Demons of Oblivion Blog Tour by Skyla Dawn Cameron

On Vampire Fatigue in 2013

By Skyla Dawn Cameron

Vampires. We’re all sick of them.

I read slush for a while, I remember when every other book was about those loveable fanged hellions. And here I am with, you guessed it, vampires.

In my defense, Bloodlines—where the lead character is a vampire assassin named Zara Lain—was originally written in 2004. It went through the slow, slow machine that is known as Publishing for a few years to be released mid-2008. A change in my situation meant it was a few more years before the rest of the series came out—2011, in fact, as I wanted to rewrite and revise Bloodlines before the rest of the books released—and the market was well-saturated by that point.

But vampires endure because there’s a lot that can be done with them.

Mine come from being infected with a demonic parasite. The parasite invades the host, works its way to the brain. The body goes into stasis for ten to twelve years as the parasite takes over, changing the host’s body to accommodate it. Denser bones, stronger muscles, all to help it survive. It requires blood so the heart pumps, but many other organs are changed and shifted around.

I was asked by a few readers where this idea came from. Honestly...it came from story necessity. For my heroine’s backstory to work, I needed a block of time to pass between her “death” as a human and her awakening as a vampire, and then I had her wake early because I needed a reason why her maker wasn’t there to retrieve her on time. That writer necessity turned into great mythology I could—and have—played with for the rest of the books in the series, even when they don’t center on vampires.

I’m also the sort of reader who is drawn out of very illogical world building. Vampires commonly don’t need to breathe—okay, I get that. But they still have to draw in oxygen to be able to speak, right? Also, vampires quite commonly have sexy times in books but, uh, boy vampires? Don’t they need some blood pumping you-know-where in order for that part to, well, work?

These are the questions that keep me up at night.

I wanted to have some sort of possible biological basis for any vampire mythology I used—I’m obviously not a biologist and there are holes in my science, such as it is, but I aimed to make it plausible. My vampires still have plenty in common with ones of myth: an allergy to sunlight, though they don’t burst into flame; super strength and speed; fangs; requiring blood to live; a stake to the heart will paralyze them (you still have to decapitate to kill). Holy water? Crosses? Mine isn’t set in Christian mythology so if you tossed holy water at Zara Lain, she’d probably blink at you for a moment before shooting you in the head.

Also, they kill. Or, rather, some of them do. They’re not innately evil; Zara Lain’s best friend is a pacifist who doesn’t drink blood straight from the vein and would never kill for it. But Zara will kill you. Probably. Unless she can use you for some other purpose.

“But I’m tired of vampire books, Skyla. Why should I read more?”

Well, random-disembodied-voice-from-this-post, because vampire books are rarely about vampires, per se.

They’re about people. They’re about how we can turn into monsters. They’re about the struggle we have with questions about life and death. They’re about what makes us human. In my case, my books are about finding family in the most unlikely of places, learning to see past the scars built up over centuries, reconciling what you used to be with the monster you’ve become.

And these topics never get old.

If you’re not into that, well...there are explosions, car chases, naughty language, demon-hunting nuns, demon mercenaries, psychics, and a hot warlock.

Vampire books, I believe, tell more about the writer than they do the myth, and as long as the authors writing them bring their own unique perspectives to the table, these books will add something new to an already saturated market.

About the Author

Award-winning author Skyla Dawn Cameron has been writing approximately forever. 

Her early storytelling days were spent acting out strange horror/fairy tales with the help of her many dolls, and little has changed except that she now keeps those stories on paper. She signed her first book contract at age twenty-one for River, a unique werewolf tale, which was released to critical and reader praise alike and won her the 2007 EPPIE Award for Best Fantasy. She now has multiple series on the go to keep her busy, which is great for her attention deficit disorder.

Skyla is a fifth generation crazy cat lady who lives in southern Ontario, where she dabbles in art, is an avid gamer, and watches Buffy reruns. If she ever becomes a grownup, she wants to run her own pub, as well as become world dictator. 

You can visit her on the web at www.skyladawncameron.com. When she’s not writing or being glared at by cats, she’s probably on Twitter. You should ping @skyladawn and tell her to get back to work.

Website: www.skyladawncameron.com

Blog: www.skyladawncameron.com/blog

Twitter: www.twitter.com/skyladawn

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SkylaDawnCameron

GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/skyladawncameron

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/skyladawnc/

Excerpt from Hunter:

Want to try the series? Guess what?

So don't forget to pick it up HERE!

The rest of the series will be 1/2 price at the same time! Lots of adventure!

Ghosts Know by Ramsey Campbell

Standalone
288p.
Publisher: Tor Books
Available Now
Source: From publisher for review

Ramsey Campbell's Ghosts Know is a fascinating exploration of the twists and turns of reality-media personalities, the line between the dead and the living… and how the truth can be twisted to serve all manner of reality. 

Graham Wilde is a contentious, bombastic host of the talk radio program Wilde Card. His job, as he sees it, is to stir the pot, and he is quite good at it, provoking many a heated call with his eccentric and often irrational audience. He invites Frank Jasper, a purported psychic, to come on the program. He firmly believes that the man is a charlatan, albeit a talented one. When Jasper appears on his show, Wilde draws upon personal knowledge about the man to embarrass him on air, using patter similar to that which Jasper utilizes in his act. 

Wilde's attack on Jasper earns him the enmity of his guest and some of the members of his audience. He next encounters Jasper when the psychic is hired by the family of a missing adolescent girl to help them find her. Wilde is stunned and then horrified when Jasper seems to suggest that he might be behind the girl's disappearance. 

Thus begins a nightmarish journey as circumstantial evidence against Wilde begins to mount, alienating his listeners, the radio station, and eventually, his lover. As Wilde descends into a pit of despair, reality and fantasy begin to blur in a kaleidoscope of terror…

My thoughts:
The author writes horror, but for me this book was more a thriller mystery book. I could see how it is labeled horror as you did feel like you were on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what was going on. The main character, Graham Wilde is an arrogant radio show host who is trying to please everyone for a job he hates. He is quick to anger, but has not shown any real aggression... or has he? Unfortunately I did not like his character until the end. Still, I was drawn to what was happening and wanted to solve the murder mystery he found himself surrounded.

I didn't like Graham because he was arrogant, too quick to anger and he kept pulling stupid stunts and getting himself integrated into the murder mystery. He just couldn't see what he was doing to himself because he was too busy pointing the finger at others. However, it was a very clever way by the author to get him involved in a murder he wouldn't have any real association with otherwise.

I also admit that I was a bit lost at the beginning. Not sure why or if it was me or the book, but I just couldn't keep who was who straight in my head until about 1/2 the book. It wasn't crucial to the mystery, just confusing. This also wasn't a big character driven book for me, but it drove me in it's plot. I really became involved in who did what and why.

I give this book 3 stars. I personally like a more character driven plot but I will say that the mystery itself really drew me in. I do like the twists and turns this book took and I didn't guess who did it in the end. So for those that like a book that keeps you guessing, this may be your book!

Top Off Tuesday: Dreadfully Ever After

"Every once in awhile there are covers that just make you say Oh My! Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad, and sometimes it is head scratching. The point of Top Off Tuesday is to show you the ones with their Tops Off! Seriously y’all hunting out Top Off Tuesday covers is one of my favorite pastimes and you should join the fun!" ~from the Geeky Blogger

I have been enjoying this meme on Felicia's The Geeky Blogger's blog and have finally found some time to join in. The other players are Amanda from On a Book Bender, Christi from Smitten with Reading. Button made by Missie at The Unread Reader

My submission:

Dreadfully Ever After
by Steve Hockensmith

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and its prequel, Dawn of the Dreadfuls, were both New York Times best sellers, with a combined 1.3 million copies in print. Now the PPZ trilogy comes to a thrilling conclusion with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After. 

The story opens with our newly married protagonists, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, defending their village from an army of flesh-eating “unmentionables.” But the honeymoon has barely begun when poor Mr. Darcy is nipped by a rampaging dreadful. Elizabeth knows the proper course of action is to promptly behead her husband (and then burn the corpse, just to be safe). But when she learns of a miracle antidote under development in London, she realizes there may be one last chance to save her true love—and for everyone to live happily ever after.

Hm... think I took the theme a bit too seriously for my Halloween ToT... still it qualifies, right? I still need to read these. Might be good for halloween. LOL 

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

Series: The Iron Fae: Call of the Forgotten #2
304p.
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: Oct. 29, 13
Source: From NetGalley and Publisher for review

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

My thoughts:
The book begins where the last one, The Lost Prince, ended. We are seeing Ethan trying to adjust to what has changed in his life, namely Kenzie. He is determined to be the person she sees in him. Of course with Kagawa you know that this won't last and there would be a reason for them to be pulled back in faerie. Again, it is Keirran who needs help and Ethan decides to be the one there for his nephew who is trying to change the fate of the one he loves. Nothing is easy and one bad decision leads to another and...

Yep, like that. This would upset me more if the adventure before that ending wasn't so good. I enjoyed the action, the interaction between characters and the romance of Ethan and Kenzie. I'm also glad there were brief appearances with other well known characters in this world and I hope there is more of that in the next book. Razor is in this one again too and I'm happy to be reunited with that little gremlin. As for what happens next? I don't know but I know I want to know now! I mean is it too hard to give us a 1000+ book once in a while? ;) Seriously, it's cruel to leave us hanging like that. :) Still, addicted as we are, we will wait and gobble up the next installment when it comes.

I give this book 4 stars and I'm guessing you now know I want the next one immediately. I'm sure it is only a guess... ;)

Winner!

The winner for:

is...

Carl S.!

(confirmed)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't forget you can still enter to win:

US only. Click pic for giveaway!

Curtsies and Conspiracies (Finishing School #2) by Gail Carriger with Giveaway!

Series: Finishing School #2
320p.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: Nov. 5th, 2013
Source: eARC from NetGalley and publisher for review

"Does one need four fully grown foxgloves for decorating a dinner table for six guests? Or is it six foxgloves to kill four fully grown guests?"

Sophronia's first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing! For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy (won't Mumsy be surprised?). Furthermore, Sophronia got mixed up in an intrigue over a stolen device and had a cheese pie thrown at her in a most horrid display of poor manners. 

Now, as she sneaks around the dirigible school, eavesdropping on the teachers' quarters and making clandestine climbs to the ship's boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a school trip to London than is apparent at first. A conspiracy is afoot--one with dire implications for both supernaturals and humans. Sophronia must rely on her training to discover who is behind the dangerous plot-and survive the London Season with a full dance card. 

In this sequel to bestselling author Gail Carriger's YA debut Etiquette & Espionage, class is back in session with more petticoats and poison, tea trays and treason. Gail's distinctive voice, signature humor, and lush steampunk setting are sure to be the height of fashion this season.

My thoughts:
 If you didn't already read the first book, Etiquette and Espionage, then stop right now and read that book. You will need to read it first before diving into this one. It builds on the first and I think it is best read in order. Otherwise, you will be stuck wondering who and what is going on instead of dealing with this twisted mystery.

This book like the last one had the same wonderful tongue-in-cheek flavor of the first. The same wonderfully ridiculous names still abound and even Bumbersnoot! (see, you need to read the first book if you don't know who that is!!) Sophronia is loving her time at the school, but in this one she starts looking toward the future in espionage and what she must do to secure a good job. She also is gaining the interest of 2 boys in particular. Yes, possible love triangle. Still, it doesn't overtake the story, but looks like it will gain prominence as the series continues.

I give this twisty steampunk mystery 4 1/2 stars. It's a fun second novel in this series and the main character, Sophronia, is a great hero to cheer... in a lady like way (of course). I can't wait for the next.

Giveaway!

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers is letting me giveaway one finished copy of this book! All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter form below! US only.

Good luck and don't forget to check your skirt!

Throwback Thursday: Midnight

Meme hosted by Melissa My World in Words and Pages. It's about books that are already on the shelves and are waiting to be read. Go to her website to join in!

My submission this week:

Midnight
Series: Dark Age Dawning #2
by Ellen Connor

Second in a stunning post-apocalyptic paranormal romance trilogy. 

Three years of wandering the postapocalyptic wasteland has stripped Dr. Chris Welsh of hope. A harrowing loss drove him from his home, and he hasn't stopped moving-until he encounters Valle de Bravo, a haven of civilization amid the chaos of the Change. Soldiers take their orders from Rosa Cortez-the iron hand within a velvet glove. The last thing Rosa needs is a feral loner upsetting the town's tentative balance. However, for the good of her people, she lets Chris stay, and as bloodthirsty raiders strike again and again, Chris and Rosa battle hellhounds and dust pirates while also fighting desperate attraction. To save them, love must overcome the pain of the past-and build a future in this brutal Dark Age...

I still need to read #1 (yes, in order!) and this is also by the author's Anne Aguirre and Carrie Lofty. So you know this is going to be good.

So any books by an author(s) you know using another pen name on your tbr? 

Halloween with Harlequin Teen: Bishop and Kraven discuss “Scary Love” by Michelle Rowen

Bishop and Kraven discuss “Scary Love”

As related to Michelle Rowen

Dear Bishop,

What is the scariest thing about being in love?

BISHOP: That’s a good question. The scary thing about love is that it’s all about letting your guard down and know that means you might get hurt. How I feel about Samantha, it’s different from anything I’ve ever felt before and has really changed me as—

KRAVEN: Oh, here we go again. Are you soliloquizing about being in luuurve again? Somebody pass me a bucket, I’m gonna hurl.

BISHOP: I don’t believe anyone asked you a question or asked you to get involved here. I was asked a question and I’m answering it.

KRAVEN: Whatever, little brother. I’m just trying to help you not look pathetic. Seems like I’m too late.

BISHOP: You wouldn’t know anything about real love if it hit you in the face.

KRAVEN: Love has hit me in the face before. Literally. Luckily, as a demon I heal up really well and my face is just as pretty as ever. Didn’t even leave a mark. Don’t get your angel wings in a bunch about it.

BISHOP: I don’t have wings.

KRAVEN: Well, not anymore. But that’s another story.

BISHOP: Right. Anyway, you can leave any time and let me get back to what I was doing.

KRAVEN: What’s the scariest thing about being in love? I’ll tell you, anonymous asker-of-question. It’s scary when somebody takes a sharp knife, slices it into your chest, carves out your heart, and then takes a big juicy bite out of it. That’s what love feels like. And that’s why I avoid it like the plague. Not that the plague would affect a demon like me, but you know what I mean.

BISHOP: Love is also powerful and can heal wounds.

KRAVEN: Dude. Seriously. Shut up. How did you get to be the hero of this story, anyway? I’m soooo much cooler than you and I have way better one-liners.

BISHOP: Debatable.

KRAVEN: Not debatable. Fact. Angels are boring. Demons are awesome.

BISHOP: Whatever you have to believe to get you through your lonely existence.

KRAVEN: Lonely? What’s lonely about my existence when I get to spend it earthbound with my angelic little brother. There’s brotherly love you know, not just luuurve for your cute little brunette girlfriend. Both are scary.

BISHOP: Can’t say her name? I know you’re jealous of what we have.

KRAVEN: Jealous? Dude. Listen to yourself. You’re delusional. Sweetness doesn’t mean a thing to me. Never will. You’re the one who likes teenagers, not me.

BISHOP: I am a teenager. So are you.

KRAVEN: I suppose, technically speaking and all. But I like older women. Less high school drama involved, thank you very much. Besides, Sweetness is with you, sort of. For now, anyway. Enjoy your messed up romance, or whatever you want to call it. I don’t care. I just don’t want to be around it due to the whole ‘I’m gonna hurl’ thing I covered earlier.

BISHOP: Her name’s Samantha, not Sweetness.

KRAVEN: Right. And when she finishes carving out your heart and eats it for breakfast, along with whatever’s left of your soul, let me know. I’ll be happy to be a sounding board to your pain.

BISHOP: *glares*

KRAVEN: So…want to go shopping for Halloween costumes later? I totally want to be a vampire. 
Like a scary one, not a sparkly one.

Including Dark Kiss and Wicked Kiss, Michelle Rowen has written over two dozen books for adults and young adults in paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and paranormal mystery, and has been the recipient of a Holt Medallion and a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award. She also writes as NYT bestselling author Morgan Rhodes. Learn more about Michelle and her books at www.michellerowen.com and follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/michellerowen.

About Michelle Rowen - website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

Dark Kiss

by Michelle Rowen

I don't do dangerous.

Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back

Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... 

NIGHTWATCHERS

When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...

About Dark Kiss - Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Indiebound

Giveaway!

What an amazing treat! HarlequinTEEN is tricking out your wrist with some holiday bling!

A unique and brand new Bracelet from X by Trollbeads with a Halloween themed link among black rubber links!

Just fill out the rafflecopter form below (US/Can only):

Top Off Tuesday: Dark Kiss

"Every once in awhile there are covers that just make you say Oh My! Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad, and sometimes it is head scratching. The point of Top Off Tuesday is to show you the ones with their Tops Off! Seriously y’all hunting out Top Off Tuesday covers is one of my favorite pastimes and you should join the fun!" ~from the Geeky Blogger

I have been enjoying this meme on Felicia's The Geeky Blogger's blog and have finally found some time to join in. The other players are Amanda from On a Book Bender, Christi from Smitten with Reading. Button made by Missie at The Unread Reader

My submission:

Dark Kiss 
by Michelle Rowen

I don't do dangerous.

Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back.

Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me....

NIGHTWATCHERS

When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...

I have loved this cover since I first saw it. Oh and guess what? Come back tomorrow for a post by this author!! 

The Heavens Rise by Christopher Rice

Series: standalone?
336p.
Publisher: Gallery Books
Available NOW
Source: From publisher for review

It’s been a decade since the Delongpre family vanished near Bayou Rabineaux, and still no one can explain the events of that dark and sweltering night. No one except Niquette Delongpre, the survivor who ran away from the mangled stretch of guardrail on Highway 22 where the impossible occurred…and kept on running. Who left behind her best friends, Ben and Anthem, to save them from her newfound capacity for destruction…and who alone knows the source of her very bizarre—and very deadly—abilities: an isolated strip of swampland called Elysium. 

An accomplished surgeon, Niquette’s father dreamed of transforming the dense acreage surrounded by murky waters into a palatial compound befitting the name his beloved wife gave to it, Elysium: “the final resting place for the heroic and virtuous.” Then, ten years ago, construction workers dug into a long-hidden well, one that snaked down into the deep, black waters of the Louisiana swamp and stirred something that had been there for centuries—a microscopic parasite that perverts the mind and corrupts the body. 

Niquette is living proof that things done can’t be undone. Nothing will put her family back together again. And nothing can save her. But as Niquette, Ben, and Anthem uncover the truth of a devastating parasite that has the potential to alter the future of humankind, Niquette grasps the most chilling truths of all: someone else has been infected too. And unlike her, this man is not content to live in the shadows. He is intent to use his newfound powers for one reason only: revenge.

 I've been wanting to read a book by Christopher Rice for a while now. Was happy when I got the chance. This is not a sweet story, but a horror book. I seem to be able to handle horror books better than movies (paranormal and monster movies are good, but no slasher films). This does have blood, guts and gore, but not so much you are running for the bathroom. It has just the right amount to keep the atmosphere of horror running throughout the book.

I do have to warn those that are like me and do not like to see animals hurt. There are a lot of scenes with animals being killed or dying. However, this is more a plot driven book so a lot of these scenes are kept a bit at arms length. Still, those like me will have a bit of trouble getting through those scenes. They are there with purpose. It lends the correct amount of horror to what is going on and who is doing it.

Now even though this is plot driven more than character driven, I think it works. You do connect on some level more to the secondary characters (who really come out as primary). Still, it isn't a book where you connect to those characters deeply. I feel it is purposeful in that way so it works. It helps keep up the suspenseful world in which these characters live.

In the end I give this book 4 stars. I found the first half of the book a bit tighter than the last, but it was still enjoyable and has an opening for a series if the author wants to go there.

AimeeKay Review: Monsters (Ashes Trilogy #3) by Ilsa J. Bick with Giveaway!

Series: Ashes Trilogy #3
688p.
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Available Now
Source: From Media Masters Publicity for Review

The Changed are on the move. The Spared are out of time. The End...is now. 

When her parents died, Alex thought things couldn't get much worse-until the doctors found the monster in her head. 

She headed into the wilderness as a good-bye, to leave everything behind. But then the end of the world happened, and Alex took the first step down a treacherous road of betrayal and terror and death. 

Now, with no hope of rescue-on the brink of starvation in a winter that just won't quit-she discovers a new and horrifying truth. 

The Change isn't over. 

The Changed are still evolving. 

And...they've had help. 

With this final volume of The Ashes Trilogy, Ilsa J. Bick delivers a riveting, blockbuster finish, returning readers to a brutal, post-apocalyptic world where no one is safe and hope is in short supply. 

A world where, from these ashes, the monsters may rise.

AimeeKay's thoughts:

*sigh* *double sigh* *triple sigh*

Sorry I’m moping. I’m still stuck in Bick’s world but there’s no more book about Alex, Tom and Ellie to read… *WAHHHH!*

Ok. Think I got that out of my system…at least enough to get on with the review.

First let’s start with Monsters, and then I’ll give my opinion on the series as a whole. Monsters is the final book in the trilogy and this series definitely goes out with a bang!

Monsters is written the same way that Shadows was, from multiple perspectives. This is good because you get to see how all of their stories end. I think if Bick had gone back to how she had written Ashes, solely from Alex’s point of view, there would have been just too much left out.

I had already fallen utterly in love with the series from the first and second books so it’s no surprise that Monsters pulled me in from the first page. The action keeps up throughout the book AND lots of questions are answered. I don’t want to spoil this book for anyone who hasn’t read it yet. But it is as good as the first two. Bick even had me in tears by the end. (Nope not sayin’ why, just keep some tissues nearby when you read this one.)

One thing I do want to talk about though is how Bick handles the whole Chris/Alex/Tom thing. She blatantly has one of the characters confront the whole love triangle issue. I love how Bick has them say that if it was a book it would go a certain way, but because it is real life that it doesn’t. This series isn’t about a romance. It is about the characters; mainly Alex in the beginning, but eventually growing to encompass the rest of the characters as well. How they handle the end of their lives as they know them, how they grow and survive through it all. How they confront the monsters within themselves. Bick stays true to that throughout all the books and I like that she didn’t change it in Monster or throw in a love triangle to add to the drama. But she does have the humor to comment on the relationship between Tom, Alex and Chris and I just happened to really like the way she handled it.

The book doesn’t have a definite happily ever after. But I think the ending itself is solid and it gives the characters at least a bit of hope. I would eagerly devour any more books about Alex, Tom and Ellie, but it is a trilogy and therefore has to end with book three. I’m not happy there aren’t any more Ashes books to read, but I can live with how the author choose to end the books.

Now for my feelings on the entire trilogy. If you’ve already read my reviews of the first two books you probably saw this coming, but I LOVED this trilogy! Personally I like the fact that the author switched from just Alex’s POV to the multiple POVs in the second and third book. It gave me a chance to see what was going on with the other characters when they were separated from Alex and also to see how they handled their own confrontations with the monsters both inside and out of their own heads. I think the author did an amazing job of bringing all the stories together, some in some really surprising ways. I know I couldn’t wait to get to the next page just to see how she was going to bring everything together. There were parts that made me laugh and parts that made me cry and I still can’t believe that I’m already done reading all three books. I still think I should be reading more. Not because I feel anything was left out per say, but because I just got that attached to the characters.

I think this is an awesome set of books and that if you’re looking for a great read to definitely pick them up. I would recommend picking them all up at once so you don’t have to wait to read the next book. I also would recommend making sure you won’t be interrupted so you can fully enjoy them. Yes there is gore in the books, there is death and other serious subjects touched upon too, so don’t just go handing it over to your kids until you read it first. I know both my girls have enjoyed the series as much as I have and they are teenagers, but I didn’t give them to them to read until I had finished them. But you don’t have to be a teen or young adult to enjoy them.

To purchase a copy of Monsters:

* Barnes and Noble

* Amazon

* Indiebound

Bloggy Note:
Giveaway!
Media Masters Publicity is giving away one copy of this book! Just fill out the rafflecopter form below. US only giveaway.

Throwback Thursday: Ocean Kills

Meme hosted by Melissa My World in Words and Pages. It's about books that are already on the shelves and are waiting to be read. Go to her website to join in!

My submission this week:

Ocean Kills
by Jade Hart

Around the world, murderers and rapists pick off the innocent. Killing loved ones, separating families, and ruining lives.

As an eight-year-old girl, Ocean witnessed her family’s massacre and something altered inside her. Twisting her genetic code… unlocking an ability to teleport.
Ocean Breeze was never destined to be normal, especially having been named after air-freshener. She’s a shadow, a ghost—a dark saviour of the innocent. Armed with a switchblade in her bra, and a box-cutter in her pocket, she hunts the filth of the world.

Callan Bliss is a Sydney police officer whose skill-set is far above that of a normal cop. All his fellow officers see is a hard worker who loves to catch perpetrators and surf, but that’s because they don’t know about his past. When Callan arrests a suspicious-looking prostitute, he comes face-to-face with a self-confessed vigilante, and suddenly, his secrets aren’t so easy to keep silent. 

Ocean hates the police with a passion, and has no intention of being held captive by a cop, even if he is sexy as hell. Teleporting from under his nose, Ocean hunts her next target—a man responsible for the largest sex ring in South Africa—and now he’s about to die. But she doesn’t count on Callan giving chase, nor the body-quaking lust that consumes them. However, Ocean's dark hobbies take precedence over what her heart wants—her thirst for murdering is killing her too, and not even Callan can save her

Got this one when it was free as it sounds quite interesting. Any freebies still needing to be read on your tbr? 

Delia's Shadow (Delia Martin #1) by Jaime Lee Moyer

Series: Delia Martin #1
336p.
Publisher: Tor
Available Now
Source: From publisher for review

A dark, romantic fantasy set against the backdrop of San Francisco devastated by the Great Quake 

It is the dawn of a new century in San Francisco and Delia Martin is a wealthy young woman whose life appears ideal. But a dark secret colors her life, for Delia’s most loyal companions are ghosts, as she has been gifted (or some would say cursed) with an ability to peer across to the other side. 

Since the great quake rocked her city in 1906, Delia has been haunted by an avalanche of the dead clamoring for her help. Delia flees to the other side of the continent, hoping to gain some peace. After several years in New York, Delia believes she is free…until one determined specter appears and she realizes that she must return to the City by the Bay in order to put this tortured soul to rest. 

It will not be easy, as the ghost is only one of the many victims of a serial killer who was never caught. A killer who after thirty years is killing again.

And who is now aware of Delia’s existence.

My thoughts:
 I would classify this book as a historical, ghost story, and serial killer murder mystery all wrapped up in one book. I think those who love those type of genres will enjoy how all come together in this story.

Oh and I can't forget one more genre that snuck in... there is a sweet love story thrown in that takes it's time to blossom. It isn't the main plot but it does seem to enhance our enjoyment of the main characters. I must also mention that the secondary characters were well done. You will end up rooting for them as much as the main characters.

The main event is the ghost story and how it integrates with the serial killer haunting San Francisco. Even though this is the main plot, it didn't overwhelm the rest of the story. Mostly it was about the characters and their involvement as the story unfolds. There is one twist in the story but it doesn't come off as a shock to the reader as much as it does to the characters because we weren't (as the characters weren't) privy to the information needed to achieve such a huge twist, but it works anyway because you become involved with the characters. The bigger twists are with the ghosts and who they were in life.

I give this book 4 stars. I really enjoyed my time in historical San Francisco and I'm also glad to see that this book is part of a series. It reads as a complete novel and really doesn't need more story to be told. However, since I did enjoy the characters so much I wouldn't want to miss the next installment in Delia's life.

Top Off Tuesday: Ghost of a Chance by Caridad Pineiro

"Every once in awhile there are covers that just make you say Oh My! Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad, and sometimes it is head scratching. The point of Top Off Tuesday is to show you the ones with their Tops Off! Seriously y’all hunting out Top Off Tuesday covers is one of my favorite pastimes and you should join the fun!" ~from the Geeky Blogger

I have been enjoying this meme on Felicia's The Geeky Blogger's blog and have finally found some time to join in. The other players are Amanda from On a Book Bender, Christi from Smitten with Reading. Button made by Missie at The Unread Reader

Trying to stay with the Halloween theme of the blog...

Ghost of a Chance 
by Caridad Piñeiro

True crime writer Tracy Gomez is unsure of what to make of the unusual invitation from New York City attorney Peter Angelo: A one million dollar prize to anyone who can solve the mystery of three deaths which had occurred nearly eighty years earlier. Tracy desperately needs the money to fix up the old inn she’s just inherited and solving the crime will also provide welcome publicity to help her sagging writing career. But accepting the invitation brings unexpected challenges, like spectral help during a séance and Tracy’s attraction to the sexy attorney monitoring the contest. Does Tracy only have a ghost of a chance to discover the secrets of the past or can she win a prize far better than a million dollars?

Hm... well, I could do without the home and some of that sky. Oh and remove those hands. It's blocking our view! LOL 

Any ghosty tales in your ToT?

First Bite (Dark Wolf #1) by Dani Harper

 

Series: Dark Wolf #1
300p.
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Published: 10/15/13
Source: ARC from author for review

Geneva “Neva” Ross doesn’t want to die. But now that she’s been turned into a werewolf against her will, she’ll do anything to protect her family and friends… even if that means taking her own life. 

After witnessing Neva’s leap from a high ledge, Travis Williamson—a Changeling with a dark past—uses his powers to save her life. He feels a connection to the strong-willed woman whose eyes flash that familiar Changeling green. While Neva is hospitalized, Travis risks everything to kidnap her, knowing the approaching full moon will put everyone in jeopardy. 

Bickering constantly to hide their growing attraction, Travis and Neva run from the authorities…and from Neva’s sinister sire, Meredith de la Ronde. Meredith delights in creating new shape-shifters and compelling them to do her dark bidding; now Neva must join Meredith’s murderous wolf pack…or die. 

Intensely suspenseful with deliciously sexy twists, this paranormal romance—the first in (the title of series)—intertwines sensual passion with an epic, thrilling battle between good and evil.

This book is a new series but it follows the world in her other Changeling series. You don't have to read the other series to get into this one. However, I do recommend the other series just because I enjoyed them so much.

In this story we get to slowly know both Neva and Travis. Both on the run from their family but for different reasons. Neva is a just turned Changeling so doesn't know what is going on. Travis happens upon her and decides he cannot just leave her to her fate. He takes her under his wing and helps her deal with her new situation. One she isn't happy with at all.

As the adventure goes on we get to know Neva and Travis as well as the secrets they hide. We also get to know some secondary characters which I can't wait to know more of as the series goes on. However, I think that the best "secondary" characters are the wolves themselves. They seem to know more about what is going on than their humans and I love how they "tolerated" their human halves.

One warning... the book ends with a cliffie. It isn't an abrupt ending (only kind of cliffie I hate more) but things aren't totally settled but their romance is fully realized. The adventure will continue and I must know where it is heading. MUST KNOW! :) I give this book 4 stars. This is a fun shifter PNR book and I recommend it to those that love PNR. I think you'll have fun with it.

Winner!

The winner for:

is...

Viki S!

Congraties!!

AimeeKay Review: Shadows (Ashes Trilogy #2) by Ilsa J. Bick

Series: Ashes Trilogy #2
528p.
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Available Now
Source: From Media Masters Publicity for review

The Apocalypse does not end. The Changed will grow in numbers. The Spared may not survive. 

Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she believed Rule could be a sanctuary for her and those she’d come to love. 

But she was wrong. 

Now Alex is in the fight of her life against the adults, who would use her, the survivors, who don’t trust her, and the Changed, who would eat her alive.

Welcome to Shadows, the second book in the haunting apocalyptic Ashes Trilogy: where no one is safe and humans may be the worst of the monsters.

AimeeKay thoughts:
So I really liked the first book of the trilogy, Ashes, and the second book, Shadows, while written differently did not disappoint. If you haven’t read Ashes yet go check it out before reading this review because there will be spoilers.

Shadows is no longer told strictly from Alex’s perspective. This time around we get to see into some of the other characters heads as well. While I liked getting to see what was going on outside of Alex’s sphere, I felt that it got a bit choppy. It wasn’t necessarily bad, but I would recommend that when you read Shadows you have to time to give it your full attention. I had to stop reading in between chapters and it took a minute to get back into what was going on when I began reading again.

As for the characters…..Tom is back!!! Yay! I really liked Tom and I hoped that he would be back in this novel. I have to say I like Tom WAAAY more than I like Chris. Chris is wishy-washy in his views and just doesn’t seem to have the strength to stand up for what he believes in. Tom on the other hand, while he has issues stemming form his tour of duty before the world went to hell, is determined to live his life according to his own moral code and tries not to let others influence him to the point of betraying that code. Alex is Alex. She has her own outlook and beliefs and doesn’t let others get in her way. I missed Ellie in this book. Not to spoil too much, but she isn’t seen at all in Shadows and I hope that in Monsters we get to see what happens to her.

The ending is still not only a cliffie, but multiple cliffies. I was left hanging as to what happened to quite a few characters. Yes it was slightly annoying, but going in knowing that it was the second book in a trilogy I didn’t get annoyed as I might have been. Shadows isn’t really a standalone novel. There are a lot of things going on, but for the main characters a lot is based on the story that was started in Ashes. Also it seems to be starting some more stories that will hopefully be drawn together and finished in Monsters, the third and final book.

Again, while Shadows is written differently than Ashes, it is still really good in its own way. I definitely recommend picking up this series. I don’t know yet whether Monsters will go back to only Alex’s POV or will continue on like Shadows and have multiple POVs but I definitely can’t wait to start it and find out what happens to Alex, Tom and all the rest of the characters that Bick has introduced. I might not like all of them, but they all have worked really well together and the story has sucked me in completely!

Throwback Thursday: Sweet Venom

Meme hosted by Melissa My World in Words and Pages. It's about books that are already on the shelves and are waiting to be read. Go to her website to join in!

My submission this week:

Sweet Venom

Medusa Girls #1

by Tera Lynn Childs

345p.

Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Got this one when it was free but have been wanting to dive into it for a while now.

Any books you wanted for a while, got free and then have it sitting on the shelf? Not to be specific or anything... ;)

AimeeKay Review: Ashes (Ashes Trilogy #1) by Ilsa J. Bick

Series: Ashes Trilogy #1
480p.
Available now
Publisher: Egmont USA
Source: From Media Masters Publicity for Review

It could happen tomorrow... 

An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions. 

Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP. 

For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.
Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling post-apocalyptic novel about a world that could become ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.

AimeeKay's Thoughts:
Wow. Just wow. This book was awesome!

Ashes drew me in from the beginning. I’ve been hearing awesome things about this trilogy for a while now, so I knew there had to be something there. Bick has a way of weaving mysteries into her story that just make the pages fly by. Plus right when one seems to be answered a whole bunch more pop up. Usually this annoys me, but I was so drawn into the story that I just had to find out what would happen next. I finished this book in less than a day, that’s how much I didn’t want to put it down.

I love the characters. Alex is one of the best characters I’ve run into in a long time. She is smart, funny and independent, but at the same time she is human too. All the characters, except for Alex, remain a mystery on one level or another, since the book is told from Alex’s perspective. But that didn’t stop me from getting attached to them. I can’t wait to start reading Shadows, the next book in the trilogy, to find out what happens to them.

The story is really interesting. I was drawn into trying to figure out what caused the world to go crazy in the first place and trying to figure out how some people made it out, while others either died or got ‘brain zapped’. A lot is revealed about the hows and whys as the story progresses, which is good because I got to see if some of my theories were right or not. Not everything is answered though, and, as I said before, more questions almost immediately popped up for the ones that were answered.

The novel does have its share of gore and violence, so I wouldn’t recommend it for the younger crowd. Fortunately it doesn’t revolve around the blood and guts so don’t dismiss it simply because of that.

Definitely pick this one up if you’re like me and have an apocalypse addiction. Even if you aren’t as badly addicted as I am pick it up simply because it is a great story. Seeing into Alex’s head and how she relates to everything…. Yeah, I know I normally shy away from first person POVs, but this one was well written and Alex is awesome.

The ending did leave me hanging, not because of unanswered questions, but because it is a cliffie, and a steep one at that. I probably would have held it against it more if I didn’t have the rest of the trilogy sitting next to me. *shrug* Although considering how much I enjoyed the book, maybe not. I’m off to start the second book now…hopefully it won’t disappoint!

Cold Blooded (Jessica McClain #3) by Amanda Carlson

Series: Jessica McClain #3
336p.
Publisher: Orbit
Published: Oct. 8, 13
Source: NetGalley and publisher for review

Jessica arrives back in town to find her best friend missing and the most powerful witch in the country is blaming her for it. But before they can move to save her, the group is attacked. 

On the run, Jessica and Rourke head to the mountains. Several surprises await them, but in order to save her father they are forced to leave for New Orleans early. 

Arriving on the Vampire Queen's doorstep unexpectedly, and bringing trouble on their heels, the Sects are thrown into an all out war. The vicious skirmish ends up forcing the vamps and Jessica to fight on the same team. 

The Vamp Queen ends up owing Jessica, but what Jessica doesn't realize is just how soon she'll have to cash it in...

I admit that the last books ended with me cursing the author. Mostly because even though it had a full story, it would end in such a way that was a cliffie. I hate those things and trust me, the other two books were so good it didn't need it at all for me to crave the next. Still, crave it I did and so I was happy to get this book in my hot little ereader! :D

In this series if you are sorely lacking any kind of action for your book, you will love this series as a whole. It is JAM packed with action. This book is no different and we are pretty much on the go from the start. With so much going on I began to wonder how this girl was able to recharge. I didn't see much on sleep or even eating so the refueling was at a minimum. I would have thought that there would have been a few scenes where she desperately needed to refuel. Still, if that really is my only complaint I should just shut my mouth because really... magic! I can believe that magic totally did the trick. Mostly because I think those scenes where she refueled would have slowed down the book too much... maybe. :)

We get to know a bit more about Rourke! YEA! Can you cheer? Still an enigma but much better known. Still, don't expect him to take the driving seat in this series. This is all about Jessica and how she is dealing with the supernatural community and what it means. He is in the passenger's seat a bit, but it doesn't bother him unless she is in danger (and she is in danger all the time). Still, he is what feels like the perfect mate for Jessica in all aspects of her life. He might have to fight his protective instincts at times, but he trust Jessica fully. I loved that!

I give this book 4.5 stars. It was just as much fun as the last two and please... can someone get me the next book? Oh and yes, I did curse the author again in the end. The main story is completed but we are left with a huge reveal for the next book. Where is my book???? :D

My Life as a White Trash Zombie (White Trash Zombie #1) by Diana Rowland

Series: White Trash Zombie #1
310p.
Publisher: DAW
Published: Available NOW
Source: TBR pile

Angel Crawford is a loser. 

Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken. 

That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in an horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the parish morgue—and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse. 

Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey—just when she's hungriest!
Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat. 

Literally.

 I decided to take a bit of time and go through my huge tbr pile. I've been wanting to read this for a while now and I wanted it even before it had a title. Dan Dos Santos showed his newest zombie creation for a book and I couldn't wait to read it. Sadly, it took some time to dive in!

Angel is a self proclaimed loser. She is doing everything she can to flush her life down the toilet. She isn't a bad person, but just hasn't had a life full of support or kindness. One night she finds everything has changed. She gets a new job from a mysterious benefactor and has a strange craving for brains. Instead of freaking out, she figures out what is going on with her and really changes her life around. Her new job in the morgue helps her get what she needs and also provides her with a way to help expand her own brains a bit. Yep, it took dying for her to finally "get it" and treat herself with respect.

I enjoyed this tale of a zombie girl who found what she was missing in life. There was a couple of mysteries. One I figured out toward the end, but he other mystery was a bit of a twist for me. I give this zombie tale 4 stars and recommend it to those that normally don't like zombies but do like UF or even mysteries. I can't wait to dive into the next one. Yes, you can say I'm a bit hungry for it. ;)

Throwback Thursday: Hunted by the Others

Meme hosted by Melissa My World in Words and Pages. It's about books that are already on the shelves and are waiting to be read. Go to her website to join in!

My submission:

Hunted by the Others
H&W Investigations #1
by Jess Haines

Shiarra Waynest's detective work was dangerous enough when her client base was strictly mortal. But ailing finances have forced her to accept a lucrative case that could save her firm - if it doesn't kill her first. Shiarra has signed on to work for a high-level mage to recover an ancient artifact owned by one of New York's most powerful vampires. As soon as Shiarra meets sexy, mesmerizing vamp Alec Royce, she knows her assignment is even more complicated than she thought. With a clandestine anti-Other group trying to recruit her, and magi being eliminated, Shiarra needs back-up and enlists her ex-boyfriend - a werewolf whose non-furry form is disarmingly appealing - and a nerdy mage with surprising talents. But it may not be enough. In a city where the undead roam, magic rules, and even the Others aren't always what they seem, Shiarra has just become the secret weapon in a battle between good and evil - whether she likes it or not...

I got this one when it was a freebie, but haven't gotten around to reading it. It looks like it is right up my alley and so I don't know why I haven't dove in yet. Must read soon!

So any books that baffle you as to why you haven't gotten around to it? 

Cover Reveal: Sunrise by Mike Mullin

drumroll....

Sunrise (Ashfall #3)

466p.

TBP: April 14, 2014

Publisher: Tanglewood Press

The Yellowstone supervolcano nearly wiped out the human race. Now, almost a year after the eruption, the survivors seem determined to finish the job. Communities wage war on each other, gangs of cannibals roam the countryside, and what little government survived the eruption has collapsed completely. The ham radio has gone silent. Sickness, cold, and starvation are the survivors' constant companions.

When it becomes apparent that their home is no longer safe and adults are not facing the stark realities, Alex and Darla must create a community that can survive the ongoing disaster, an almost impossible task requiring even more guts and more smarts than ever — and unthinkable sacrifice. If they fail . . . they, their loved ones, and the few remaining survivors will perish.

This epic finale has the heart of Ashfall, the action of Ashen Winter, and a depth all its own, examining questions of responsibility and bravery, civilization and society, illuminated by the story of an unshakable love that transcends a post-apocalyptic world and even life itself.


Sunrise Buy Links:

Add to Booklikes: http://booklikes.com/book/3644035/sunrise-mike-mullin
Add to Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15741928-sunrise
Pre-Order on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sunrise-Mike-Mullin/dp/1939100011/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380648474&sr=1-1&keywords=sunrise+by+mike+mullin

Bio:

Mike holds a black belt in Songahm Taekwondo. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and her three cats. Ashen Winter is his second novel. His debut, Ashfall, was named one of the top five young adult novels of 2011 by National Public Radio, a Best Teen Book of 2011 by Kirkus Reviews, and a New Voices selection by the American Booksellers Association.

Author Links:

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/mikemullinauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#%21/Mike_Mullin
Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/mike.mullin.author
Booklikes: https://www.facebook.com/mike.mullin.author

Giveaway!

(provided by author)

This giveaway is for (2) survival bands. US ONLY! Giveaway starts Oct 2nd and ends Oct 10th.