Showing posts with label mythology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mythology. Show all posts

06 January 2014

YA Book Review: Everbound by Brodi Ashton

Release Date: 22 January 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: eBook
Source: Own

Goodreads description:
Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.

My Thoughts...

02 April 2013

The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Release Date: 26 February 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon

Goodreads description:
Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.


During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.

In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.

Even if it costs her eternity.

My Thoughts...

12 June 2012

YA Book Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & friends
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N
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Goodreads description:
Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk.
My Thoughts...

05 June 2012

YA Book Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Release Date: 27 March 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! AmazonB&N

Goodreads description:
KATE WINTERS HAS WON IMMORTALITY.

BUT IF SHE WANTS A LIFE WITH HENRY IN THE UNDERWORLD, SHE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone.
My Thoughts...

16 January 2012

(ARC) YA Book Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Release Date: 31 January 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Goodreads description:
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.
My Thoughts...

24 October 2011

The Paranormals Blog Tour: Character Interview & Contests!!


GROUP CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH THE CAST OF  
THE PARANORMALS

THE SCENE: A group character interview with main characters from The Paranormals series. The interviewees are Jenny Morton, Seth Barrett, Jenny’s dad Darrell Morton, Tommy, Esmeralda and Alexander. The interview is moderated by Jessi at Reading in the Corner and by Ashleigh Goodling, also a character from the series, who somehow got herself appointed co-moderator. 

Ashleigh: Thanks to everyone for coming by and answering just a few questions about yourselves here at Reading in the Corner. We’re sure this is going to be a great group interview. And I just know that my co-moderator, Jessi, is totally awesome and will do whatever I want. You’re a librarian, right, Jessi? That must be so fascinating.

Jessi: Hi, Ashleigh. Indeed being a librarian can definitely be fascinating at times. I wasn’t aware you were going to be my co-moderator today...but somehow I’m not at all surprised. *scoots a little farther away from Ashleigh* 

Ashleigh: That’s great, Jessi. Let’s start with a casual get-to-know-you kind of question. Jenny, how do you justify all the horrible things that happen to people whenever you touch them? Would you call yourself a “monster” or an “evil demon”?
Jenny: That’s not really a fair question. I don’t want to hurt anybody. It just kind of happens. 
Ashleigh: I’m going to put that down as “ugly monster.” Let’s let Jessi ask the next question. I’m sure she won’t pull from the list of questions I told her not to ask.

Jessi: Yes...of course...Ashleigh! Please don’t touch me! *moves farther away* Let’s stick with some get to know you questions, as Ashleigh suggested. Let’s start with you, Mr. Morton--may I call you Darrell? Darrell, can you tell us about the difficulties of raising Jenny on your own? Being a single parent can definitely be a trying experience and Jenny was a very special child. 
Darrell: What you got to understand is that nobody can touch Jenny at all. Not at all. So, as a parent, you got to be careful to wear gloves and all, and on top of that you got to teach her not to hurt nobody. So it ain’t easy. It’ll drive you to drink. But I done my best to take good care of her and teach her right. 
Ashleigh: (yawns) 

Jessi: Ashleigh, don’t be rude. Jenny, is it difficult to deal with what happened that day in Fallen Oak? Do you think people deserved it?
Jenny: I don’t know if they deserved it. It’s true that everybody was trying to kill me, and they did kill Seth. But I guess they were all being manipulating by the Goodlings. I wish it hadn’t happened like that. I’d give anything to undo it, but you can’t do undo it. 
Jessi: Seth, do you feel like a complete jerk after what happened in Charleston?
Seth: Actually, yeah, but I was being manipulated by Ashleigh and her whole Cupid-power thing--
Ashleigh: Notice a pattern, Jessi? Everything bad they do, they blame it right on me. As if I could somehow go around tricking people into doing evil things. Everything’s always my fault. They never take responsibility for their own actions.

Jessi: Well, Ashleigh, there does seem to be a pattern...but I’m not sure that it really speaks well for your role in things. Can you really blame them for feeling a bit manipulated and used?

Ashleigh: *narrows her eyes* I’m not being interviewed here. I’m a co-moderator. Check the paperwork.

Jessi: Ashleigh, dear, you’re not on trial here--we’re just trying to get to know everyone, and I’m sure that many readers here today are curious about your intense animosity towards Jenny...

Ashleigh: You’re right. Let’s shake hands and make friends.

Jessi: Um, no. Esmeralda, Tommy--what’s your take on the Fallen Oak situation and Ashleigh’s role? How did the two of you end up as part of all the craziness happening here?
Tommy: Ashleigh told us what a danger Jenny was, and how evil she was. You see, we’re part of a group, the three of us, we reincarnate, we work together in different lifetimes-- 
Esmeralda: I love Tommy and Ashleigh both. But my feelings for Tommy are sort of like when you find a little piece of yourself that you lost long ago. And my feelings for Ashleigh are more like...something that consumes you completely.
Jessi: Do you think that Ashleigh’s powers have something to do with those feelings or are they entirely your own? Or, actually, let’s ask someone else who has experienced the effects of Ashleigh’s power. Seth--or even Jenny, since you have experienced her powers indirectly--what are your thoughts on Esmerelda’s feelings? Tell us a little about what it felt like to be under Ashleigh’s spell.
Seth: Esmeralda is delusional. Ashleigh makes you feel love when she touches you. And it’s addictive, it really is. But she’s a horrible person who lies and manipulates and uses everyone around her-- 
Ashleigh: Next question! We’re almost out of time.

Jessi: Alexander, you seem to have just appeared in Fallen Oak out of nowhere. What made you decide to come to the area from Mexico, where you’ve been living?
Alexander: I came to Fallen Oak in search of Jenny. She and I have been close for thousands of years, lovers for hundreds of lifetimes-- 
Seth: Hey, back off! Jenny loves me, not you.
Alexander: We’ll see, pretty boy. 
Ashleigh: I really don’t see why Jenny is worth fighting over. Somebody should just drown her like an unwanted kitten. Anyway, it looks like our time is running out, and since everybody’s saying nasty things about me for some reason, I think we should wrap this up. I think Angeline Kace needs this room for her character interviews. She’s hogging all the book blogs.

*scene fades to black amidst the shouting and fighting...*


Be sure to check out ALL of the fabulous Tommy Nightmare posts this week!
Monday, October 24th - Reading in the Corner 
Tuesday, October 25th - Books With Bite 
Wednesday,October 26th - Paranormal Wastelands 
Thursday, October 27th - Reading Angel 
Friday, October 28st - About Happy Books
 
About JL Bryan - website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads
J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on the English Renaissance and the Romantic period. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He enjoys remixing elements of paranormal, supernatural, fantasy, horror and science fiction into new kinds of stories. He is the author of The Paranormals trilogy (Jenny Pox, Tommy Nightmare, and Alexander Death). Fairy Metal Thunder is the first book in his new Songs of Magic series. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Christina, his son John, two dogs, and two cats.



About Tommy Nightmare
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

While Fallen Oak recovers from the Jenny pox, someone new is hunting Jenny.

Like Jenny, Ashleigh Goodling belonged to a pair of opposites with powers that mirror each other.

Now Jenny and Seth must face the opposite of love...

And now for the contests...


**"Treat" Contest NOW CLOSED**
Winner: Andra!




Prize #1 - The chance to win a gorgeous, Jenny Pox themed bracelet featuring a heart and arrow charm for Ashleigh's love power! All you need to do is leave a comment on this post and you will be automatically entered in the giveaway. Comment by 11:59 CST, October 31, 2011.


Prize #2 - The second giveaway is a Kindle Fire, skinned in the winner’s choice of Paranormals artwork and loaded with an AMAZING indie library! Simply fill out the form below (just once during the course of the tour) and you’re entered to win the latest and greatest from the biggest name in eReaders: an Amazon Kindle Fire! Open US/Canada. See full contest rules here.


15 August 2011

(ARC) YA Book Review: Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Release Date: 26 July 2011
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

Buy Your Copy! B&N | Amazon

Goodreads description:
Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school, Ash discovers a chilling secret about the school--one that affects her. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

My Thoughts...


Wildefire was an intense ride of a book that brought into play so many things that I like in a YA novel - a kick-butt heroine, action, suspense, mystery, monsters, and, oh yeah, a little romance.

From the very beginning, action runs this story.  You start with a bang: Ashline beating up a girl in the school parking lot over a boy. It was the kind of beginning that makes you stop and say "What in the world is up with this chick?!"  From that point on, the story takes off and leads you in directions that you didn't even imagine it was going.  After a couple of intense encounters with her sister, Eve, Ashline takes off for a secluded boarding school where she meets an interesting cast of characters.  The story continues to zip along, exploding with action, romance, and some super creepy and intriguing dreams. I found myself desperate to know more about those dreams!

Each and every character in this book felt vibrant and well-developed.  Their personalities take on lives of their own in each and every scene.  And beyond the characters, their origins and the mythology that Knight uses is unique and intriguing.  I loved that this story explores mythology beyond the more heavily explored "traditional" mythology (i.e. the Greek mythology).

There were a few plot developments that I wish had been fleshed out a bit more (like Serena with Jack...?) but overall I really enjoyed this read. I will be waiting on pins and needles to read books 2 and 3 because the holes that were left open have got me jumping to find out what happens next.

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