Upcoming Release Review & Giveaway: Soundless by Richelle Mead

Soundless by Richelle Mead

Expected publication: November 10, 2015

Publisher:Razorbill

From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore.


For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.


When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.

Richelle Mead takes readers on a triumphant journey from the peak of Fei’s jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiugo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life forever...

My Thoughts

Beautiful and enchanting!

Richelle Mead has proven once again that she can captivate her audience with powerful characters and an enchanting tale of love, hope and bit a magic!

Fei comes from a village that’s tucked away high up in the mountains where her people have been surrounded by silence for generations. Not only have they lost the ability to hear, but have also become dependent on the provisions provided by the township at the bottom of the mountain via a flimsy zip line after an avalanche blocked their path to climb down the dangerous terrain.

Fei and her sister Zhang Jing both hold prestigious positions as artists where they capture the daily occurrences of their village on canvas. There are others in her village that don’t have such coveted opportunities, including the miners that excavate metals used to barter for goods.

A shift begins to happen in her village, where people begin to lose their sight, including Fei’s sister Zhang Jing. Fei knows she must do something to help her people and save her sister from losing her position as an artist. Her opportunity arises when she mysteriously regains her hearing, and she along with her distanced friend Li Wei take a chance to climb down the mountain for help.

Mead did a masterful job of weaving an intricate tale that blended fantasy and folklore to create a story I won’t soon forget. I loved the main character Fei because she reminded me of Mead’s other heroines that possess strength, quiet determination and courage. Fei will definitely rank at the top of my list of favorite female characters!

I also enjoyed the narrative that allowed me to clearly depict the setting and steady events of the story. I could clearly picture the landscape, artwork and mythical creatures that were vital elements to this novel. Mead also did a stand-up job weaving a story where the characters didn’t rely on sound to communicate or survive. To communicate what a soundless society would look and feel like is a complicated task, and Mead achieved her goal beautifully.

The romance aspect of Soundless was perfectly crafted! It was never a primary focus of the novel, but Fei and Li Wei still captured my heart with their backstory and ultimate connection. I loved these two characters as individuals and a pair!

As a standalone, Soundless covers a lot of ground that leaves the reader feeling like they traveled back to an undetermined time and journeyed with worthy characters as they struggled and fought to save their people. Amazing story that should not be missed!

If this sounds like a book you'd enjoy, I am giving away an ARC edition of Soundless by Richelle Mead. Simply fill out the rafflecopter and share a thoughtful comment below.

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Waiting on Wednesday: The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

Here's my selection for this week…

The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court #1) by Richelle Mead
Expected publication: April 12, 2016
Publisher: Razorbill

A dazzling new fantasy series set in a mix of Elizabethan and frontier worlds that’s dripping with romance from Richelle Mead, #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy.

Big and sweeping, spanning the refined palaces of Osfrid to the gold dust and untamed forests of Adoria, The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, an Osfridian countess who poses as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But to do that, she must join the Glittering Court.

Both a school and a business venture, the Glittering Court is designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies capable of arranging powerful and wealthy marriages in the New World. Adelaide naturally excels in her training and even makes a few friends: the fiery former laundress Tamsin and the beautiful Sirminican refugee Mira. She manages to keep her true identity hidden from all but one: the intriguing Cedric Thorn, son of the wealthy proprietor of the Glittering Court.

When Adelaide discovers that Cedric is hiding a dangerous secret of his own, together, they hatch a scheme to make the best of Adelaide’s deception. Complications soon arise—first, as they cross the treacherous seas from Osfrid to Adoria, and later, when Adelaide catches the attention of a powerful governor.

But no complication will prove quite as daunting as the potent attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. An attraction that, if acted on, would scandalize the Glittering Court and make them both outcasts in wild, vastly uncharted lands. . . .

The Glittering Court is probably my most anticipated 2016 release. I love Richelle Mead's writing, and to see that she's beginning a new series is pure excitement.  In this series, it looks like she's blending some of my favorite elements of fiction… fantasy, Elizabethan flavor, frontier worlds, intrigue, and romance. Sign me up!

Pre-order Link

Amazon

Sooo, what book are you waiting on? Be sure to link me up! 

Review: The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4) by Richelle Mead

The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4)
by Richelle Mead

Publication Date: November 19, 2013

Publisher: Razorbill

In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. . . .

But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure—and re-education—looms larger than ever.
Pulses will race throughout this thrilling fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where no secret is safe.

My Thoughts

The center will hold. 

Wow! Just...WOW!! Loved this book to explosive pieces!!

The Fiery Heart is an exciting installment to the Bloodlines series. BEST.ONE.YET!! Filled with alternating perspectives between the two main characters and a constant flow of action, this is one book that fans of Richelle Mead should NOT miss! Truly enjoyed this one, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the final conclusion of this series!!

In this fourth installment, we get to journey alongside both Sydney and Adrian as they share their ongoing quest to not only define their relationship but keep it secret from others that might pose a threat to their future. As we witness Sydney mastering her magical powers, we also see Adrian trying to cope with the effects of his spirit abilities.

First off, I must say… I.LOVED.ADRIAN’S.POV!! My attraction to Adrian truly compounded in just this one book. Where his confidence and arrogance was a constant in the other novels… getting a glimpse into his head and heart proved that he carries an ongoing battle with himself. Having a chance to hear directly from Adrian about how he feels about himself, Jill, and most of all Sydney managed to cast aside all doubt that Adrian is a worthy character. Loved him in this book!!

I also have to acknowledge Sydney’s character development inThe Fiery Heart. I’ve enjoyed seeing her grow into her own person. She’s managed to capture my heart in the last two installments, and that’s saying a lot because I was truly skeptical at the beginning. In this novel, we get to witness Sydney’s confidence and determination to do what’s right, despite how much it goes against what she’s been taught her whole life.

“With my eyes open to the truth, I could no longer answer blindly to the Alchemists, even though I still technically worked for them. That wasn’t to say I was in open rebellion against them either… Really what it came down to was that I was working for myself now.”

Sydney’s character has come full circle and I hope she gets an ending worthy of her efforts.

Overall, Adrian and Sydney’s romance was handled perfectly in this book. You can’t deny the struggles these two faced in coming together. With so much against them, the stolen moments and the constant building romance between these two is not only believable but heart-rending. They’ve each sacrificed a part of themselves to be together, and I hope it works out for this dynamic couple.

In addition, I loved the secondary cast of Eddie, Jill, Angeline, Trey, as well as the new comers Neil and Zoe. Their interactions blended well with the story-line and they each added a layer of depth to the series, especially Neil with his readiness to jump into the action. Despite a rocky start for this character, he assumed a cadence with the rest of the band. I never quite connected with Zoe, but I think that was purposeful on Mead’s part. The decisions Zoe made toward the end of the book were not only costly, but truly served as a game changer in the story. Well played!

One last note, I have to mention how much I enjoyed Adrian’s escape plans. There’s not one that I wouldn’t want to venture along with him. It was a true treat to get a firsthand insight into his complex, yet endearing mental rambles.

Overall, I have to say that The Fiery Heart ranked as the best installment for this series IMHO. Despite the steady pacing of events, there was never a moment of downtime because the level of emotions was at a constant high. I knew a painful cliffhanger was coming, and I just can’t wait to see how it all comes to an end in the final installment of Silver Shadows.

4 Snowflakes

Teaser Tuesday, #53 The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines, #4) by Richelle Mead

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...



The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines, #4) by Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: November 19, 2013






Teaser are from ebook 5%

"Even hours later, I could still feel where he'd kissed me."

"Sometimes I tried to rationalize it as a natural animal response. But really, I just had to face the truth: My boyfriend was insanely sexy, vampire or not, and I couldn't keep my hands off him."




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!

Waiting on Wednesday, #50

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

Here's my selection for this week...

The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4) by Richelle Mead

Expected publication: November 19, 2013

Publisher: Razorbill

In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. . . .

But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure—and re-education—looms larger than ever.

Pulses will race throughout this thrilling fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where no secret is safe.

I'm excited to share that I'm all caught up with the Bloodlines series, so I can't wait for the fourth book to hit the stands. I've been a fan of Adrian's since Vampire Academy and I have to admit that Sydney is starting to grow on me. I hope this installment continues to cement my enthusiasm for Richelle Mead's books because when it comes to vampires, no one captures my attention more than her. Can't wait for The Fiery Heart!!

Sooo, what book are you waiting on?

Review & Giveaway: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1) by Richelle Mead 
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense

My Thoughts:
Mead has created possibly one of the most complicated worlds I have ever read.  In the beginning this was a very very bad thing and it felt like she was trying a little to hard to make the jump into the adult genre, but after I hit the middle part of the book I was totally engrossed and knew what was going on.  It kinda felt like in the middle she dropped some of the confusing elements and just finally went with the story which she has always been amazing at creating.

Don't get me wrong I ended up really liking the world but man was it hard to grasp. There is so much that went into this, Gods, sci-fi elements, romance, backstories and that is just the stuff I can put into words.  I probably should have taken notes because I know that when I pick up the sequel I am going to be oh so lost, but I will definitely pick it up nonetheless.  I did end up really enjoying what Mead has created and I am totally enthralled with this new series.  She has created something so unique and different and if you can get past the difficultness of it then I think most will fall in love with this series as well.

I loved Mae.  She is the kick arse heroine that Rose with just kicked up a notch if you can believe it.  I always love the girls that can hold there own and she can with the best of them.  I am very excited to see her relationship with Justin grow as well.  These two definitely have some hurdles to overcome and Mead is a mastermind at creating tension among couples so I know I am in for a bumpy ride, especially given all that was revealed at the end.  Justin was a little harder to warm up to.  I like that he is super smart at what he does but his sleeping around has to stop.  I am not a fan of this type of behavior so I really hope he tames that down in the next installment.  Mae deserves better even if she had a few side distractions as well.  Those also need to stop.

The one part that truly bothered me was Tess and wasn't her character it is just the fact that she is as involved as she is.  When I picked this up I knew it was adult so I assumed every character would be over the age of 18 and while I don't mind having younger characters in adult books I don't like them having chapters in their POV's unless they are needed.  Tess wasn't needed.  I am not sure if Mead just wanted to have that YA element in it so she felt more at home or if it is for her readers so that they feel more at home with the story, but it didn't work for me.  I wanted to stay in the adult world and every time Tess took over I felt myself slipping into YA territory.  I am hoping that Tess will play a larger part in the gran scheme of things since Mead made her such a relevant character and since I know she isn't going anywhere.  I don't want her to be an empty character.

If you are a fan of Meads other 2 series' then I hope you pick this up.  Yes it is complicated and yes you will have a headache while reading it, but I promise the last 1/3 of the book is worth the headache and aggravation.  I promise you won't want to miss this!

4 Snowflakes

 We are giving away our ARC copy to one lucky follower!  Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter!

Good luck!

   

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Giveaway Policy: No purchase necessary. Must be 18 years of age and older to enter. Open to US and Canada residents. The Advanced Reader Copy was provided by the publisher and not available for resale. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners will be selected after June 25, 2013 randomly by Rafflecopter. Entries will be reviewed for accuracy. WinterHaven Books is not responsible for lost or damaged items received through mail. This giveaway is sponsored by WinterHaven Books and will be shipped out by us. If the items are not claimed via email within 24 hours of receiving notification, the item will be forfeited with no winner or an alternate winner may be selected at blog’s discretion with email verification by June 28, 2013. WinterHaven Books has the right to obtain and publicize the winner's name and likeness. Void where prohibited by law.

Review: The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines, #3) by Richelle Mead

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead
Publication: February 12, 2013
Publisher: Razorbill
Purchase: B&N / Amazon

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.
Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

My Thoughts:
The Indigo Spell was another fantastic addition to the Bloodlines series. The chemistry between Adrian and Sydney was explosive! This was the book I had been waiting patiently for and I am over the moon excited over what has transpired in this installment.
“You can think whatever you want, do whatever you want,” Adrian continued, unaware of my traitorous thoughts. There was a remarkable calm about him. “I’m going to just go on loving you, even if it’s hopeless.”

I LOVED Adrian’s determination. He’s a guy who knows what he wants and isn’t going to stop until he gets it. LOVE HIM! His dialogue will weaken your knees, and his actions will muddle your mind. TOTAL TEAM ADRIAN!!!

Our beloved characters are all present in The Indigo Spell and the tensions have elevated. Ms. Terwilliger is up to something and had me very curious as to what. I never was a fan of hers to begin with and that didn’t change in this story. However, I couldn’t help but wonder if she had been holding back a secret that would answer the method to her magical madness.

Sydney has her own interior battle for her feelings for the Moroi, Adrian, and the urge to repel him due to the beliefs of the Alchemist. I can sympathize with Sydney. Deep down she knew she wasn’t supposed to have a relationship of any kind with them, yet Adrian had weakened her rebuttal against their kind, and him.

We finally get the scoop on who Marcus Finch is and what he’s all about. I was a bit surprised at the information he supplied and the course he had taken. He was an intriguing character nonetheless and added a great deal to the storyline. Also, we understand where the title for this book had come from. The Indigo ink plays a primitive roll around Marcus Finch.

There was action and TONS of quote and swoon worthy moments throughout and I could quote this book like no other. I mean, there could be a novella of quotes that just turned me into a pile of Jell-O! This book fully delivers an intricate combination of steamy, complicated, and steamier.

“Well, you can think what you want, so long as you remember—no matter how ordinary things seem between us—I’m still here, still in love with you, and care about you more than any other guy, evil or otherwise, ever will.”

“I don’t think you’re evil.”

“See? Things are already looking promising.”

Sydney is more involved in magic this time around, but the realization of possibilities was frightening. There’s a whole new spin on deception within the magic world, as well as the Alchemists themselves. This was such a rush of a story. For those of you, who have not read The Indigo Spell, or even The Bloodlines series, should definitely consider doing so. These characters are awesome and the stories just keep getting better and better.

YA Paranormal Hop

Today we are excited to join in all the fun with I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and YA Between the Lines in their YA Paranormal Hop! We are giving away Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead!  This is definitely one of our favorite YA paranormal books ever and we want to share the love!

All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  Make sure to visit the rest of the amazing blogs joining in the fun!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday, #16

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...

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

Published: February 12, 2013

Publisher: Razorbill

My Teasers from ebook Page 50

Adrian's lips were a breath away. "Then we'll meet in two hours by the hotel's service door."

"I'm a master of self-control, he declared."

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!