Blog Tour: Interview, Giveaway, & Review Firewalker (Worldwalker, #2) by Josephine Angelini

 Today on WinterHaven Books we have the amazing Josephine Angelini with us again!!  I'm still squeeing about this by the way!  She is stopping by to answer a few of my questions so take a look!

Welcome Josephine!

1. WOW! I mean WOWWW! Josephine I am completely blown away by Firewalker!  Did you have any idea how much of a punch this sequel would have?
Thank you so much for saying that! I really went for it with this book and tried to make it as unexpected as possible. I think that YA readers have grown so sophisticated that they are looking for something new in terms of storyline. I did my best to really reach out with my plotting and find things that made sense for my characters but that didn’t have the same old same old feel. I tried to go for as much emotional punch as possible.  It’s fantastic that you had the response you did. Makes me very happy.

2. I have to give you major credit because I hated Tristan in the first one and you made me love him in this one! I didn't think that was possible! Was Tristan's character hard to write?
He was hard to write because so many of my beta readers had certain expectations for Tristan. I think everyone saw them as being destined to be together because they grew up together, but that’s not how I saw it. The first person you fall for is rarely the person you end up with. But it was strange for me to see how many people were ticked off by that. I never saw Tristan as a good choice for Lily, although is he so entertaining!

3. How did you come up with the idea of the Woven? They are beyond creepy by the way!!
The Woven were an idea that transplanted from another book that I never finished and that will probably never see the light of day. They are something that scares me, so I had to use them somehow. Just a tip for aspiring writers—never throw anything away. You may get half way through a book and realize that the story isn’t going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean that elements of that book can’t be used later. The Woven were that for me.

4. Who is your favorite to write Lily or Lillian?
In Trial by Fire it was Lily, in Firewalker it was Lillian, and in the last book it’s Lily again.

5. Do you ever see yourself writing a spinoff? The world you have created is so fascinating and I know I'm definitely going to want more after this series is finished! *Crosses fingers*
Aw, thanks! I hadn’t thought of a spin off, but the end of the third book definitely leaves opportunities for other books written in this world. I haven’t gotten as far as to think up a specific plot yet, but I won’t say no if there’s a demand for it.

6. Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any details?
I’ve just finished the third book and I’m going into edits for it soon. Right now I’m just focusing on spending as much time with my family as I can before I go on tour.

Thank you so much for the interview, Crystal!

This honestly was one of my favorite interviews ever!  I love love love Josephine's answers and now I want Traitor's Pyre even more!!  I simply CAN.NOT.WAIT!!!  Josephine you are amazing!  Thank you so so much for stopping by!

Giveaway time!!!

The amazing people at Macmillan have graciously offered to send one lucky readers their very own FC of Firewalker!  To enter just fill out the form below!

US only.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Firewalker (Worldwalker, #2) by Josephine Angelini
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

Worlds divide, magic slays, and love lies in the second book of Josephine Angelini’s The Worldwalker Trilogy.

"You think I’m a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified."

Lily is back in her own universe, and she's ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape from New Salem, and must hide her magic for the safety of everyone she cares about, but compared to fighting the Woven, the monstrous creatures inhabiting the alternate Salem, life is looking pretty good.

Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. If she can’t persuade Lily to return to her world, she will force her to come back by doing away with the ones she loves.

Picking up right where Trial By Fire left off, Firewalker is another sexy, fast-paced, heartbreaking thrill ride from internationally bestselling author Josephine Angelini!

My thoughts:
I've read many sequels before and while not all of them worked some did and managed to stay out of that dreaded "filler" category.  I was a little worried about Firewalker because I adored Trial by Fire and I didn't want the sequel to disappoint.  I needn't have worried because Firewalker is the best sequel I have EVER read and I am not saying that lightly.  I finished this last night and I am still squeeing and dying over what happened!

The story takes off right where Trial by Fire ended with Lily and Rowan world jumping back to her world and time.  This is where I thought the story would fall off and be filter.  I was so so wrong!  The story not only continues to move it does so rapidly and does not slow down the entire book.  I loved all the twists and turns that were thrown out and OH MY GAWD there is a huge bomb that had me on the edge of my seat!  This new twist could mean everything for Lillians world and I cannot wait to see what happens!!

Lily has really grown to be one of if not my favorite female character. She is strong and does what she has to do to save her people.  I respect her decisions and definitely rooted for her throughout the book.  I knew things were going to get tough for her between her and Rowan and while I wasn't wrong they didn't get as bad as I thought and I feel like the author is doing an amazing job at keeping the teenage angst at bay.  I for one appreciate this.  I am not sure what will become of a certain distraction, but I am hoping for the best since Ms. Angelini hasn't let me down yet!

I think my biggest surprise is Tristan. If you remember my previous review I couldn't stand him at all.  He was the supposed first love for Lily and he treated her like garbage.  While I still don't forgive him I do actually love him!  He definitely stepped up was there for Lily when she needed him the most. He explains himself and again I can't forgive him, but I can understand his side a little and they are young so forever is a long time when you are young.  He does regret what he did and knows certain events happened because of his carelessness.  I can't be mad at him anymore.  I have to say this takes a strong writer to make my hate of a character turn into love.  Brilliant job Josephine!

I have to mention the flashbacks with Lillian.  I don't know exactly why, but I have been intrigued with her from the get go and seeing through her eyes has just made me more so.  I can't believe what she went through and what she did, but I am feeling my allegiances switch a little and it's a weird feeling for sure.  I don't think I have ever switched sides so totally before in a series.  I really like how the author is showing us piece be piece what motivated Lillian and making her readers second guess what they thought was the right path.  Lillian is still a monster, but maybe she isn't as cold blooded as I originally thought.

If you loved the first book you will devour this one as well!  It has so much in it and like I said I am still amazed even 10 hours later.  I am dying for the third in this series and I can guarantee that when I get my hands on it I won't have forgotten one detail if this book. It truly is amazing!

Blizzard Read!! 

Previous books in series:
 
Trial by Fire                                     Rowan





 

Blog Tour Interview, Giveaway, & Review: Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini

Today on WinterHaven Books I am super excited to be participating in the blog tour for Josephine Angelini!!  I absolutely adored Trial by Fire and yes I am still squeeing over Josephine joining us today!!  I also have a very special giveaway to share with you at the end!!  First though check out her answers to my questions!  Love love love her answers!!!

Welcome Josie!!

1. The world you created was incredibly unique, how did you come up with the idea?
When I’m worldbuilding I always try to make it feel like it’s real, so everything has to be there for a logical reason. The parallel world that I created for the WorldWalker Trilogy was shaped mostly by the system of magic that I developed for that world. First I had to develop the magical system, and then I sat down and thought about what kind of world would be the result of people having that particular skill set.
For example, if magic made licorice out of nothing, than licorice would be a really cheap, and as a result, people would probably live in houses made of licorice, or their cars would run on licorice, or something like that. People make use of what’s around them, and economies, technology, governments, and architecture come out of that. That’s where I start when I create a world—on what’s handy. Simple and logical is always best, and strangely, it can also be a source of originality.

2. If you could be Lillian or Lily which would you chose and why?
Lily, for sure. I feel bad for Lillian. After all, she is the one who lost Rowan.

3. Tristan was a horrible best friend to boyfriend character! I honestly wanted to punch him for Lily! Does he serve a greater purpose in the sequel??
It’s so funny that you had such a strong negative reaction to him! When I finished the first draft I was so surprised when all of my beta readers loved him. They were all expecting Lily to be with Tristan and I couldn’t figure out why. I don’t think Tristan is a bad person, but he’s still immature in the first book. I think it has something to do with the “first guy” principle in YA.
Usually, the first guy we meet in a YA book is assumed to be the one the girl ends up with, but I rarely find that in life. Usually a girl’s first love is a disaster! I wanted to write something that was closer to life. And, to answer your question—yes. Tristan is very important throughout the series.

4. I could honestly gush about your book for days and days! What book have you gushed about recently?
Thank you so much! I’m so happy you enjoyed it that much! Recently I’ve been recommending Storm Siren by Mary Weber. It’s a really strong debut book, and I LOVE the heroine.

4. Can you tell us a little about the sequel? I'm dying to know something..anything!!
How to do this without giving anything away? I will say that in Trail of Tears we learn a lot more about Lillian, and maybe even come to agree with her. And the love story in the second book gets way steamier.

Thanks Josie for stopping by!

Find the Author:

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Trailer / Series Website /  

I have to say that Josie's answer for my Tristan question really blew me away and made me love this book even more.  Such a unique and realistic way of writing a character!  I cannot wait to see what happens with him! 

Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Purchase: Amazon

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

My Thoughts:
Macmillan has these books called Fierce Reads and for so long I just thought they were books that have fierce heroines, but now after reading Trial by Fire I understand what a Fierce Read actually is.  This book brought out the fierceness in me.  I wanted to fight for Lily and Rowan, I wanted to just jump right inside this book and fight with all the fierceness my bookies have.  So Fierce Reads aren't just talking about the books characters, which let me assure you Lily and Rowan were two of the fiercest characters ever, they are talking about bringing out the readers inner Fierce and pulling them into a story they will never forget.

Trail by Fire starts out..okay I am just going to say it bad.  Tristan is a horrible childhood BFF/crush ever!  I normally love the childhood friend turn to boyfriend angle but man this guy was just mean and I wanted to kick him out of this book!  Without his stupidity though Lily wouldn't have given in and decided to leave her world though so Tristan did serve a purpose even though I hate to admit it.  I'm glad to also say that his doppelganger was better, but I have a very real suspicion that he will still turn out to be a dirtbag.  When Lily suddenly turns around and finds herself in another version of her world she has no idea what to do.  Her life has always been a little crazy, but this was an all new brand of crazy for her.  She quickly learns that she will have to adapt to her new surroundings before she can find her way home. With doppelgangers, witch craft, multiple versions, and willstones this story is an adventure that takes Lily a girl who could barely keep herself alive to a girl who is one of the strongest witches and can change the world.

I loved this and I don't mean love as in think about the story a bit and then put it back up to never really think of again. No I mean I fiercely love this story to where I will buy a physical copy and pet it everyday and reread my favorite passages for years.  Yes I loved it that much.  It is such a unique spin on witchcraft and omg the world is just amazing!  This author weaves in science and really makes the reader think.  You find out later in the story the reason why Lilian (the original Lily in the new world) brings Lily into her new world and I get it.  We don't know everything because well this is the first book in the trilogy so there is a lot more to come, but we do know that Lily is there to right a wrong and that Lilian thinks she is right by killing everyone who practices science. See at first I was like that's so wrong, but the more you read you see that Lilian has a reason and while killing people is never the answer you do see her point.  I love books that make me think and this one not only does that it makes me really wonder which side I would want to be on.  The obvious one isn't always the answer and I think Lily may realize this sooner rather than later.

Rowan was *squee* amazing.  After hating Tristan with everything and wishing him a painful death it was such a fun ride to fall for Rowan.  Was he easy to like at first, no but he was no where near as bad as Tristan and you have to give him a little leeway too.  When he meets Lily he thinks she is Lilian and well he hates Lilian for various reasons so he can't trust Lily.  Their relationship grows and oh my what a story that was.  I loved every bit of their interaction and I almost swooned when she claimed him.  You will have to read the story to find out exactly what that means hehe.  Such a great pair!  And there is one scene that literally had me fanning myself!  Sorry had to throw that in there!

This was a book that I didn't want to put down, but at the same time I didn't want to finish it.  I kept reading a chapter and then walking away so that I could savor it. I haven't done that it a very long time, maybe not since Twilight so that should tell you how much I adored this story.  This is my first book by Josephine Angelini but it will not be last that's for sure.  I adore her writing, characters, and world building and I am positive I will love everything she writes.  Yep can't say that about most authors, but for Ms.Angelini I am going to say it and own it!

Blizzard Read!!!!!

Giveaway time!! The wonderful people at Macmillan are giving us one copy of Trial by Fire to giveaway to one lucky reader!  Just fill out the form below to enter.
Open to US/Canada residents only
Good Luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also don't forget to check out all the awesome tour stops that happened this week!  I promise you definitely want to check these out!  Click HERE!

Teaser Tuesday, #71 Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays! Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...


Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper
Expected Publication: September 23, 2014
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Blurb:
A sweeping historical romance about a witch who foresees her own murder--and the one boy who can help change her future.

Sixteen-year-old Avery Roe wants only to take her rightful place as the witch of Prince Island, making the charms that keep the island's whalers safe at sea, but her mother has forced her into a magic-free world of proper manners and respectability. When Avery dreams she's to be murdered, she knows time is running out to unlock her magic and save herself.

Avery finds an unexpected ally in a tattooed harpoon boy named Tane--a sailor with magic of his own, who moves Avery in ways she never expected. Becoming a witch might stop her murder and save her island from ruin, but Avery discovers her magic requires a sacrifice she never prepared for.

*Quotes are taken from an Advanced Readers Copy.*

Quotes from book pages: 178 & 184

"And what could she do?" Tane asked, smiling. "Breathe fire? Curse anyone she didn't like with freckles?" he reached up to tweak my nose, and I laughed softly.

"I think..." He took a slow, rattling breath and brushed the knuckles of his fingers, gently, against my cheek. "I think...I am coming back to life."

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks! 

Review: The Merciless by Danielle Vega

The Merciless by Danielle Vega
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: June 12, 2014
Purchase: Amazon

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned

Brooklyn Stevens sits in a pool of her own blood, tied up and gagged. No one outside of these dank basement walls knows she’s here. No one can hear her scream.

Sofia Flores knows she shouldn’t have gotten involved. When she befriended Riley, Grace, and Alexis on her first day at school, she admired them, with their perfect hair and their good-girl ways. They said they wanted to save Brooklyn. They wanted to help her. Sofia didn’t realize they believed Brooklyn was possessed.

Now, Riley and the girls are performing an exorcism on Brooklyn—but their idea of an exorcism is closer to torture than salvation. All Sofia wants is to get out of this house. But there is no way out. Sofia can’t go against the other girls . . . unless she wants to be next. . . .

In this chilling debut, Danielle Vega delivers blood-curdling suspense and terror on every page. By the shockingly twisted end, readers will be faced with the most haunting question of all: Is there evil in all of us?

My Thoughts:
OMG okay you have to give me a minute to slow my heart!  This book was horror at its finest and exactly what I have been looking for!  It's gory, insane, brutal and just so in your face that it really should come with a warning!  My kind of book!

So basically in a nutshell Merciless is about a new girl (Sofia) who is befriended by a group of girls that pride themselves on being pure in Gods eyes.  When Riley (the head girl) gets cheated on she takes matters into her own hands and decides she needs to exorcise Brooklyn's (girl who was involved in the cheating) demons.  Well things go from just crazy to downright call the insane asylum nuts in about 2.2 seconds! 

This book was a cross between The Craft, Carrie, The Crucible and Mean Girls.  It took all the things that we all loved about each movie and threw them together to create an amazingly creepy tale that I know will stay with me.  Riley does some pretty violent stuff and yes you will have to realize this is fiction.  Would half of this stuff really happen no of course not but if you can let reality go and you love scary then this book is for you.  I never knew who was the bad guy!  Was it Riley because of all her crazy stunts or was Brooklyn really possessed by a demon and on a killing spree?? 

The culprit isn't shown until the very ending and if you think you know how this story plays out think again my friend.  That very last page has left me with a huge WTH moment and yes I might have had a crazy MUAHAHAHA laugh.  That ending has to be one of my favorites of all time!  Brilliant!

I will say one word of warning here.  This book has a ton of religion in it and while it didn't bother me it might bother some.  I didn't feel preached to so that helped me see past all of that stuff and honestly the religion has to be in the story.  It is the central reason behind a lot of what goes on and the story wouldn't have been the same without it.

So if you are like me and just want a little more creepy on your shelves then this is for you.  The characters are all pretty insane and well I loved it what can I say.  I also appreciate the little romance thrown in.  Not sure it completely fit with the story, but it was a nice side touch.  I really liked Charlie and I am glad he was pretty much left out of all the craziness.  I like that this book revolved just around the girls. 

4.5 Snowflakes

*ARC sent by publisher in exchange for honest review*

Blog Tour: Hexed by Michelle Krys

Today on WinterHaven Books we are participating in the blog tour for Hexed by Michelle Krys!

Hexed by Michelle Krys
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: June 10th, 2014
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.

My Thoughts: 
Indigo Blackwood seemed like she had it made. She's smart, beautiful, dating the captain of the football team and cheer-leads with her best friend since grade school. Sure, her mom's a bit eccentric with all her witch-talk, but she has social status so who cares. On the way to the Black Cat, where she works in her mothers store, out of no where Indie and Paige witness a guy fall from who knows where and dies right before their eyes. But before a shocked Indie gets back into her car she grabs the rumpled paper the guy was carrying and when she looked to see what was on it stunned her even more. It's the address to her mom's store. Indie may thought she had it made, but things are about to get crazy.

Ha! This book was a hoot! Great witty characters, sharp writing and a storyline that is non-stop action and intrigue! Fun fun fun!

For those of you who knows me, know I love my witch books and this my friends is the good stuff. Here we are faced with a centuries-old enemies, The Family who are witches and warlocks and the Priory who are sorceress. The Family is in charge of preserving and enforcing their race and protect their most treasured relic, The Witch Hunters Bible, but The Priory will stop at nothing to steal it for themselves, for it contains a spell that will gain them the magic they desperately crave. And well, our poor Indigo is stuck in the middle of this unflinching war as well as tries to come to terms that her boyfriend and best friend are sleaze and she just may have magic in her blood after all. Somehow she needs to find way to stop the Priory with her new-found friends and talent.

I really enjoyed Michelle Krys' writing! It's very addicting and a breeze to connect with. I loved the witty-ass laugh-out-loud dialogue. It's always great when a book can make me smile, but I'm not an easy laughter, so this was a real treat. The flavor of the book was also pretty awesome. It's fast paced, action packed, and filled with all those creative and imaginative elements that comes with magic. I also loved that there was enough humor to make it feel laid back but still intense enough to impact us during the more serious and sad moments. Great writing!

I really had a lot of fun with all of these characters. They were well developed and showed great personal growth and struggle.

Indie is pretty kickass character, she's sassy, cunning and brave,  but she wasn't always easy to like, or well not at first. She's torn between being her own person and staying between the lines of popular social-behaviours. I didn't care for how she treated Paige or how she holds back from really saying what she wants, but once Indie hits a turning point there really is no looking back and I'm glad she owned up to her faults and flaws and became a different person.

Paige was totally great from the start. She's not afraid to put herself out there or be rejected. She's loyal, caring and the perfect friend.

Bishop was a freaken blast. He's such a brat in that infuriating playful cocky way that you want to slap or hug given the moment. He provided most of the comedy throughout the story and I absolutely devoured those bantering moments and sarcastic charm.

As for the baddies, well, they all played there parts well. Cold, unforgiving and completely easy to hate.  

I thoroughly enjoyed the romance, it was light, gradual and steamy. Great chemistry filled with humorous tension.

I also really enjoyed the ending. We get a bit of a cliffy but it's enough to make me have grabby hands for the next installment.

All in all, Hexed turned out to be a fun filled entertaining escape that has everything I like in my magical paranormal reads. The pace and flow of the story was pitch perfect, there was never a dull moment and all of these characters will have you invested from minute one till it's gripping conclusion. A solid read!
                                                                        
                                                                          4 Snowflakes

Find the Author:

 Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Review: Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel

Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel
Publisher: Month9Books
Release Date: March 25, 2014

Witches must choose the path they will follow, and Darlena Agara is no exception. She’s been putting it off long enough, and in her case, ignoring it has not made it go away. In a moment of frustration, Darlena chooses to follow Red Magic, figuring she had outsmarted the powers that be, since there’s no such thing as Red Magic. But alas, Darlena’s wrong (again) and she becomes a newly declared Red Witch.

Her friends are shocked and her parents horrified by the choice Darlena has made. As a Red Witch, she now governs one third of the world’s chaos. She is the walking personification of pandemonium, turmoil, and bedlam, just as the patrons of Red Magic would have it to be.

But Darlena believes there must be more to Red Magic than chaos and destruction, and she sets out on a journey to achieve balance. Only doing so puts her at odds with the dark goddess Hecate, who simply will not allow Darlena to quit. She encourages Darlena to embrace who and what she is and to leave good magic to the good witches. If only Darlena could, life would be simple, and she would not be the Daughter of Chaos.

My Thoughts:
This book and I have a love/hate relationship.  There were a few things that I loved, but there were a lot of things that just didn't work at all for me and I am left feeling kinda ho hum about it all. 

Darlena is a witch and when the time comes for her to declare a path for her studies she chooses Red thinking that the made up path will give her time to figure out what she really wants to do.  Unfortunately for her Red is real and not only is real but very dangerous.  Now she is front and center in a battle with the most powerful witch Hecates and hardly anybody on her side.  Darlena must figure out how to control her new magic and also stay alive without killing anybody else.

This story really had great promise.  I loved the beginning and I thought wow this is going to be good.  I love Greek myth and so I was thrilled with all the myth that was sure ot come my way.  After the first chapter though things kinda fell flat.  Darlena wasted more time and energy hoping that everything was a dream and would just go away.  I wanted her to fight for answers and learn what she needed to learn.  Basically just own what she chose and make it work for her even if she had to stand up to all the big bad goddesses. 

Unfortunately she didn't do this and the story felt like a lot of filler.  We would get glimpses of this chaos causing magic, but that was really only in the first few chapters.  The majority of the story centered around Darlena trying to get her ex boyfriend to love her and trying to make everything just disappear.  Even when the story would finally switch back to magic I wasn't very impressed. The things that Darlena did I wouldn't say were chaos.  Two things she chose to do stopped chaos, but all the practicing she did was really just ordinary magic that her parents could do.  I didn't understand what made her magic different from any others especially after it was revealed others could use some of the same powers only she was supposed to be able to use.

I wasn't fond of the romance either.  Justin was fine as the love interest but it all just didn't fit.  I guess it was just the timing of it all.  It took up too much of the story and I honestly screamed at Darlena for what she did mid way through the book..  What she did was unforgivable in my book and I was mad at her for going that far. 

I think though that this might have worked if the story was more of a contemporary novel.  If you drop all the magic aspects you have a romance that is angsty, a female lead that needs help solving a life changing puzzle, a best friend who her parents don't approve of, and a crazy family that always wants something from her.  See sounds contemporary right?  I might have enjoyed it if it were written that way but as it is I just wasn't that into it.

Oh and one more thing her parents! I am so sick of all these parents just running for their lives and letting their teenagers save them.  My gawd you are supposed to protect your children at all costs don't run!  I would have preferred for her parents to die protecting her than see them just turn and run.  I had a few problems with her parents but this was my main one. 

I am going with 2 snowflakes...1 for the first chapter and all its creepiness and 1 for the fun myth that was woven throughout the story.

2 snowflakes

Review: Witch Fire by Laura Powell

Witch Fire (Burn Mark #2) by Laura Powell
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Lucas and Glory are hard at work in WICA (Witchkind Intelligence and Covert Affairs). As part of their training, they learn more about the witch-terrorist organization Endor. It is believed that Endor has infiltrated a boarding school for young witches in Switzerland, so WICA sends their two youngest agents—Lucas and Glory—to the school undercover. There, they learn more about an experimental brain implant that blocks the power of the fae. It’s a dangerous procedure . . . more so than they could ever have imagined

 
 My Thoughts:
These books just keep getting better and better!  I love a good mob story and Witch Fire manages to have this plus it adds the addition of witches, really what more could a girl ask for??

Witch Fire picks up with Gloria and Lucas both working for WICA and trying to find their place in this new world as registered witches. They both still aren't quite sure what their future holds, but they know that whatever it is they will be ready for it.  So when their next assignment shows up and it sends them to boarding school they realize that they may not be as ready as they thought. With many plot twists, interesting mob politics, and dynamic characters Witch Fire brings us another wonderful addition to what is becoming one of my favorite series'.

The one thing I will say is that if you haven't read the first book in the series you will need a refresher.  Laura Powell has created a very indepth world and I admit I had forgotten a lot of what happened in the first book.  You really need to know the characters and world that was created to truly appreciate what Powell has written in this one.  This story is very deep with secrets and there are so many people that will slip by that pop up later and you will go "oh wait wasn't that.." So make sure to have a notebook handy because you will want to keep notes.

I really loved Gloria and Lucas in this one.  I enjoyed them both in the previous books, but they were so much more in this one and I am beyond thrilled at how they end up. It was a very sweet romance that I have been wanting from the beginning.  We also get to see the resolution of something Gloria has wanted from the get go and even though I did wish for something a little different I can happily move on with what was written.

This story was so much fun and exactly what I was in the mood for.  I have a feeling I will be rereading these in the months to come!

4 snowflakes

Review & Giveaway: Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

Spellcaster by Claudia Gray
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Pre order: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed - and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed.

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s new novel is sure to draw fans of the Hex Hall and Caster Chronicles series, and fans of the hit CW TV show The Secret Circle.

My Thoughts:
This was a very pleasant surprise. I have seen a few reviews go up that weren’t that encouraging but after about 100 pages in I was hooked. I won’t say that this was the greatest book ever written or that it tops Gray’s Evernight series, but Spellcaster did hold my attention and honestly a reader can’t ask for more than that..

Spellcaster was very different than what I was expecting. Nadia was definitely an interesting character and Gray’s take on magic is one that I haven’t seen before. I am used to the witches needing certain ingredients to perform spells, but it seemed that Nadia only needed to touch her bracelet most of the time, say a few sentences, and then think of something that would make her feel certain emotions. It took me awhile to grasp this concept but by the end of the story I understood it somewhat. I would have liked a better explanation, but I am happy that it finally clicked in my brain. Like I was saying Nadia was a unique character and her story was just as unique. She is a witch and after her mom decides to leave her family, Nadia her dad and brother all move to a tiny town to try and start over. Nadia has no one to teach her anymore about her Craft and when she feels something sinister in her Chemistry class she doesn’t know who to turn to. She finds friends in a strange way and ends up having to fight for not only her family but for the whole town with her new friends. There is a romance for those out there that like having one in their stories, but it isn’t a huge one. Mateo and Nadia were very sweet together, but the storyline curtained more on the curses on the town and certain people which I appreciated. I did like the whole steadfast aspect of the story. I haven’t ever heard of this before but it was new and unique twist at least to me and it was interesting.

Honestly I am still a little confused as to why the villain (I don’t want to give the name away) needed to destroy the town. In the end we kinda get a reason, but it felt a little to late in my opinion. The whole story I kept saying “why” and we do get certain clues but it isn’t until the last chapter that we finally get to see the whys of everything. I would have liked to have seen a tighter plot and known more about the villain’s plot, I think if I had known more my heart would have been beating faster and I would have had that OH NO moment. As is though I didn’t have any real strong emotions towards the whole thing and I kinda wanted the villain to succeed so the plot would be uncovered. Also after everything happens I was a little shocked that we don’t get to see what happened with the Chemistry lab. It played such a huge role in the overall storyline that it felt wrong not to have it be even mentioned at the end. We know from the villain’s conversation that something happened, but I would have thought Nadia would have gone there first to see if what she felt was still there. Unfortunately we are left completely hanging. And what the hale is up with the mother??!! I can’t believe we are left with no answers on her end. I hope that if we are given a new installment that part of the story is answered because after reading 370 pages I really expected to have that side story answered. I won’t say much more since it will spoil a part of the story but just know I am seriously ticked about that part. Even with all this though I actually enjoyed the story. It was creepy at times and I felt spellbound by the villain which I am not sure is a good thing but they caught my attention and I am dying to know more about them.

The story ends on a cliffhanger and I haven’t looked yet to see if this will be a series, but I am hoping it will be since I want more of this certain person. There are a lot of questions still unanswered and I hope we get to see a new installment. If you are looking for something witchy with a twist then this is the book for you. It, in my opinion, is different enough to keep the reader entertained and it has a dark meanie in it that you don’t want to pass up meeting.

3 Snowflakes

We are giving away our ARC copy to one lucky follower!  Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday, #8

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Author: Ruth Warburton

Publication Date: January 5, 2012

by Hodder Children's Books

Goodreads

My Teasers 

Page 9 & 10

"I had a sudden, horrible premonition that he was going to try to persuade me into some dire extra-curricular activity--dressing up as Tudors perhaps, with dodgy nylon costumes, and re-enacting battles with tin-foil swords."

"I'm so sorry," I said, slightly out of breath. Mr. Brereton's brisk pace had left me wondering if I'd remembered to put deodorant on that morning. Altogether a brilliant start to my new school career."

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks!

Moonlight Mayhem Guest Post!

Today we are excited to have Sherry Soule on the blog!  She has created an amazing guest post that lets us into the complicated mind of Shiloh Ravenwolf.  Shiloh is the main character in the Moonight Mayhem series, and she is one kick bookies kinda girl.  Take a look and see what Ms.Ravenwolf is all about.

                                                

Please state your name: 
Shiloh Nahimana Ravenwolf
Astrological sign: 
Leo
Age:
16
Height:
5’6”
Weight: 
120, slim yet curvy
Hair /Eye Color:
Long hair, which is as black as a raven’s wing and bronze-colored eyes
Job: 
High School student by day / Heritage Witch and Amateur Demon Hunter by night
Vehicle:
Used Black Jeep Wrangler
Dog/Cat:
Ah, do shades count? Okay, cool—then I have three little supernatural pitbulls named, Bakaz, Kasha, Zrekam, and Azeri.
Favorite food:
BBQ Chicken Pizza! Yum
Describe yourself in three words:
out-spoken, hopeless romantic, survivor
Wardrobe/Personal Style:
I have my own quirky style. I like to wear hoop earrings; several chunky bracelets, a cropped pink top that sits above my navel and shows off my sparkly bellyring; low-rise jeans, and to finish my unique look, I put on my favorite boots: patent leather hot pink Doc Martens. The boots are my security blanket. They remind me who I am: Shiloh Ravenwolf. Badass Witch. And if I was gonna kick ass and take names, I needed my boots.
Favorite Pastime: 
Love to shop (fashionista), enjoy gossiping with my friends, and reading romance novels.
Where do you live? Are any other people living with you? Who are they?
Whispering Pines, California with my dad, Jackson and my mother—Jillian.
What were three things you liked to do when you were younger?
My friends and me would sneak onto the Ravenhurst Manor estate and dare each other to stand on the porch for five minutes. I won twice. Although, my gaze caught eerie shadows swooping menacingly within the shrubs and trees.
What makes you happy?
Being with the supercute, and may I add—very buffed boyfriend, Trent Donovan
What is your greatest fear?
That I will succumb to the darkness residing inside me
What would you change about yourself if you could?
Uh, I would not blurt things out so much. Then I wouldn’t have to keep inserting my foot in my mouth. Feet taste nasty.
What is it that you have never told anyone?
Wow, tough question. About the demon blood tainting my humanity.
What's the worst thing you've ever done? Why?
I lied about my gift of Sight. Only my Aunt Lauren And my mentor, Evans (he’s like my watcher.) know my secret.
If you could be an animal, what would it be?
Oh!—I’d like to be a raven and be able to fly!
Signature Move: 
Power of telekinesis. Moderate kickboxing skills. Launch energy balls. Spell casting.

                                                          About the Author:
Sherry Soule is a writer blessed with a vivid imagination and lives in San Francisco, California. She writes supernatural tales of romance, magick, and demon slaying. Her debut novel, Beautifully Broken was published August 2011 and is nominated for best paranormal romance (Wizard and Witch 2011) by The Romance Reviews (TRR).

Hi everyone, I’m Sherry Soule—waving from Castro Valley, California, where it gets pretty foggy even in the summer. And even with the fog burning off by afternoon, I’m chilling on my laptop and chatting on Twitter about my favorite books and movies.
 

Thank you for letting me hang out today as part of my epic Moonlight Mayhem Blog Tour this summer. It’s a thrill to get to be a guest and meet all these awesome booklovers.
My tour has been so much fun and it is nice seeing the familiar names in the comment section of each guest post. For those of you who haven’t heard about my Moonlight Mayhem blog tour it’s not too late to join the fun!

                      

MOONLIGHT MAYHEM Synopsis:
Shiloh Ravenwolf thought she was getting used to the supernatural events of Whispering Pines, but the full moon has brought another surge of threats to her coastal town. Ferocious wolves, deadly necromancers, and shambling zombies have descended upon the neighborhood, and Shiloh must gain control of her magical abilities—fast! But it sucks that Shiloh has a crippling fear of the dark. For a demon slayer, this can be an epic problem.
When her classmates are attacked by a mysterious animal and her father is murdered, Shiloh vows vengeance. Forcing her phobias aside, she forms an unlikely coven of supernaturally gifted teens to help her eradicate this menace, but Shiloh’s battling a different monster within herself. She’s struggling not to become the very thing she fights: evil.
But with demon blood inside her—anything can happen…
Moonlight Mayhem is the second novel in the unforgettably epic Spellbound series.

Where you can find author, Sherry Soule online:
Blog / Official Spellbound Series Universe / Twitter / Book Trailer / Goodreads

Thank you so much Sherry for stopping and letting us get to know Shiloh a little better!  We can't wait to see where your story takes her!