gun blast, but it didn’t come. Instead, there was only a loud thud as if someone had fallen to the earth.She opened her eyes. Ian stood a few feet away, his hair mussed, eyes wide and brows drawn together. Joe still held her tightly, but Nacho lay on the ground. If Jack was down and neither Ian, Erika nor Joe had shot Nacho, then why was he lying in a heap on the desert floor?Joe loosened his grip on her. Erika’s wrists were now free but throbbed where Joe had pinched and twisted them. She spun around and backed away from him. Joe’s hands were at his neck, his eyes bulging. His body jerked and he grasped at his throat as if he were trying to pull at a rope or cord. But there was nothing around his neck.

Is he having a seizure or something?

Ian looked as baffled as she was. No one touched Joe, yet he appeared to battle against someone choking him. Erika didn’t know who or what had a grip on Joe, but there were already two bodies on the ground. She didn’t want to see another.

“Stop!” she screamed. As vile as Joe was, she’d get more satisfaction from seeing him rot in jail than die.

Joe panted for air as he fell to the ground. Though he no longer tore at his neck, he didn’t seem to be able to get up. He strained with an effort to rise, but he stayed down.

“Look, whoever you are, don’t kill him,” Erika said.

“Why the hell not?” Ian screamed. “They shot Jack. He was going to rape you and traffic you across the border. He deserves to die.”

“No one deserves to die.” Erika didn’t wait for Ian to counter argue. She searched the ground for Jack as best she could in the dim light. Ian did the same.

“He’s over here,” Ian yelled.

Erika ran to the place where Ian stood. She knelt beside Jack’s motionless body laying face down. She turned him over and felt his neck. There was a pulse. Thank God, Jack’s alive. Her eyes roved over Jack’s body as her hands felt for a wound. “He was shot in the left shoulder.” Her hands were wet with his blood.

“Is he – ”

“Alive? Yes. But there’s a lot of blood.” Erika held up her hand for Ian to see. The smell of the sticky liquid brought a wave of nausea. “Help me get him up. We’ve got to get him to the car and – ”

A rustling sound in the brush interrupted their conversation. Erika turned in the direction of the noise and a shadowy figure emerged from the weeds. Her hands and legs had almost stopped shaking, but the appearance of yet another stranger, intentions unknown, caused her to quake again.

About the Author:

Natalie is the author of H.A.L.F., a young adult science fiction series, and The Akasha Chronicles, a young adult fantasy trilogy. She lives in the high desert of Tucson, Arizona with her husband, tween daughter, and two young cats.

Natalie spends her time writing, reading, gaming, geeking out over nerd culture and cool science, hanging out on social media, and meeting readers and fans at festivals and comic cons throughout the western United States. She likes to walk in the desert, snorkel in warm waters, travel, and share excellent food and conversation with awesome people. She was raised an Ohio farm girl, lives in the desert Southwest, and dreams of living in a big city high rise

Author links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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Queen of Shadows Teaser

Posted on September 1, 2015 by The Page Unbound

18006496

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)

by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads Author)

Book Synopsis(Goodreads):

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

Quote 1:

“Why don’t you get to the point,” she drawled. “I want to have a few hours of sleep tonight.” Not a lie. With every breath, exhaustion wrapped tighter around her bones.

“I would have thought,” Arobynn said, “given how close you two were and your abilities, that you’d somehow be able to sense it. Or at least hear of it, considering what he was accused of.”

The prick was enjoying every second of this. If Dorian was dead or hurt—

“Your cousin Aedion has been imprisoned for treason—for conspiring with the rebels here in Rifthold to depose the king and put you back on the throne.”

The world stopped.

Stopped, and started, then stopped again.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Queen of Shadows

Quote 2:

“If you’re a monster, I’m a monster.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Queen of Shadows

Quote 3:

“She was a whirling cloud of death, a queen of shadows, and these men were already carrion.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Queen of Shadows

Quote 4:

“She was fire, and light, and ash, and embers. She was Aelin Fireheart, and she bowed for no one and nothing, save the crown that was hers by blood and survival and triumph.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Queen of Shadows

The Body Institute Book Blitz

Posted on September 1, 2015 by The Page Unbound

The Body Institute

by Carol Riggs

Release Date: 09/01/15

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads

Meet Morgan Dey, one of the top teen Reducers at The Body Institute.

Thanks to cutting-edge technology, Morgan can temporarily take over another girl’s body, get her in shape, and then return to her own body—leaving her client slimmer, more toned, and feeling great. Only there are a few catches…

For one, Morgan won’t remember what happens in her “Loaner” body. Once she’s done, she won’t recall walks with her new friend Matt, conversations with the super-cute Reducer she’s been text-flirting with, or the uneasy feeling she has that the director of The Body Institute is hiding something. Still, it’s all worth it in the name of science. Until the glitches start…

Suddenly, residual memories from her Loaner are cropping up in Morgan’s mind. She’s feeling less like herself and more like someone else. And when protests from an anti–Body Institute organization threaten her safety, she’ll have to decide if being a Reducer is worth the cost of her body and soul…

Buy Links:

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Interview with the Author

1. Why do you think readers will like your book?

I think readers will enjoy THE BODY INSTITUTE because it includes the issues of appearance

and body image, related to a person’s weight. People often make assumptions and snap judgments based on what other people look like, and they can also be cruel and bullying. These reactions can shape someone’s personality and sense of identity. We’ve all seen this played out, whether from personal experience or someone we know.

Today, weight is a really controversial and heated topic. For instance, are some models too

thin—and are others too “fat”? What message are we sending our teens when Hollywood and the modeling industry portray beauty as only belonging to slim figures?

2. Where did you get the idea for THE BODY INSTITUTE?

The germ seed for this novel happened as I found myself wondering, “If I were in someone else’s body, would I do the same things that person does?” And more specifically, “If I were in a body of someone who was overweight, could I lose weight FOR them?” I started thinking about how much appearance affects our personality.

At first I thought my mind and personality would stay the same regardless of whatever body I was in. Sure, I could lose weight for that person, easy-peasy. But upon further thought…maybe my personality and beliefs would begin to morph once I was in that person’s shoes, while experiencing all the things that affect her daily life: situations, friends, family, strangers, societal pressures. Above all, my new and heavier appearance. I was fascinated by this scenario.

Connect with Carol here!

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Powell’s Books | Indiebound

About the Author

I’m a YA writer represented by Kelly Sonnack of Andrea Brown Literary. My sci-fi novel THE BODY INSTITUTE explores the themes of society, identity, and body image. I live in the beautiful, green state of Oregon and have a Studio Arts degree; I’m an SCBWI member.

You’ll usually find me in my writing cave, surrounded by my dragon collection and the characters in my head. I also enjoy reading–mostly young adult novels–as well as drawing, painting, and quilting. I also attend writing conferences, walk with my husband, and enjoy music and dance of all kinds.

Author Links

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Queen of Shadows Release Day Blitz

Posted on September 1, 2015 by The Page Unbound

I am so excited that QUEEN OF SHADOWS by Sarah J. Maas releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful series by Sarah J. Maas, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a set of the first 3 books in the series (in paperback format). US only. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About The book:

Title: QUEEN OF SHADOWS

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Pub. Date: September 1, 2015

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Pages: 656

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

Sarah J. Maas’s New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series reaches new heights in this sweeping fourth volume.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past …

Read Chapters 1-5 of QUEEN OF SHADOWS HERE!

About Sarah:

Sarah J. Maas is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling Throne of Glass series–Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire, and the series’ prequel, The Assassin’s Blade–as well as the New York Times and USA Today bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses. She wrote the first incarnation of the Throne of Glass series when she was just sixteen, and it has now sold in twenty-three languages. Queen of Shadows, the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series, will release worldwide on September 1st, 2015.

A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College in 2008 with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Religious Studies.

Author Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr

Pinterest | Instagram| Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive the first 3 books (in paperback) in the THRONE OF GLASS Series. US Only. Ends on September 11th at Midnight EST!

GIVEAWAY:

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Author Interview with Matthew Caldwell

Posted on August 31, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Matthew Caldwell

Matthew Caldwell is the author of The Zamler’s Last Stand, and its sequel, the Kindle Scout-winning The Lost Tribe. He lives in Nebraska with his family. Matt received his Bachelor’s in History and Master’s in Education at Truman State University in Missouri, and is currently pursuing an MFA. He has been interested in writing his entire life, moving from comic books to short stories to novels. Although he now focuses on long-form fiction, he still reads every thing he can find, including non-fiction. He’s active on Facebook (facebook.com/MatthewCaldwellBooks) and Twitter (@MattLCaldwell) so come by and say hello!

Author Interview:

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you begin writing? What inspires you to write?

I began my writing life diving head-first into the worlds I read in comic books. Soon I was writing and drawing my own. When I realized that my artistic talents would never let me earn money on the deal, I focused on the scripts. I wrote superhero, horror, and hybrids of the two, but there was always an element of mystery to it. That’s what I carried with me into prose writing. I still get inspiration from what interests me: the mystery of just being here.

Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?

Shoot, I still don’t know what genre this book fits into. Again, I’m drawn to mystery, so I think that people who like mystery books will enjoy it. There’s also baseball. And Nazis. Some mentions of the Great Depression and the World’s Fair. I just tried to write an exciting book about the things that excite me.

How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

I admit that the title came to me late in the plotting of the book, and that’s not how I usually do it. Usually I settle on a title pretty soon after I come up with the hook. The Lost Tribe obviously harkens back to the plight of the ancient Jews, but it also described the modern Jews who were driven out of Germany, or captured by the Nazis in Europe. The barnstormers were the final piece of that. It’s really an interesting idea: a group of people with a singular purpose who don’t really know what to do next.

Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?

My cover was designed by a friend of mine, the talented Bren McIntosh Duvall. She’s an old college friend, and someone who’s been dazzling me with her creativity ever since I’ve known her. I basically gave her a copy of the book and told her that I’d use whatever came out of her head. I knew from the moment I saw it that it was the cover to my story.

Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

Well this is my second book with many of them. Harry, as I’ve always believed, is definitely my avatar in this world, and Abner is maybe who I’ve always strived to be. Harry is the ego to Abner’s id–they’re parts of a whole, and they’re always trying to save each other. So I guess I’ll cop out and say both of them.

How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

I assume when you write a book involving Nazis that makes the choice much easier, right? In terms of their actions, I would have to say the Nazi officer Vogt. But within those actions–and this isn’t to condone in any way what the Nazis were trying to do–the motivation is interesting to me, the idea that so many people could so wholeheartedly buy into the garbage that Hitler was selling. It really terrifies me, to be sure, that so many intelligent people could fall into that trap.

If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be? Why?

I’d give it one more edit, but I think that’s what every writer would say.

Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

The idea for a “zamler” actually came about from a generic notion I had about people who could take away other people’s bad luck. When I was doing some reading for school (I teach high school Social Studies) I started to delve into Jewish history, and found the word “zamler” as an old word meaning “collector.” Within a few minutes, I’d sketched out the rough idea for what my “zamler” was, and how they could have been beneficial to a community who always seemed on the verge of persecution.

What other books are similar to your own? What makes them alike?

You know, I have a tough time with that question, and I think that ends up hurting me, marketing-wise. If I could find some coattails, I’d jump in a heartbeat. It’s baseball, but with supernatural elements. And Nazis, but before World War II. There’s a thread of family, but they don’t spend a lot of time with each other. How about Harry Potter? The heart of those books isn’t in the magic or any of that, but the bonds of friendship. And it doesn’t hurt that both main characters have similar names…

How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

My Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Matthew-Caldwell/e/B00J4WPFS2
My Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/MatthewCaldwellBooks
My Twitter page: @MattLCaldwell

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’ve begun a new series that revolves around psychics. They’re mystery/thrillers, and written much more in the mode of a thinking-man’s action movie. I’m having a great time writing them.

What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

Please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads!!! People will trust what other readers have to say.

Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

Write a lot, and don’t be able to throw stuff away if it’s crap. Get used to hearing the word “no.” Take a walk if you get stuck, and leave the phone at home.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Thanks so much for the opportunity to talk about my book with your readers! If you like my book, or any authors’ works, take a second to connect with us to let us know. It really does mean the world to us.

And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

Finally, the catcher put down his call, and the pitcher nodded. Abner tapped his bat on the outside corner of the plate. It was all going to happen now, for better or worse.

To the pitcher’s credit, Harry noted, it was his best fastball of the night, a fact signified by the loud grunt he let out when he released the ball. It zipped toward the top of the strike zone, toward a meeting with white ash or leather, it didn’t know.

But it also didn’t matter. This was the fate of a baseball, to be thrown, or be hit, or be caught, but never to have a say in it.
That never concerned Abner, who’d decided long ago that if he was given a chance to impose his will on a pitch, he was going to do it.

There’s a moment every time a baseball is hit where, at contact, the ball and the bat stop. There has to be, because the ball has to change direction, but it happens so fast that although everyone is watching, no one can see it.

But on that cool field in Munich in the late August dusk, that moment presented itself to Harry. The ball and bat stopped. Abner’s arm muscles tensed like some ravenous predator who had just found prey. The catcher blinked as the swing came directly in front of his view. The crowd yelled but in silence. For a moment, Harry wondered if he would stay there forever.

And then, as if it were a phonograph record being held for a second and then let go, everything began to spin again.

Book Summary (Goodreads):

Be sure to check back soon for the book review of The Lost Tribe