Imperial Beach Teen Blog

Magnificent Devices 2- Her Own Devices by Shelley Adina

2012-01-13T13:47:00.000-08:00

HER OWN DEVICES

Maginficent Devices, Book Two

by Shelley Adina

AVAILABLE NOW!

ASIN: B006P962QG, e-Book

Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

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If you like steampunk stories by Cherie Priest and Gail Carriger, you’ll love Her Own Devices, the sequel to Shelley Adina’s bestselling Lady of Devices.

Escaped lunatics, lost children, vengeful lords, and love. Really, the situation is becoming quite impossible.

Seventeen-year-old Lady Claire Trevelyan, left alone after the Arabian Bubble financial disaster claims home and family, now leads the cleverest gang in the London underworld. Between outwitting a rival gang, inventing a device that will net her and her scientist employer worldwide fame, and keeping her mother from marrying her off, she can almost forget that a powerful lord wants to get closer ... and if he succeeds, can destroy it all with a single word ...

I wasn't paying attention, and before I knew it I'd missed this book completely. Now I'm so excited to get home from work and sink back into this series. The first book was fast paced, fascinating, but too short! I'm so glad I can continue the story with Her Own Devices.

Book One

LADY OF DEVICES

Magnificent Devices, Book One

by Shelley Adina

AVAILABLE NOW!

ISBN-13: 9781463549992 paperback, 202 pages.

Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

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London, 1889. Victoria is Queen. Charles Darwin's son is Prime Minister. And steam is the power that runs the world.

At 17, Claire Trevelyan, daughter of Viscount St. Ives, was expected to do nothing more than pour an elegant cup of tea, sew a fine seam, and catch a rich husband. Unfortunately, Claire's talents lie not in the ballroom, but in the chemistry lab, where things have a regrettable habit of blowing up. When her father gambles the estate on the combustion engine and loses, Claire finds herself down and out on the mean streets of London. But being a young woman of resources and intellect, she turns fortune on its head. It's not long before a new leader rises in the underworld, known only as the Lady of Devices.

When she meets Andrew Malvern, a member of the Royal Society of Engineers, she realizes her talents may encompass more than the invention of explosive devices. They may help her realize her dreams and his . . . if they can both stay alive long enough to see that sometimes the closest friendships can trigger the greatest betrayals . . .

Obligatory Cover Reveal- City Of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

2012-01-04T18:19:00.000-08:00

CITY OF LOST SOULS
Mortal Instruments, Book Five
by Cassandra Clare
Coming MAY 8, 2012!
ISBN-13: 978-1442416864, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 480 pages.
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

You cannot be a book blogger- specifically a YA book blogger- and not post the cover reveal of City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare. And any cover revealing the "face of Jace" would always be hit or miss. I personally don't love the model for either Jace nor Clarey, but as it's just the cover and no cover can erase what I imagine my version of Jace's dangerously sexy and über perfect visage to be like, I'm perfectly fine with this cover. It's very nice actually.

All Apologies- Giveaway Winner Announcement

2012-01-04T17:58:00.000-08:00

I'm late! I'm late, I'm late, I'm late! So sorry, but being deathly ill with some mutated strain of a zombified flu virus has made me lose touch with deadlines. The winner of the Anna Dressed In Blood/My Favorite Things Giveaway is.... Lori T! Congratulations.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Reminder! Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake- Interview & Giveaway!

2011-12-27T03:11:00.000-08:00

ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD

Anna, Book One

by Kendare Blake

Tor Teen, 978-0765328656, 316 pgs.

Available Now!

"Anna Dressed in Blood is easily one of my favorite books of all time and is exactly what I'd hoped it would be: Gorgeous, brutal, heart-breaking, merciless, and cool as Hell. This is the kind of book I've been dying to read!"

--Courtney Allison Moulton Author of ANGELFIRE

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

"It's the old boy meets girl story, if the boy is a wry, self-destructive ghost-hunter bent on avenging his father and the girl is a homicidal ghost trapped in a house full of everyone she's ever murdered. Needless to say, Cas and Anna are my new favorite twosome. When I got to the last page, I flipped back to the first."--Holly Black NYT Bestselling Author of RED GLOVE

IB Teenie Reviews Anna Dressed In Blood:

Anna Dressed In Blood seemed to come fully installed with atmosphere. I felt the menacing dark, suffocating dust, I felt I could hear the moans and cries of the ghosts in the story. And Anna herself did not disappoint. Anna is the terror in the dark. She is terrifying and brutal, compelling, murderous, and sweetly tragic. Living in her house of horrors, Anna isn't just the ghost that will rip your lungs out, she's also tortured by her victims.

There's only one person she's not compelled to kill, our other hero, Cas Lowood. A smart, tough, badass ghost hunter who is just as enamored with death and danger as he is single-minded about exterminating his prey. He is driven to hunt down murderous ghosts because of his tragic family history. Fate most certainly has a hand in bringing these two unforgettable characters together. He is the light to her dark, the reason to her madness, the strength to her vulnerability, her reason to fight. For Cas, Anna is someone to protect, someone who could understand him, someone to love and to be loved by. Watching him become enthralled by Anna, and knowing that nothing but him could stop her killing spree was heartbreaking.

Book 2, Coming 8/7/12

These two broken characters need each other, it feels as though they are fated to save each other. And more importantly, to love each other. In the end Cas will have to face his nightmares. And Anna may just go from legendary blood thirsty specter, to an unforgettable heroine. All I can say is that I would die for book two, Girl Of Nightmares.

IB Teenie Interviews Author Kendare Blake:
IBT: Did Anna's legend come from your imagination, or was she inspired by a specific story or event?

KB: As far as I know, it came out of nowhere. Although I'm sure there are a ton of houses said to be haunted by the ghosts of murdered girls. Off the top of my head, I can't name any. And seriously, even though no one in their right mind would believe me, Anna's name was in no way inspired by the character on Supernatural. Neither was Cas' name. I had never watched the show, and had no idea of the similar names. Scout's honor. When I happened to read an episode description for Supernatural (my editor is a big fan) and I saw that there was a character named Cas, I shouted, "What are you fricking kidding me?" Okay, I didn't shout it. But I said it. Loudly. Now I actually think it's a pretty cool cosmic joke.

IBT: Why Canada?

KB: Why not Canada. It's a pretty cool neighborhood up there in Thunder Bay, and moving it out of country (but just barely) made Cas feel like just that much more of a foreign object. A stranger in a strange land.

IBT: Cas is the ultimate teenage ghost slayer- does ghost hunter sound like the
TV show?.

KB: Destiny is a funny thing. But Anna definitely thinks so. And yes, ghost hunter is too like the tv show. Ghost slayer is a little like Buffy. Ghost killer sounds like the guy from Wu Tang Clan. Ghost murderer sounds mean, and ghost assassin sounds like a Navy Seal code name. Maybe Cas would like Ghost Ninja. Nah, let's go with ghost slayer.

IBT: Cas is such a strong character who has a very tragic and horrific history
and a seemingly bleak self-imposed future as a ghost slayer. Can you tell us
how Cas came to be?

KB: Cas came out of one simple question: Who could take on Anna? He was very obliging. He just said, Yo, I can. and then he came to be pretty quickly. Everything filled in.

IBT: What makes a good hero?

KB: A good hero is the kind of human we would like to be. They're a little bit braver than we are, a little more noble, a little more put-upon. A good hero is extremely human (or inhuman, but with flawed, human characteristics) and when pressed, they press back. Or they just stand up. Whatever the situation calls for.

IBT: After so many murders taking place in Anna's house, what would have happened if locals had set it on fire? Would Anna have been set free?

KB: You know, maybe. I'm not sure.
IBT: What do you think makes a real indelible heroine?

KB: The same things that make a hero. I'm all about equality.

IBT: Anna has spent the last 50 odd years as a crazy bloodthirsty killer ghost who is also being tormented by her fate. Do you think Anna believes she had to go to hell for redemption?

KB: I don't know if Anna thinks it's possible for her to be redeemed. Cas woke something up in her that she wasn't sure still existed. She saw for the first time since she was alive, the chance to do something good. He was the first thing she'd cared about in 50 years.

IBT: Anna is incredibly sympathetic, she could be tearing a teenager in half, and I'm thinking Cas should think about a relationship with her. How difficult was it creating a lovable monster?

KB: That was a prickly part. I couldn't hold her back, but I knew she was my heroine. But, sympathy for evil things is easy, once they show a spark of humanity. We always believe that people can change. Humans are funny that way. Just look at all those love letters that serial killers get in prison. Yucko.

IBT: What is the best kind of villain?

KB: I like the ones that are scary without reason. Anything lacking in reason, that makes me tear my hair out and scream, "WHY? WHY? For the love of Jeff, WHY?!!" And then the villain just shrugs, says, "Who's Jeff?" and eats my eyeballs.

IBT: What three ghosts would you let yourself be locked in an old house
overnight with?

KB: The kind that are not corporeal and therefore couldn't actually touch me. Or if they could touch me, they'd have to be really bumbling and inept. Like, any one of the monsters from Scooby Doo. I could handle that. Or honestly, the little girl from the Exorcist, as long as she was securely fastened to the bed. Oh, the banter we could have.

IBT: Please please please give those of us hungering for Girl Of Nightmares some kind of hint or teaser!

KB: A little hint? Expect travel. Also, those who would like to learn a little bit more about the athame and where it came from, shouldn't be disappointed. At least I hope you won't be disappointed. Seriously, please don't be disappointed!

MY FAVORITE THINGS CONTEST DETAILS

Win a copy of Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake
And Fade To Black Nail Lacquer, Chart topping vinyl record (creme) by Deborah Lippman (my fave nail lacquer).
The Black Belles self-titled new album.

TO ENTER:

Comment on this post

For 1 extra entry: start Following this Blog (Followers automatically get an extra entry)

For 1 extra entry: post about this contest on your blog, twitter, Facebook, or any other site (add the link in the comments please)

For 1 extra entry: Follow the IB Bookmarked Blog (companion to IB Teen Blog)

This Contest Ends 12/31/11 11:59pm.

Girl In the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross Cover Reveal!

2011-12-22T14:33:00.000-08:00

The GIRL In the CLOCKWORK COLLAR
Steampunk Chronicles, Book Two
by Kady Cross
COMING 05/22/12
ISBN-13: 978-0373210534
Harlequin Teen, 304 pages.
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads

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In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

Girl In the Steel Corset, Steampunk Chronicles book one, and it's prequel, The Strange Case of Finley Jayne, were some of the coolest reads in 2011. The story and characters are fantastic, Kady Cross has created a rich world of imagination were she pushes the fantastical elements of steampunk. Not only is Finley Jayne one of the toughest heroines around, Cross has a particular talent for creating fascinating and rich heroes. The Girl in the Clockwork Collar is an absolute must read for 2012.

UPDATE:Forgiven by Jana Oliver's New Release Date

2011-12-20T16:07:00.001-08:00

UPDATE: 03/27/12
FORGIVEN
Demon Trappers, Book Three
by Jana Oliver

ISBN-13: 978-0312614805

St. Martin's Griffin, 368 pages.
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads
---------------
Jana Oliver's third spellbinding Demon Trappers novel - following The Demon Trapper's Daughter and Soul Thief - brings all new thrills, as Riley Blackthorne takes on demons, love... and the future of the human race.

The days are growing darker for 17-year-old demon trapper Riley Blackthorne. With her father’s reanimated body back safely, Beck barely speaking to her because of a certain hunky Fallen angel, and a freshly-made deal with Lucifer, she has enough on her hands to last a normal teenage lifetime. Though she bargained with Heaven to save his life, her ex-boyfriend Simon has told the Vatican’s Demon Hunters that she’s working with Hell. So now she’s in hiding, at the top of everyone’s most-wanted list.

But it’s becoming clear that this is bigger than Riley, and rapidly getting out of control: something sinister is happening in Atlanta… or someone. The demons are working together for the first time ever and refusing to die, putting civilians in harm’s way. Riley thinks she might know who’s behind it all, but who’s going to believe her? Caught between her bargain with Heaven and her promise to Lucifer, Riley fears the final war is coming – and it may be closer than anyone thinks…

UPDATE- The release date was recently punched back from 02/28/12 to 03/27/12, a move that reduced me to tears for a good five minutes. During these excruciating moments, I raised my fist to the heavens and cried, "I am fortunes fool!". And while I may have done none of this, inside a died a little knowing that my date with Denver Beck would be put off a little longer.

All I want for Christmas are my 2 front teeth... and this book!

2011-12-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

The THORN and the BLOSSOM
A Two-Sided Love Story
by Theodora Goss
ISBN-13: 978-1594745515
Quirk Books, 82 pages.
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads
COMING January 17, 2012
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One enchanting romance. Two lovers keeping secrets. And a uniquely crafted book that binds their stories forever.

When Evelyn Morgan walked into the village bookstore, she didn’t know she would meet the love of her life. When Brendan Thorne handed her a medieval romance, he didn’t know it would change the course of his future. It was almost as if they were the cursed lovers in the old book itself . . .

The Thorn and the Blossom is a remarkable literary artifact: You can open the book in either direction to decide whether you’ll first read Brendan’s, or Evelyn’s account of the mysterious love affair. Choose a side, read it like a regular novel—and when you get to the end, you’ll find yourself at a whole new beginning.

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel: Interview with Lia Habel

2011-11-21T12:32:00.000-08:00

US Cover

DEARLY, DEPARTED
Gone With the Respiration, Book 1
by Lia Habel
Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Hardcover, 467 pgs.
Available Now!
-----------------------------------
Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

UK Cover

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

IB Teenie Reviews DD
Dearly, Departed is a true zombie novel. I'm tied up in knots trying to think of enough superlatives to express how awesome this book is, but I've come to accept that I cannot encapsulate it's deliciously macabre, romantic, and terrifying perfection better than this quote:

"Dearly, Departed, a romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip roaring adventure, spine tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love."

Yes, Dearly is all of those things, I cannot do better. What I can do is tell you that this book intrigued me at the start. I was terrified for Bram at our first meeting. Habel's writing teeth gripped me by the throat and held my attention captive for 467pages. The book is intricately detailed and crafted in such a way that even the science and politics are easy and a pleasure to understand. The story was never rushed, the reader gets the chance to acclimate to a cyber Victorian environment, we get to slip into each narrator's skin and feel what makes them tick. But trust me that this story is not stagnant, in truth it's cinematic and I think once the series is complete will be intensely epic.

The terror of zombies, the horror of their reality is never diminished by the attraction Nora eventually feels for a very undead Bram. I dare you not to fall for him, Bram is strong, self sacrificing, and sweet..... and enbamled. And Nora is a force of nature. Suffering occasionally from short person syndrome where she desperately wants to prove herself, and yet she is still a princess at times. She is a wonderful contradiction and she feels very real.

Dearly is one of those rare books where the supporting cast is as real and rich as it's protagonists. The alternating narrators in no way made me want to skip ahead to a Nora or Bram chapter. Each told a vital facet of this very multifaceted story. Dearly, Departed will scare you, and you will fall in love with every moment of it.

Lia Habel

IB Teenie Interviews Lia Habel

IBT: Please tell us how you came about your version of the science behind the zombie virus? I must say it was excellently articulated.

LH: There are lots of ideas out there about different forms of zombie-causing disease - I've seen narratives based on virus models, bacterium models, etc. Prions are no different, just newer, and have in fact been used in quite a few movies and books already. I've been lucky enough to speak with several leading researchers about prions, as well as Sean Ragan, the gentleman who is likely the originator of the idea (in his "Journal of Zombie Science" article, which I learned about from Jonathan Maberry's fantastic book ZOMBIE CSU). As for myself - I just read the source material as a zombie fan, and thought that model of contagion looked like it'd be fun to play around with when I started writing my own story. I love reading and learning about different fields of science, but I always feel like I'm grasping at straws when I try to describe what I've learned to other people - glad to know I did a good job!

IBT: Will we learn if the virus has spread outside of the continent Dearly takes place in? Or if maybe the virus came to them from somewhere else?

LH: Yes, we will definitely learn more about the Lazarus as the series progresses. Let's just say that Dr. Dearly was never alone in his discovery. And I'd love to explore more of the known world - at the very least I'd like to take some characters up north (maybe to meet Renfield's family?) and into the Punk territories. And one of the characters in book one is actually from Africa, as we come to learn in book two, so hopefully we'll learn a bit about what's going on over there, as well!

IBT: Why wasn't Z-Base obliterated after 0600? I figured it'd be an important target.

LH: Couple of reasons. A. The great majority of Company Z was off-base by that point. Wolfe took the entire lot with him up to New London. B. Because of the living staff. True, they could have been ordered to evacuate, but so many of them were loyal to their undead coworkers and friends, had obviously worked alongside them for years - I can see the higher-ups thinking, "We've got rumors of a couple more zombies to eradicate here, but send in ground troops, do it surgically. We don't need to be accused of firebombing our own living people indiscriminately, on top of all the stuff that's now out in the open. We're in enough trouble as it is." With all the chaos in New London, maybe the ground team got waylaid, maybe orders got confused.

IBT: Do you really imagine humans could live side by side with the living dead? People are pretty zealous and intolerant.

LH: That's definitely an issue, and something we'll be exploring in upcoming books. Because I'm in total agreement with you - people are especially intolerant of what they fear. I think that people with sane, undead relatives and friends would fight for them though - if my mom became a zombie, I'd fight for her right to exist! I think that's what we're seeing in New London at the end of book one, this extremely vocal minority with undead folks in their lives. Maybe they'll win, maybe they won't.

IBT: Poor darling Bram has a very short undead shelf life, but it's improbableto have him decomposing for all eternity. At any point did you contemplate
making a more sustainable zombie mythology?

LH: No, not once. I knew that I wanted Bram to face that kind of future - he wouldn't be the same character if he were looking at a normal life span, I don't think. And there are so many books out there with happily-ever-after endings - I wanted to create something different.

IBT: How difficult was it making a zombie- a dashing one too- into a romantic hero?

LH: I think my editors were worried people wouldn't buy into the idea, at certain points! But it wasn't that hard for me - I've always loved monsters as heroes, the weirder the better. I knew I had to do away with the really gross things, like issues of rot and smell, but other than that I had all this great material to twist in my own direction. Most of all, I love getting into how the way zombies work influences the way they think and act. I think Bram's attractiveness lies in how he acts, the choices he makes. In my head, the whole thing makes total sense - I'm just really glad I was able to convey it to readers.

IBT: What are your favorite characteristics in a hero?

LH: I really love male characters that CAN be devastatingly violent, or just generally kick-ass - but who choose fairness and diplomacy whenever they can, and that have a softer side. I love exploring different displays of strength, because I think we live in a culture that tells guys that they have to be macho, they have to be stereotypically "tough" 24/7, or they're not a "real man" - and I hate that. There is strength in gentleness. There is strength in having values. There is strength in being able to laugh during troubled times. There is strength in being able to feel and embrace emotions, including profound grief, and then pick yourself up again and keep going. If nothing else, I hope Bram shows that.

IBT: I loved the politics in Dearly, the tribal Civil War between NewVictorians and Punks was fascinating. If you lived in the Dearly Departed
universe, what side would your sympathies lie with?

LH: Probably the New Victorians - kind of shallow, I know, but I like pretty dresses and sparkly tech! My flawlessly appointed pink electric carriage brings all the boys to the yard...

IBT: What makes an unforgettable heroine?

LH: Someone who's well-rounded. I think that occasionally "tough girl" characters can end up coming across as bratty and obnoxious (though what does that say about how we view tough girls?), so you have to balance it out. Even the most capable heroines can go through dark periods, through periods of weakness and self-doubt. You have to explore the bad and the good.

IBT: Nora is an extraordinarily tough and resilient character. Having said
that, it seems as though her Achilles heel is losing loved ones. Do you think
having lost so much made it relatively easier for her to accept and love the
zombies?

LH: Definitely! I think she has a really solid grasp of the value of a lifetime, and it's precisely because she's lost so many people. She's willing to trade the pain in the end for the pleasure in the moment, and she's incapable of lying to herself about the state her new friends are in, so she's perfectly suited to befriend and love the undead. Also, as hardheaded as she and her father are (and she and Dr. Dearly are SO the same person), they're both incredibly tolerant and willing to embrace weirdness and different points of view. I think there's that, too. (We'll learn more about the Dearly family in book two, so readers will begin to see where these tendencies may have come from.)

IBT: What do you love in a villain?

LH: The best villains are personally invested in what they're doing. They're not just Big Bad - they have a vendetta. That said, I don't have one yet, but I like sexy villains as well! Because the dark side has cookies, and all that.

IBT: Thank you Lia!

CONTEST DETAILS

Win a copy of Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel! You choice between the Hardcover or Audio editions.

TO ENTER:

Comment on this post

For 1 extra entry: start Following this Blog (Followers automatically get an extra entry)

For 1 extra entry: post about this contest on your blog, twitter, Facebook, or any other site (add the link in the comments please)

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This Contest has ended 11/30/11 12:01 am PST.

The Faerie Ring: Interview with Kiki Hamilton

2011-11-21T12:30:00.000-08:00

The FAERIE RING
Book One in Trilogy
by Kiki Hamilton
Available Now!
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

   Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the slums and ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.

   The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

   Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

IB TEENIE'S REVIEW For THE FAERIE RING

The Faerie Ring felt like a Charles Dicken's story wrapped in a fairytale. I often found myself fluctuating between loving Tiki, and wanting to strangle her. She has an awesome talent of making a bad situation worse! I'm saying that this girl has some serious trust issues, and mixing in a brave and stubborn streak a mile wide, makes her a fiercely independent character. If this was all there was to her character, this would be a pretty one dimensional story. But she's so much more than that. Disguised as a young boy, she is like a Robin Hood figure to her little band of orphan family. She's part mother, father, teacher, and best friend.

There's a stubborn wrinkle in Tiki's life by the name of Rieker, a rather legendary thief who seems to always be around to give Tiki grief. And he also happens to know Tiki's secret- that Tiki is really a girl. Rieker is a young man cloaked in secrets, a very dashing hero who is really worth his own story! Their courtship is an unconventional one filled with mistrust and constant battling, but the attraction is undeniable. Tiki and Rieker's paths are inextricably linked, there are rocks ahead, I hope they remember that they are stronger together than apart.

This is a compelling fantasy filled with charming and memorable characters, as well as treating us to a delectable love story. You will be transported to the gritty streets of Victorian London to pick pockets with Tiki and Rieker, as well as dance with Princes in it's glittering ballrooms. And you'll be chilled by the danger lurking around every corner. The Faerie Ring will keep you up all night.

IB TEENIE TALKS WITH KIKI HAMILTON:

IBT: Is it safe to say that book two, Torn Wing, will blow up the peace of Faerie Ring's ending?

KH: Now what’s a good story without a little (or a lot) of conflict? ;-) I can say that we see more of the Otherworld in book two and some questions are answered and others are asked.

IBT: Ignorance is bliss, was that the reason Tiki was so resistant to the fact that Faeries were not only real, but out to get her?

KH: Faeries weren’t out to get Tiki until she stole the Queen’s ring, so until that foggy night in December, she hadn’t been a target. After she learned of the truce, and the desire of some fey to possess the ring, then it just took a little convincing (and a few dead bodies) that the threat truly existed.

IBT: Can you explain to us a little how the Faerie world and Tiki's world affect each other?

KH: The Otherworld and our world co-exist. We share the same space but on a different frequency. There is overlap between the worlds – some people will catch glimpses of it out of the corner of their eyes – but when they blink, it’s gone. Turmoil in one world can often be reflected as turmoil in the other world, through changes in weather, abilities, or feeling that you’re having an ‘off’ day or conversely, a lucky day. It’s like an alternating current with energy moving back and forth.

IBT: I have a feeling that Rieker has yet to fully pull back the curtain and is still keeping some pretty significant secrets. Am I completely offbase?

KH: No spoilers! ;-)But I can assure you that *several* characters have much more to their history than has yet been revealed. Some new characters are introduced in book two as well, who create some interesting situations for Tiki, Rieker and the others.

IBT: How did you come across the story of Tam Lin?

KH: The story of Tam Lin is fairly well known, but I think it was my editor, Susan Chang’s, suggestion to include it or something like it.

IBT: Was it a story you were already familiar with, or one you came across in your research?

KH: I was familiar with the story of Tam Lin and it fit perfectly with the story line.

IBT: Is Tiki like Tam?

KH: Haha no spoilers.

IBT: What are your favorite characteristics to find in a villian?

KH: I like villains who are ambiguous – where you can’t be sure if they’re bad or good. The kind that keep you guessing all the way to the end.

IBT: What is your favorite type of hero?

KH: Someone who is honest, trustworthy and loyal. Someone you know will stand by you through the worst of it.

IBT: What characteristics do you desire from a Heroine?

KH: Same as a hero. No difference.

IBT: As a writer do you believe in happily ever after?

KH: As a person, I believe in happily ever after. I like happily ever after, but I know it doesn’t always work out that way. As a writer, I think the ending is dictated by the story you’re telling.

IBT: And finally, excluding Tiki and almost the entire cast of Faerie Ring, who are your favorite literary orphans?

KH: Hmmmm, Harry Potter, of course. I never read the book, Oliver Twist, but I did see the movie back in the 70’s and I liked Oliver, does that count? I can’t think of anymore – who do you like?

CONTEST DETAILS

Win a copy of the fabulous Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton!

TO ENTER:

Comment on this post

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This Contest has ended 11/30/11 12:01 am PST.

Happy HALLOWEEN!

2011-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

Taken By Storm by Jennifer Lynn Barnes- COVER!

2011-10-24T10:32:00.003-07:00

TAKEN BY STORM
A Raised By Wolves Novel, Book Three
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Coming 05/22/12
ISBN-13: 9781606843192
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads
-------------
More info coming soon.... but I'm so excited!

Timepiece by Myra Mc Entire COVER!

2011-10-24T10:28:00.000-07:00

Timepiece

An Hourglass Novel, Book Two

by Myra McEntire

Coming 06/12/12

ISBN-13: 978-1606841457

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

---------------

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devestating results.

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where every second counts.

Until I Die by Amy Plum- Update 11/2/11

2011-10-23T23:55:00.001-07:00

UNTIL I DIE
Revenants, Book Two
by Amy Plum
Coming 05/08/12
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads
-----------------
Can Love Last Longer than Forever?

Kate has chosen to leave the comfort and safety of her human world in order to join Vincent in the dangerous supernatural universe he inhabits. For his part, he has sworn to go against his very nature and resist the repeated deaths that are his fate as a revenant—even though it will bring him immeasurable suffering.

Heady with romance and rife with danger, the second book of the DIE FOR ME trilogy follows Vincent and Kate as they search—separately—for a solution to their plight, pursuing their quest from the glamorous streets of Paris to the city’s squalid underbelly. Although the experiment that Vincent attempts is progressively destroying him, he insists on seeing it through to the end. This prompts Kate to strike out on her own into the dangerous world of the revenants to find another way. But she unwittingly puts everyone she loves at risk when she discovers a family of ancient healers who hold the key to a secret that could help the bardia—the good revenants—overthrow their murderous enemies, the numa, forever.

And while the lovers search for something they have little chance of finding, a new threat arises among the numa. Kate finds herself in the midst of an ancient and deadly war, not as a bystander...but as a target.

Iron knight by Julie Kagawa

2011-10-19T15:47:00.001-07:00

THE IRON KNIGHT
Iron Fey, Book Four
by Julie Kagawa
Available 10/25/11
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.

I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

IB Teenie Reviews The Iron Knight:
I found The Iron Knight to be soulful in a way that the other Iron Fey books could never be because they were narrated by Meghan. Ash brought a heartbreaking and haunting quality, a maturity, that resonates deep inside the reader and stays with you long after you've finished the book. I ended this book, and closed the chapter of Ash and Meghan with tears in my eyes. It's such a lovely book, an absolute must read, and a perfect ending to a wonderful series.

Girl Of Nightmares Cover Reveal Update 11/2/11

2011-10-13T11:32:00.001-07:00

GIRL of NIGHTMARES
Anna Dressed In Blood, Book Two
by Kendare Blake
Coming August 2012
Find it here on Goodreads

-------------------

In this follow-up to Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas begins seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he’s asleep, and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong. These aren’t just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn’t know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it’s time for him to return the favor.

One of my absolute favorite books this year was Anna Dressed In Blood. If you love horror, if you love books that have very strong protagonists this is the new series for you. The first cover was so ghostly and breathtaking, the second just shows you how much the author, Kendare Blake, is going to punch us in the face with awesome.

Contest Winner....

2011-10-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Hell's Belle Blogger on winning my Demonic Giveaway!

The Traitor is almost here!

2011-10-11T14:19:00.004-07:00

US Cover

The TRAITOR In The TUNNEL
The Agency, Book Three
by Y.S. Lee
Coming in 02/28/12
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads
---------------------
Queen Victoria has a little problem: there’s a petty thief at work in Buckingham Palace. Mary Quinn takes the simple case, going undercover as a domestic servant. But before long, a scandal threatens to tear apart the Royal Family.

One of the Prince of Wales’s irresponsible young friends is killed in disgraceful circumstances. Should the Queen hush things up or allow justice to take its course? Mary’s interest in this private matter soon becomes deeply personal: the killer, a drug-addicted Chinese sailor, shares a name with her long-lost father.

Meanwhile, James Easton’s engineering firm is repairing the sewers beneath Buckingham Palace. Trouble is, there’s a tunnel that’s not on the plans. Its purpose is unclear. But it seems to be very much in use.

These overlapping puzzles offer a perfect opportunity for Mary and James to work together again… if they can still trust one another. This is Mary’s most personal case yet and she has everything to lose.

I love love love this series. It's everything I want from a Victorian mystery series: a strong and street smart heroine, a dashing and whip smart hero, a chemistry between them that practically combusts off the page, gritty and opulent descriptions of Victorian life, and fascinating mysteries.

I purchased Traitor In the Tunnel from Amazon UK and I loved it. The ending is especially worth the price I paid for shipping! I will be waiting with baited breath until the release of book four, Rivals In The City.

Book 1

Book 2

Bitterblue Cover Reveal!

2011-10-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

US Cover

BITTERBLUE
Companion to Graceling & Fire
by Kristin Cashore
Coming May 01, 2012
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads
-----------------------------
The gorgeous covers to the much anticipated and long awaited third book in the Seven Kingdoms series is finally here! The full book description has yet to be released, but here is what can be found from Publisher's Weekly:

The novel, which has an announced first printing of 200,000 copies and clocks in at a hefty 576 pages, picks up eight years after Graceling,with Bitterblue now 18 and the reigning queen of Monsea. Cashore says the story constitutes more of a companion than a strict sequel. Graceling fans, however, will likely be thrilled to learn that the heroine of that book – the different-colored-eyed Katsa – returns in Bitterblue, as does her lover, Po.

UK Cover

Other characters from Graceling appear, too, most notably (and unavoidably, since he is Bitterblue’s father), the nefarious King Leck, the only character who appears in both Graceling and Fire.

I cannot wait!

It's October!

2011-10-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

Dead Man's Bones "Name In Stone" from Cinelicious on Vimeo.

Demon's Lexicon Trilogy!

2011-09-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

BOOK 3

THE DEMON'S SURRENDER

by Sarah Rees Brennan

ISBN-13: 978-1416963837

400 pgs.

Amazon, Barnes &amp; Noble, Goodreads

---------------------------

The Goblin Market has always been the center of Sin’s world. But now the Market is at war with the magicians, and Sin’s place is in danger. Thrown out of the Market she loves, Sin is thrown together with brothers Nick and Alan—whom she’s always despised.

Alan has been marked by a magician and is being tortured so that the magicians can get to Nick. As Sin watches Alan struggle to protect the demon brother he loves, she begins to see him in a new light—but she and Mae are locked in a fierce rivalry over who will inherit the leadership of the Goblin Market, and a decisive battle with the Aventurine Circle is looming. Mae’s brother, Jamie, is holed up with the magicians, his loyalties in question. And Nick—well, who knows what a demon might do to save his brother? How far will Nick go to save Alan—and what will it cost them all?

BOOK 2

THE DEMON'S COVENANT

by Sarah Rees Brennan

ISBN-13: 978-141693813

440 pgs.

Amazon, Barnes &amp; Noble, Goodreads

------------------------------

Mae Crawford’s always thought of herself as in control, but in the last few weeks her life has changed. Her younger brother, Jamie, suddenly has magical powers, and she’s even more unsettled when she realizes that Gerald, the new leader of the Obsidian Circle, is trying to persuade Jamie to join the magicians. Even worse… Jamie hasn’t told Mae a thing about any of it. Mae turns to brothers Nick and Alan to help her rescue Jamie, but they are in danger from Gerald themselves because he wants to steal Nick's powers. Will Mae be able to find a way to save everyone she cares about from the power-hungry magician's carefully laid trap?

Book 1

THE DEMON'S LEXICON

by Sarah Rees Brennan

ISBN-13: 978-1416963790

Amazon, Barnes &amp; Noble, Goodreads

----------------------------

Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole -- a charm that keeps her alive -- and they want it badly enough to kill again.

Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is desperate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.

Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.

This is the Demon's Lexicon. Turn the page.

IB Teen Cries about the series ending...

As an adult I feel as though The Demon's Lexicon series was the most complex and nuanced of the trilogies I've loved in YA. I never knew where the story was going to go, and I NEVER really knew what most of the characters were REALLY up to.

I'd hate a character in one book, then that character would narrate the next book and I'd get a perspective from them that completely changed my opinion of them, or of one of the others. I hadn't caught the full story or the fullness of the characters in it until I'd completed the trilogy.

Humor, suspense, danger, fascination, love, hate, despair, loneliness, power, ruthlessness. Sarah Reese Brennan stirred up passionate and intense reactions, feelings, and fervent wishes from deep within me. As a reader that is a treasure to experience.

Demon's Surrender gave me Alan. A real Alan behind all the lies and scheming. I never imagined I could love him as hard as I love Nick. But I do, I really really do.

Demon's Surrender also gave me an ending that was sad and hopeful and perfect in a way that I hadn't imagined. I'm not going to detail anything here- I hate reviews that give it all up and leave no mystery for the readers to uncover themselves. I wish for you new readers to experience it fully.

I'm sad to have to say goodbye to these characters. But looking at it as a total piece- from the free short stories online, like "Nick's First Word" where Nick is a little boy, threaded throughout the three books- I am satisfied. But as a glutton, as a fan, as someone who in love with these characters I will always want more.

CONTEST DETAILS

So I am giving away the trilogy, because as a whole, it is a masterful piece of fantasy that I am so thankful for.
With it, I am giving away a copy of The Black Belles What Can I Do? 7" Vinyl. Side A: What Can I Do makes me think of Nick, and side B: Lies, is soo Alan- to me anyway.
And Hit Me With Your Best Shot Nail Lacquer, a glistening gun metal (shimmer) shade co-created with Pat Benatar.

TO ENTER:

Comment on this post

For 1 extra entry: start Following this Blog (Followers automatically get an extra entry)

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This Contest has ENDED.

Just a quick note on what I've been reading:

2011-09-16T12:19:00.001-07:00

I'm just dropping some quick notes on some of the books that I read in the last few weeks. I'm only including the ones that I highly recommend. As always, I'm omitting the ones I could have done without.

FATEFUL
by Claudia Gray
ISBN-13: 978-0062006202, Harper Teen, 336 pages.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads- Available Now!
-----------------------------------------
I finished Fateful by Claudia Gray last night and though it was so romantic and amazing. I loved the author's take on werewolf mythology, it's very specific and has put werewolves on a global power scale instead of keeping them in the backwoods and isolated. I especially enjoyed them within the confines of the Titanic- a paranormal story set within that tragic voyage is beyond cool. Alec and Tess are forever etched into my heart. More on this later.

ASHES
Ashes Trilogy, Book One
by Ilsa J. Bick
ISBN-13: 978-1606841754, EdgmontUSA, 480 pages.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads- Available Now!
--------------------------------------
Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick is really thrilling. I loved that it's the origins story of a global disater. We are with the characters as these terrible events are unfolding. Each chapter just ratchets up the intensity, you know that something terrible in on the horizon, may be just a page turn away. My only displeasure came from the last few chapters, without giving anything away, I just want to say that I loath a character who's heart can be swayed so quickly. That's all I'm saying! And a huge thumbs way up for the cliffhanger ending, can't wait for book two, Shadows, coming in 2012.

ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD
Anna Dressed In Blood, Book One
by Kendare Blake
ISBN13: 9780765328656, TOR Teen, 316 pages.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads Available Now!
--------------------------------------------
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake is super f'ing awesome! I waited for this book, coveting it with all my dark little heart for over a year. The wait was beyond worth it. I love dutiful heroes with dark futures and even darker pasts, and Cas Lowood has these qualities in spades. He is one dangerous dude. More on this later...

Look for GIRL OF NIGHTMARES, Anna Dressed In Blood book 2, in 2012.

EVERY OTHER DAY
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Coming 12/27/11
ISBN-13: 978-1606841693, EdgmontUSA, 352 pages.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads
-----------------------------------
Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, I read this book from Netgalley and I'll post a full review on this book later, but I wanted to give my first impressions here. EOD is lightyears different from her Raised By Wolves series and yet it has everything that we love from the author: an intense and dangerous story filled with rich characters. It looks to be a standalone novel, but I would sincerely wish the author to pick up where this book left off, I would gladly follow these characters into their next adventure.

IRON KNIGHT
Iron Fey, Book Four
by Julie Kagawa
Coming 10/25/11
ISBN-13: 978-0373210367, Harlequin Teen, 386 pages.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads
--------------------------------
Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa. I read this book at Netgalley, and I thank my lucky stars everyday that I joined that site when it first started up. Iron Knight is one of those heartbreakingly beautiful stories that should be read while listening to some sad music. It was the story that I'd always wanted from this Iron Fey series; a little more mature and full of Ash. I didn't miss Meghan a wink! There is one chapter in particular that I will always remember because it reached deep down inside and squeezed the shit out of my heart. Loved this book too! More on this later....

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

2011-09-10T21:35:00.000-07:00

ASHES
Ashes, Book One
by Ilsa J. Bick
Available Now!
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

----------------------------

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 novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.

IB Teenie Reviews Ashes:

Reading Ashes felt like I was being in the drivers seat of a car I had no control over. I thought I was braced for punishment- I knew cannibalistic zombie-like people were now the majority of the population- but each turn of the page revealed a new and jarring shock. And while I didn't love each new development (a huge section of the book angered me), a post apocalyptic novel should never go according to plan. By their very nature these books should make you feel uncomfortable and angry. Besides, the upside to any developments you don't like, just wait a couple chapters and everything will change again.

My only real disappointment had to do with Alex, the heroine of Ashes. Everything was going as I hoped, she was strong, resourceful, honorable, and trustworthy. But that twist that upset that knife edge balance of the book, the one that drove me nuts, was mostly because it showed the flaw in Alex. Her actions lessened the emotions from earlier relationships, and made her seem.... weak and easily manipulated. Maybe she was just sacred.

The cliffhanger at the end of Ashes is especially vicious because we are left hanging at the precipice of mayhem. All in all, this is an apocalyptic origins story, of which there are too few, and one I highly recommend. I can't wait for book two, Shadows, coming in 2012.

OUT TODAY! Soul Thief by Jana Oliver- Review & Interview!

2011-08-30T13:38:00.000-07:00

US Edition

SOUL THIEF

Demon Trapper's Daughter, Book Twoby Jana Oliver
Available August 30, 2011
------------------------------
Riley Blackthorne is beginning to learn that there are worse things than death by demon. And love is just one of them…

Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.

UK Edition

But as Atlanta’s demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever…

IB Teen REview:

We find ourselves at a crossroads by the end of Soul Thief. Our beloved characters need to deal with some rash and very tough decisions they've made. The lines between Good and Evil are blurry, that same line in the sand between them is so unevenly divided, and people find themselves on the wrong side of that line all over the place. While Soul Thief feels more like connective tissue for Books One and Three there's so much has happened, and much that is yet to be explained, and huge new questions are introduced- it is still essential reading.

Soul Thief- and Demon Trappers Daughter- read more adult than YA. If Riley weren't seventeen, this book would be found in a different section of your bookstore or library. It's mature, it's brutal, it's raw- and that's just the language and the emotional drama. Layering in a stupendously fantastic urban fantasy steeped in demons, angels, necromancers, witches... and who knows what else. All of that set against a near futuristic crumbling dystopian south.

The series and its unique mythology is incredibly well thought out, all the details are intricately constructed. Atlanta, a bankrupt city of five million souls, where even death cannot save you or your family from your debts. For example, if you die before having settled with your creditors, they can have a necromancer raise you as a zombie and then sell you as a slave to the rich. Also, gas is so outrageously expensive that people resort to any form of transportation- from Rollerblades to shopping carts, horses, and if you're able to afford it; the rare car or truck. Metal is stolen from everywhere to be sold- even the streetlights are poached. And the schools were sold off, went bankrupt, and then forced to be held in abandoned buildings like old Starbucks or grocery stores. In this world Jana Oliver has created, America has gone to hell in a hand basket.

And while Riley and Beck- the two narrators of the series- don't get much face time together, their scenes are the most intense and turbulent. These two characters are at their best and their worst all in the same conversation. They go from defensive, to emotionally naked, to reaching DEF CON 4 levels of confusion, hurt, and anger. Like when Beck calls her Girl or Kid to keep his distance, it drives Riley crazy feeling that he doesn't respect her. But when he's just being real, it's Riley, and when he's real she seems to feel untethered. She's put up blinders to any good intentions in anything Beck does for her. She's always waiting for the verbal assault or deep cut and lashes out, swinging wildly. She won't let herself recognize that so much of what she does and feels is in direct reaction to Beck or in anticipation of Beck's reaction.

Beck and Riley have had the harshest of wake up calls as the Soul Thief draws to a close. Riley can no longer avoid dealing, consequences are upon her on a biblical scale. And Beck must realize that his treatment of her has NEVER done any good! The best of his intentions have the worst of reactions and consequences for Riley. He's made a career of pushing Riley away with brutal shoves, and it always backfires in ways he never sees coming. While Riley doesn't see that her knee-jerk reactions are hurting him just as much as she's hurting herself.

When I interviewed Jana Oliver for Demon Trapper's Daughter I asked her what her favorite type of hero was, and re-reading her answer gave me a deeper understanding of their dysfunction.

JO:: The flawed one. The one who has to face his/her own personal insecurities, overcome them and then do what has to be done no matter the personal cost. The hero can be either male or female. The bottom line is that they face something they fear. I’m also fond of “unintended consequences.” A hero makes a decision and it ripples out into the world in ways he/she never thought possible. This is a variant on the old adage: “No good deed goes unpunished.”

Book 3, Coming in 2012

In DTD, Riley seemed like a much younger girl; naive, stubborn, but so determined to find love and a future with Simon- AKA, Mr. Right- who also happens to be the complete personality opposite of Beck. DTD beats Riley up emotionally- and by Soul Thief, she's tired, battle weary, and desperate.

I love Riley because she won't ever back down against heavy opposition, even when the chips are stacked against her. She loves big, fights big, ans walks some seriously scary streets on her own. She will put it all on the line to keep her word. And I love that she can live in a grey area, that her character is not burdened by a "good girl".

I love Beck because he's a protector, and despite a brash, cocky, and extremely tough facade- is very damaged and is his own worst enemy. He will sacrifice himself for others, and he tries so hard to become a better man. I love that he tries to care for Riley despite not knowing the first thing about how to go about it. In book one, Riley basically tells him that she wishes Beck were dead instead of her father. Despite the cut Beck still shows up the next morning to make her breakfast. He makes sure she isn't alone, that her bills are paid, and that she doesn't kill herself through sheer recklessness. He stays outwardly strong so that Riley can fall apart after her fathers death despite the fact that Paul Blackthorn was his father figure, mentor, and best friend.

I love Riley and Beck because they are a hot mess, and their hot mess is more real to me than any perfect love story. I love Riley and Beck because they don't pull any punches, they go for the jugular, they bleed all over the pages. The characters are so far apart, and they've miles to go before they can even really reach each other. If only Riley knew what Beck was really thinking, maybe she wouldn't hurt herself so much. If only Beck could believe he was worth a damn, he might actually get the girl he loves. How often can two people go to war against each other before there's nothing left to blow up?

I can relate to both of their struggles. There is something completely relateable in fucking up relationships, of forcing intimacy with others who are intrinsically wrong for you and telling yourself that they're what you want. That doing this is some twisted self defense mechanism you're using trying to hurt the one you really want. But you end up crying because you've hurt yourself instead.

I can understand what it is trying to forget in someone elses arms. Both Riley and Beck fight so hard to keep their distance, and they are tearing themselves apart in doing so.
I look forward and hope for redemption in book three, Forgiven, they've gone through the fire and I know- or at least hope- they will inevitably come out singed around the edges, but victorious.

ib teen grills jana oliver:

IBT: First and foremost, is Demon Trappers a Trilogy or exactly how many books are planned?

JO: The initial contract was for three books, but I have envisioned five to tell the whole story. That would allow for a satisfactory resolution to most of the characters’ personal issues along with the bigger subplots. Whether there will be five books depends on my publisher, of course.

IBT: In Soul Thief things are much less black and white, grey seems to permeate all aspects and characters that once seemed pretty clear-cut. What's the progression for each book for you?

JO: I like writing characters who evolve as the story plays out, allowing the readers to see deeper into their motivations, defenses and dreams. A good example is Master Harper. In Demon Trapper’s Daughter he’s just downright horrible to Riley and Simon, so bad that some readers have asked why the Guild just doesn’t toss him out. In Soul Thief we begin to learn why he’s that way and what events have led him to the bottle. And in so doing, we realize why the Guild hasn’t shown him the door. Characters who are clearly one thing or another bore me. I like to peel away those layers and see what’s behind those defenses. Because of that sometimes those characters become murkier and harder to pin down.

IBT: Is the Vatican's interest in Riley purely as a scapegoat because she's not just a young apprentice, but a woman as well, or is there a larger plan in play?

JO: Tempting as it was to play the Vatican as the bad guys, I’ll leave that to Dan Brown. ::laughs:: The Catholic Church is as much a pawn in the game between Heaven and Hell as are Riley and the others. Certainly they have issues with Riley being female, but they also have deep concerns about the Demon Trappers Guild as a whole. There is a long-standing rivalry between the hunters and the trappers and Riley is caught in the middle.

IBT: It feels as though Grand Master Stewart is still keeping things close to the vest. Is he just another in the line of criminally bad communicators or are you trying to kill us with all the drama it causes?

JO: ::Laughs:: Angus Stewart is a wily and secretive dude for a good reason. As the series plays out we learn more about what being a Grand Master entails and a few of the many secrets his kind keep “close to the vest” as you put it. His depth of knowledge is dribbled out when he feels it will be best received and by whom.

IBT: Does Riley not see how much she still cares for Beck and how so many of her actions and reactions revolve around him. Or is her view of him prejudiced because Beck is the closest link to her father? Could it be that she is still holding a massive resentment towards Beck for not only rejecting her but then spending so much time trapping with her Father while Riley got to spend so little time with her dad?

JO: By the time she realizes how much she cares for him, a lot of damage is done. In many ways she doesn’t see that her life revolves around him because she has the fear of being hurt again. With all the hassles, any other guy she’d probably just tell to hit the road (for example Allan the ex-boyfriend). But there is a deep connection with Beck that refuses to be broken or shoved aside that easily. Part of it was his closeness to her dad and most of it is the fact she really cares for him.

IBT: Writing scenes with Riley and Beck must be the absolute funniest thing ever. Both characters are prone to explosive defensive reactions just and throwing in jabs while waiting for the next verbal blow to land.

JO: I really do enjoy most writing their scenes. They just play off each other’s emotions so beautifully. Some of the scenes make me very sad because often they’re so busy guarding their hearts they’re missing the bigger picture. But if I don’t let them work through their own issues at their own pace, the story won’t be right. Sometimes I grit my teeth and write the scene they dictate to me.

IBT: Am I correct in thinking that Beck pushes hard against a relationship he wants and doesn't feel he deserves so he chooses meaningless encounters. And Riley seems to throw herself headfirst into relationships with guys she sees to have traits opposite of Beck's, overlooking some seriously alarming red flags from them.

JO: You’ve got it exactly – Beck’s core issue is that he doesn’t feel he’s worthy of a girl as good as Riley (or anyone like her for that matter.) Despite his cocky behavior, he’s deeply insecure. Riley is a hot reactor–when someone hurts her she rebounds like a tennis ball and loses her heart too easily. For there to be a happy ending for them, she has to be willing to trust him with her heart (again) and he has to learn he’s worthy of love.

IBT: This last isn't so much a question, it's more of a thank you. I am thankful that there is a YA series that is heavy and mature and unflinching while being funny, and times very touching.

JO: Thank you! It’s been a challenge to write, but I really wanted to do something different. I enjoy writing gritty stories, but the cool thing about us humans is that we can find humor even when the world is melting down around us.

IBT:That's all I've got, thank you for your time. Demon Trappers series in so unique, it is definitely one of the few that are the class of the urban fantasy genre.

CONTEST DETAILS:

A copy of both Demon Trapper's Daughter and Soul Thief by Jana Oliver

And a copy of Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: PARANORMAL:

On hit TV shows, in best-selling books, blockbuster films, video

games, and comics, pop culture has been overrun by hordes of vampires, zombies, werewolves, ghosts, wizards, and other paranormal creatures. Luckily, the authors of the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series are back with all-new, expert advice designed to help readers fend off the furry, fanged, freaky, and

frightful. This classic handbook format is packed with new illustrated instructions for crucial scenarios ranging from the domestic (How to Host a Cocktail Party When Your House is Haunted) to the scary (How to Survive a Zombie Attack in the First Day, First Week, and Long Term) to the practical (How to Break Up with a Vampire).

It's perfect for the modern-day trapper in all of us!

TO ENTER:

Comment on this post
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THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED. Thanks to all who entered!

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

2011-07-30T17:38:00.003-07:00

US Edition

BLOOD RED ROAD

Dustlands, Book One
by Moira Young
ISBN: 978-1442429987
Available Now!
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Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

IB Teen's Review:

Blood Red Road, a gritty post apocalyptic western feels cinematic in scale. I felt the blistering winds, tasted the sand in my teeth, the blood in my mouth, and the urgency and fear plaguing Saba and little Emmie on their quest to save their brother from his kidnappers.

" Lugh! I cry.
I run alongside him. I gasp. Cain't git a breath. Tears run down my face.
Lugh lifts his head. Our eyes meet. Lugh's eyes. Blue as the summer sky. I grab his hands.
I'll find you, I says. Wherever they take you, I swear I’ll find you.
No, he says. It’s too dangerous. Keep yerself safe. You an Emmi. Promise me you will.
They grab Hob's rope as they pass. They're takin him too.
They break into a canter.
I cain't keep up. My hand slides away from Lugh's.
Promise me Saba, Lugh says.
I keep runnin after 'em.
I'll find you! I scream.
They disappear into the red haze.
Lugh! I scream. Lugh! Come back!
My legs go out from unner me. I fall to my knees....

...I cain't speak. Cain't breathe. Lugh's gone. Gone. My golden heart is gone. I kneel in the dust. The tears roll down my face. An a hard red rain starts to fall. "-- from Blood Read Road Excerpt.

Written like spoken language, Blood Red Road is full of mispronunciations and slang just like the author loves so much. A Cormac McCarthy-like absence of quotation marks added to the raw style of Saba's narration. Saba's voice is so incredibly distinct, reading her was like an instant immersion into her world, I felt like I was dropped into the barrenness of Silverlake. In a society where the English language has degraded and been bastardized for such a long time, I imagine that in this future post-apocalyptic world where the majority of it's inhabitants are illiterate, that this is how people would sound.

Saba is like a clenched fist and I adored the red hot anger inside her. I loved that she was tough and almost unyielding. That specific toughness served her well in the environment and circumstances she was thrust in. It may have made her journey that much more difficult, but I understood her perfectly. But I also understood that she would need to grow and see how her single mindedness to save her brother Lugh isolated her from the people wanting to have a relationship with her- even her own little sister.

I am eagerly anticipating the next book in this Dustlands saga because there are some black hatted characters that I have a sneaking suspicion have a much grayer role to play. A revolution has sparked in book one, and I'm looking forward to the fire spreading in book two.

I Love Die for Me by Amy Plum & Interview

2011-07-12T16:38:00.002-07:00

DIE FOR ME
Revenants Book One
by Amy Plum
AVAILABLE NOW!
----------
In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.
-------------------------------------------------------
When Kate Mercier’s parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life—and memories—behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate’s guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he’s a revenant—an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

IB Teen Reviews Die For Me:

Read Die For Me and it will transport you to Paris. I sincerely never wanted this book to end, I could have walked those Paris streets with Kate forever. It is a rare thing to find a book that will exceed the expectations of its reader, and I could be building your expectations right now. But I am confident that you will still be surprised and fall in love with this book. I trust that you will find it youthful but not juvenile, and the first blush of true love within it just as vivid as the city around the two lovers.

I often wonder at a love story how such epic heroes fall for such unremarkable heroines. Admittedly, I often pick up a book ready to fall in love with the hero. A noteworthy heroine is a rare thing, especially if she doesn’t spend the book kicking butt and slaying dragons. Kate is one of those rare finds, and for me she is a very real character. Her shining qualities are enhanced by her flaws. Quiet moments with Kate in this book are just as remarkable as the ones filled with action. I wish I could grow up to be just like her. Sadly I am grown up and not half as worldly, endearing, and sophisticated as she is. Sigh.

And while Kate is loveable, Vincent is delicious. Free from the constraints of zombie lore, Amy Plum has forged a new path while creating her mythology. Vincent is a monster in the literal sense, but is also a hero. A young man very much alone and trapped the very thing that makes him extraordinary.

Die for Me truly introduces a new zombie, or a new idea of what zombie can mean. Yes they are reanimated, but the inner-workings of their magical/supernatural existence is so completely refreshing and unique. The very idea of these Revenants is quite beautiful as well as horrific. You will still get danger, there is still gore, but there is a purpose for it. I don't want to give anything away here, you will want to learn it all on your own!

IB Teen Talks with Amy Plum:

IBT: Can you explain to our readers a little bit of the mythology you've created with your Revenants?

AP: Revenants start as humans, but die sacrificing their life for someone else. They awake three days later, and are thereafter bound to continue rescuing humans from an early death for the rest of their immortal existence.

IBT: How imperative was it to give your monsters a purpose? So many other mythologies on zombies, vampires, or werewolves don't do that, they simply are.

AP: For me, creating a new monster was a huge responsibility. I wanted everything in their mythology to make sense, since I was positioning them as beings that were as old and venerable as vampires and werewolves (if not older and more venerable!). I knew in the beginning that they were immortal but died again and again, coming back at their death age each time. I just had to figure out WHY they were repeatedly dying. And when the lifesaving idea popped into my mind, I knew it was right.

Also, one of my first steps in setting up my story was figuring out who Kate was. And after I knew that, I had to come up with the type of supernatural being that she would fall for. So all of these different steps came together to make the revenants what they are.

IBT: The sisters are such opposites, which sister do you identify with the most: introspective Kate or social butterfly Georgia?

AP: I identify more with Kate. Her personality is, for the most part, based on my own. But I have had periods of my life when I could be seen as a Georgia. After my mom died, I responded by going completely crazy and becoming a party girl like her. I didn’t want to have to think about things, so I blocked it out by surrounding myself with people and going out every night.

IBT: Vincent is the king of, "I'll tell you later." Are there any key secrets that he's omitted that we'll learn in book 2? Or I guess the better question is, are Kate and Vincent still the protagonists of Until I Die?

AP: I’m such a blabbermouth, I wanted to tell all of the revenants’ secrets in Book 1. It took my editor explaining what an “information dump” was for me to understand that I needed to space everything out. So yes – there are secrets about both the revenants and Vincent that will be revealed in Book 2: Until I Die. And yes, Kate and Vincent are still the protagonists, but you will find all of the characters from Book 1 (besides Lucien of course!), in Book 2, plus a few newbies!

IBT: What is your favorite type of Hero?

AP: The broken hero, who has been severely wounded in the past. And though he has recovered, he will always be marked by his experience.

IBT: In reading your bio I said to myself, "I'd love to be her if I ever grow up." Then I read Die for Me and I said the same thing about Kate. It must be all the French stuff, the love stuff, and the brave stuff. Meaning that it's brave to be able to be alone, it's brave to let yourself fall in love, and it's brave to move to another country! Do you- or Kate- have any advice for those of us who tend to stick their toe in the pool instead of jumping in?

AP: Yes. Your life will be easier if you stick your toe in the pool instead of leaping headfirst. Easier, but probably not as exciting.

Being an impetuous person, I have always had to learn by my mistakes. And let me tell you, I’ve made some doozies. For some reason, I still haven’t learned my lessons for the most part. The fearless life can be extremely painful. But for me, there is no other choice because—more than anything else—I dread ennui.

IBT: What characteristics do you desire from a Heroine?

AP: Like the hero, I prefer heroines who have been wounded. I don’t like (or, more to the point, trust) perfect people. But my heroine needs to have the strength and independence to pull herself out of whatever mire she is stuck in. She needs to be able to work her way towards redemption.

IBT: Kate asked herself in the book, and I'm asking you now; Is it better to have loved and lost, or never have loved at all?

AP: Love and lost. I’d rather experience pain and loss than to have lived a safe life.

IBT: Not that I'm complaining, but why did you change the prologue?

AP: It wasn’t up to me. I hung on to my original prologue until the very last second, at which point my editor overruled me. She had her reasons, one of which being that she wanted the book to start out with a bang, and that pre-history slowed it down. But I’m glad to be able to offer it separately on my blog, and people have responded well to it.

IBT: As a writer how do you respond to those who think that censorship is a necessary evil?

AP: My own reading was censored as a child, and I reacted very badly to it. For example, my parents wouldn’t let me read Madeleine l’Engle’s A Wrinkle In Time because there were witches in it. (They obviously didn’t bother to read it to find out exactly what the “witches” were.) So I went straight out to the Bookmobile and checked out a hardcore book on Wicca to find out what the big deal was.

IBT: When writing YA do you find that you pull back or censor yourself knowing that what you are writing is intended for primarily a younger audience?

AP: For me, sex and violence should be on an equal level as far as protecting young children. Too much emphasis is placed on shielding children from sex, while horrific violence is seen as acceptable. That, to me, is a travesty. So far I have written everything I wanted, regarding both sex and violence, without having to censor. For the future, I will have to see how things progress as the story continues. (I don’t plot much ahead of time, so am not sure exactly how the trilogy will unfold.)

IBT: And finally, excluding any character from Pride and Prejudice, what are your three favorite romantic Heroes and Heroines? (Antiheroes ala Prof. Snape can be included)

AP: Scout Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird. Francie Nolan from A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. And Pippi Longstocking.

CONTEST DETAILS:

A copy of Die for Me by Amy Plum
Deborah Lippman's Glitter In the Air nail lacquer (sky blue confetti (sheer) but with enough coats (4-ish) looks like the bottle!).

TO ENTER:

Comment on this post
For 1 extra entry: start Following this Blog (Followers automatically get an extra entry)
For 1 extra entry: post about this contest on your blog, twitter, Facebook, or any other site (add the link in the comments please)
For 1 extra entry: Follow the IB Bookmarked Blog(companion to IB Teen Blog)

This contest has ended. Thanks to all who entered. Keep your eyes peeled for the next giveaway, it's going to be awesome!

I Can't Not Post About This....

2011-06-27T20:39:00.000-07:00

2011 is flying by, every month has a can't-wait-for release in YA, so I've been almost singularly focused on what's just around the corner.

Due to the veritable deluge of cover reveals that happened today- this past week, I HAD to post about them. Here are just some highlights, for a longer & chronological listing go here.

Check it out, YA 2012 looks unbelievably bright, you might wan to wear shades.

04/10/12
The Calling
Darkness Rising Trilogy Book Two
by Kelley Armstrong
Harper Teen
ISBN-13: 978-0061797057
--------------
In The Calling, the sizzling second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong pumps up the romance, danger, and suspense that left readers of The Gathering clamoring for more.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

04/17/12
The Last Echo
The Body Finder Book Three
by Kimberly Derting
Harper Teen
ISBN-13: 978-0062082190
----------------------
Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye....

02/07/12

Under the Never Sky

by Veronica Rossi

Harper Teen

ISBN-13: 978-1907411052

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Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—nicknamed The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms eventually will. In this dystopia, even the very air she breathes could kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild, dangerous—a savage. He’s also her only hope.

Perry needs Aria, too. She alone holds the key to his redemption. And their unlikely alliance will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

01/03/12

Everneath

Book One

by Brodi Ashton

Balzer + Bray

ISBN-13: 978-0062071132

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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.

Bad Romance Giveaway Winner!

2011-06-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

Sharli from the Entre Libros blog won the Bad Romance Giveaway!

A Bad Romance: Dead Rules by Randy Russell

2011-06-17T12:01:00.001-07:00

DEAD RULES

Book One

by Randy Russell

Coming June 21, 2011

---------------------------------

Sometimes falling in love means you have to kill somebody.

Till death

Jana Webster and Michael Haynes were destined to be together forever. Of that, Jana was sure.

Do
But Jana just died—in a bowling accident. And now she's in Dead School, where Mars Dreamcote lurks in the back of the classroom, with his beguiling blue eyes, mysterious smile, and irresistibly warm touch. But Jana is certain that it won’t be long before Michael kills himself in order to spend eternity with her.

Us
Michael and Jana were incomplete without each other. There was no room for Mars in Jana's life—or death—story. Jana was sure Michael would rush to her side soon— but the days are passing and Michael is, inexplicably, still alive.

Part
Things aren't going according to Jana's plan. So Jana decides to do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true—no matter what rules she has to break. And nothing—not even bad boy Mars Dreamcote’s enticingly warm touch or the devastating secret he holds about her death—will stop her from making her dreams come true.

A debut novel with a voice like no other—Dead Rules is Romeo and Juliet meets Heathers in this hilariously macabre take on paranormal romance, packed with heart-stopping suspense and sizzling star-crossed love.

IB Teen's Review:

The very idea of a girl loving her boyfriend so consumingly that she's going to kill him so they can be together forever, sends my brain into a tizzy of monster-horror-genre-loving euphoria. Dead Rules gripped me from the first page and I refused to put the book down until I had devoured it in it's entirety. Exceeding my outrageously high expectations for it, Dead Rules delivers all of it's promise.

----------------------------------------------
If not for her boyfriend Micheal Hayes, Jana Webster would have been all alone in the world. Love for her is EVERYTHING. She is so utterly determined that her relationship is real, that someone in this world loved her so completely that they would make the ultimate sacrifice for her. Don't we all want to be loved that fiercely (theoretically anyway)? She'd never known love, not even familial love, and being so young and so determined that she'd known true love- on top of being you know, dead- sends her off the deep end.

---------------------------------------------------------------Then there's Mars Dreamcote, who is dreamy and dangerous in the best kind of way; breaking the rules to find redemption. Amazing. He is literally the bad boy with the heart of gold. And, due to certain details in the book that involve Mars and that I shall keep secret, I must have drank strawberry soda for a solid week after reading the book in one sitting. Even now whenever I see strawberry soda, I think of Mars.
--------------------------------------------------------------
I understood why she stubbornly refused not to let go of her fantasy, I understood why she couldn't betray it even though everything inside her wanted to try on Mars like a new skin. And while I understood this, I kept yelling at her to see what an amazing thing she could have with someone like Mars. I kept yelling at her to open her fiercely shut eyes to the real person Michael is. But I understood, because I've been there, keeping my eyes shut and telling myself that the person I wanted so badly was also the person they really were, when in actuality they were just bad news for me.
-------------------------------------------------------
And don't let me leave out the seriously sweetly awesome/gruesome cast of characters. I saw them, I felt for them, I wanted to know them. They were just as real as Jana and Mars were. I loved reading the scenes with them, which is unusual for me, I normally want to get right to the steak and leave the potatoes behind. Some may say that Beatrice- of the yellow yard dart through her skull- is their favorite from the supporting cast, but for me it is Wyatt all the way. I cannot wait to find out what happens to all of these characters in the next book, after the way it ended- I need to find out where every ones situation will take them. Dead Rules took me to new heights of awesome and I know you will feel that way too. (Illustration of Beatrice by Joëlle Jones)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IB Teen Talks with Randy Russell:

IBT: Can you explain to our readers a little about the workings of Dead School?
---------------------------
RR: Just like regular high school, except it’s the one you go to if you die before graduation and need to finish up on the other side. On campus and in the dorm, the students have the bodies they died with and the clothes they died in. For new students it first appears as if they are on a school bus to nowhere. But some of the students, Risers, are on the fast track to a rosy eternity. Sliders appear to be headed in the opposite direction. Virgins, of course, have it made in the shade and make up the school chorus. Grays committed suicide and really aren’t much fun to know.
--------------------------------
Sliders, with a closer to tie to earthly doom, can visit the living as ghosts and, when they get really good at it, can materialize and interact with the living. They’re also a bit warmer than Risers, who are always just a little cold around the edges. Risers have slightly blue lips than turn strawberry red when kissing a Slider. That’s probably all there is to know, except for the way a Slider can warm up the school swimming pool by jumping in first when you want to go for skinny dip.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IBT: OK, after book 1 it's officially too early to ask what happens after graduating Dead School, but do you know what comes next? Have you planned out the rest of the afterlife or is that getting too existential like asking you what happens when we die?

RR: I know much more about Dead School than Jana is able to experience in Dead Rules. But I don’t know diddly squat about the rest of eternity. I think I heard in church once that we’re all going to be riding bicycles on a beautiful island with no cars and no stop signs. And maybe, but I’m not sure, there’s tequila and a really good mariachi band.

For now, I haven’t spent enough time in Dead School for graduation to roll around. Thank God.

IBT: How is it possible that you wrote a book from a girls perspective that includes an amazingly lovable character like Mars Dreamcote? Is Jana real, is she haunting you, and is this part 1 of her biography?

RR: It’s a fascinating combination. Tarzan brings out the best in Jane, don’t you think? Mars Dreamcote’s innate understanding of people, and tolerant acceptance of their flaws, allows Jana to be and become her real self. He’s the amber through which she clearly sees the world, and herself, for the first time.

Jana wants to be a better person now. I think her real biography begins in book 2. It took her almost all of Dead Rules to become a real person and not the pretend person actors sometimes create for themselves. She just needed a little time in the jungle.

IBT: What characteristics do you desire from a heroine?

RR: The ability to learn and to change. Pretty simple, huh? You asked above if Jana were real. She is in this way. I was friends with a woman who committed suicide when she was 17. She was disconsolate at the time over a boy who broke up with her. Home alone, she shot herself in the chest (aiming for her heart) with a .22 and lay down on her bed to die. And did. She told me the next thing she remembered was hearing an emergency room surgeon saying to a nurse, “How the f**k am I supposed to go out there and tell these people that their daughter is dead?”

I saw the small round scar on my friend’s chest. It was over her heart. I thought about her situation for years. It just wouldn’t go away. One day, I sat down to write about it and I ended up with Dead Rules instead. Neither my friend nor her story are in the book… but the idea of a broken heart being a matter of life and death is on every page.

Both Jana and my friend (at the time of her suicide) are victims of big, fat love. Love amok. Jana starts out the book having yet to learn about broken love, something she doesn’t want to admit might exist. She’s very obsessive about believing in her own love for another and cannot accept the fact he might want to go on with his own life now that she is dead. Her deciding to kill him is to me a decision to keep a moment’s love alive forever. It’s difficult for me to fault her for that.

Love is as crazy as it is wonderful and that’s all, in the end, that is going on in Dead Rules.

IBT: Which of your characters came easiest for you to write? Jana, Mars, Beatrice, Wyatt, Arva, or (gasp) Michael?

RR: Let me say, instead, who was the most difficult. Wyatt. And this is because he was elusive to me. His true character didn’t surface until the end of the book. He lurched around in Mars’ shadow until then. Although he almost revealed himself entirely in dealing with the conjure men who were attempting to bring Christie back to life, I didn’t fully catch on to Wyatt until the very end.

IBT: What is your favorite type of hero?

RR: Someone who doesn’t eat all the chocolate.

IBT: It seems that Jana has yet to wrap her mind around what it means to be either Slider or a Riser. Has she been purposefully preoccupied with Michael and her whole "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" mentality towards him to deflect from her new situation?

RR: Whoa, Perla! This is an incredibly interesting psychology implied in your question. Jana’s condition, as far as she understands it, is a little more straight forward. For Jana there is only one star in the sky for almost all of Dead Rules. Given time to reflect, she may come to the conclusion you suggest above. It’s the kind of thing a person figures out in hindsight, don’t you think? But I love the curliness of your question.

I think we all have experienced moments of obsessive love. At least, I hope so. If you have never been stupidly in love with someone who is totally wrong for you, for even a few days or a few minutes, then you and I have very little in common and you probably won’t understand Jana.

The deflection element, though, is fascinating. There is a character in Dead Rules who applies the same obsessive commitment (as Jana’s overwhelming desire to be with Michael) to obeying the “rules” of being in Dead School clearly as an avoidance of further consideration of the meaning of being dead and what happens next. I think she’s an interesting parallel to Jana. I’m sure, though, that Jana doesn’t see it that way.

IBT: Who are your horror genre heroes?

RR: John Dunne. Ask not for whom the bell tolls… It tolls for thee! Come on, that s.o.b. was scary.

IBT: Using just one word can you describe what comes next for the kids of Dead Rules?

RR: Extreme.

IBT: As a writer how do you respond to those that say that censorship is a necessary evil?

RR: Of course, I prefer public ridicule to censorship. I hope that makes sense. If someone is saying something cruel and mean (about the only cases for me where censorship “might” apply), let’s give what they have to say ample air… and then ceaselessly mock them in public for being cruel and mean. That’s what writers are for.

IBT: When writing YA do you find yourself pulling back or censoring yourself knowing that what you are writing is intended for primarily a younger audience?

RR: I see writing fiction as the opportunity to un-censor myself. Hold back? No way. I push my characters off of cliffs every chance I get and the poor reader right along with them. Sorry, guys. Happy landings!

I certainly don’t pull back because the characters in a story are teens. Luckily for my editor, it is not my nature when writing fiction to lean heavily on obscenities or to shine a flashlight on naked body parts. Both of those elements detract from the way I see story. A flurry of obscenities is a bit too casual, for me, when dealing with matters of the human heart. For some writers, though, it is wholly appropriate and appropriate for the stories they write.

As a reader, I really don’t want to see Tom Sawyer walking around with a kite tied to his erection. And I certainly don’t want to hear Jay Gatsby noticing that one of the guests at his party has a nice rack. Do you? Allow me to point out that, as a Southern writer, I am full of lust AND good manners. This is me whatever fiction I am writing.

IBT: And finally, what three ghosts- fictional or actual historical figures- would you love to have a conversation with?

RR: Let’s make it a double date. And I want them there being as real as toast. Because I would love to hear them converse with each other much more than with me.

Mary Shelley, Anais Nin, Alfred Hitchcock, and me in some big red convertible driving across Kansas in the middle of summer without stopping until we get to Santa Monica in time for a Beach Boys concert at the pier. Hitch looks great in those sunglasses, don’t you think? I do wish he’d stop insisting we play the Bat Out of Hell cd at full volume, though. May I see a show of hands for Steppenwolf please?

If I could choose only one, Mary Shelley hands-down. She is the overlooked genius of her generation. Oh, did you know she dried Percy Shelley’s heart (yes, his actual heart) and pressed it in a book? True.

IBT: That's disgusting and romantic, thanks for the visual Randy! On a serious note, Randy is having an amazing giveaway on his website, it's the Dead Rules Giveaway to Support Teen Reading. If you enter his contest let me know in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry into this contest!
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CONTEST DETAILS:

A copy of Dead Rules by Randy Russell
Deborah Lippman & Lady Gaga's Lippman Collection- Bad Romance Nail Lacquer! (It's blackened fuschia glitter!)

TO ENTER:

Comment on this post
For 1 extra entry: start Following this Blog (Followers automatically get an extra entry)
For 1 extra entry: post about this contest on your blog, twitter, Facebook, or any other site (add the link in the comments please)
For 1 extra entry: Follow the IB Bookmarked Blog (companion to IB Teen Blog)

Contest Ended 06/20/11 11:59pm.

Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina- Wow!

2011-06-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

LADY OF DEVICESThe Magnificent Devices Trilogy Book One
by Shelley Adina

Available Now

---------------------------------

London, 1889. Victoria is Queen. Charles Darwin’s son is Prime Minister. And steam is the power that runs the world.

At 17, Claire Trevelyan, daughter of Viscount St. Ives, was expected to do nothing more than pour an elegant cup of tea, sew a fine seam, and catch a rich husband. Unfortunately, Claire’s talents lie not in the ballroom, but in the chemistry lab, where things have a regrettable habit of blowing up. When her father gambles the estate on the combustion engine and loses, Claire finds herself down and out on the mean streets of London. But being a young woman of resources and intellect, she turns fortune on its head. It’s not long before a new leader rises in the underworld, known only as the Lady of Devices.

When she meets Andrew Malvern, a member of the Royal Society of Engineers, she realizes her talents may encompass more than the invention of explosive devices. They may help her realize her dreams and his . . . if they can both stay alive long enough to see that sometimes the closest friendships can trigger the greatest betrayals . . .

Say this book posted on the Suzanne Writes Blog (that I follow), and have to say that this book looks and sounds absolutely delicious. Can't wait to get home and read it! I can never say enough about the power of a fantastic cover....

Mythic Contest Winner!

2011-05-31T22:25:00.002-07:00

Congratulations to The Lovely Getaway (Isn't she so cute!) Blogger on winning a copy of both Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini and The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter.

Thank you to everyone who entered, tweeted, posted, and followed!

Clockwork Prince Cover Reveal!

2011-05-25T15:04:00.001-07:00

Clockwork Prince
Infernal Devices Trilogy Book Two
by Cassandra Clare
Coming December 06, 2011
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"What desperation drove you to me, in the middle of the night, in a rainstorm? What has changed at the Institute? I can only think of one thing..."

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The situation at the London Institute has never been more precarious. With Mortmain and his clockwork army still threatening, the Council wants to strip Charlotte of her power and hand the running of the Enclave over to the unscrupulous and power-hungry Benedict Lightwood.

In the hope of saving Charlotte and the Institute, Will, Jem, and Tessa set out to unravel the secrets of Mortmain’s past—and discover unsettling Shadowhunter connections that hold the key not only to the enemy’s motivations, but also to the secret of Tessa’s identity. Tessa, already caught between the affections of Will and Jem, finds herself with another choice to make when she learns how the Shadowhunters helped make her a “monster.” Will she turn from them to her brother, Nate, who has been begging her to join him at Mortmain’s side? Where will her loyalties—and love—lie? Tessa alone can choose to save the Shadowhunters of London…or end them forever.
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The Infernal Devices, while similar to it's sequel series The Mortal Instruments, has a heartbeat all it's own. I am greatly enjoying this look into a steampunk version of Victorian England and the Shadowhunters and Downworlders within it's gaslight streets. Teeming with secrets, sexual tension, and not a little bit of danger this series is on my favorites list.

A Mythic Pair! Starcrossed and The Goddess Test

2011-05-24T12:57:00.001-07:00

STARCROSSED
Starcrossed Trilogy Book One
by Josephine Angelini
Coming May 31. 2011
Read an excert here.
---------------
Melding incandescent romance and an updated twist on Greek mythology, this dazzling debut sets sparks flying with its combination of starcrossed lovers, powerful paranormal abilities, and an ancient blood feud.
-----

Set on the island of Nantucket, STARCROSSED tells the tale of Helen Hamilton, a young woman whose destiny is forever altered when she meets Lucas Delos and tries to kill him in front of her entire high school. Which is terribly inconvenient, not only because Lucas is the most beautiful boy on the island, but also because Helen is so achingly shy she suffers physical pain whenever she is given too much attention.
----

Making matters worse, Helen is beginning to suspect she’s going crazy. Whenever she’s near Lucas or any member of his family she sees the ghostly apparitions of three women weeping bloody tears, and suffers the burden of an intense and irrational hate. She soon learns that she and Lucas are destined to play the leading roles in a Greek tragedy that the Three Fates insist on repeating over and over again throughout history. Like her namesake, Helen of Troy, she’s destined to start a war by falling in love. But even though Lucas and Helen can see their own star-crossed destiny, they’re still powerfully attracted to each other. Will they give up their personal happiness for the greater good, or risk it all to be together?
------------------------------------

The GODDESS TEST

The Goddess Test Series Book One

by Aimée Carter

Available Now!

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Every girl who has taken the test has failed.

Now it's Kate's turn.
It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails...

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini and The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter are two of my favorite books for 2011. Filled with outstanding romance and rich characters, I am dying to read book two for both of these series- and my wait will be excruciatingly long! While being distinctly unique from each other, these two mythology centered novels are carving out a thrilling and titillating corner in the fantasy genre.

CONTEST INFORMATION:

-The winner will get a copy of Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini and The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter!

-To enter you must comment on this post

-For 1 extra entry start Following the Blog (Followers will automatically get an extra entry)

-For 1 extra entry: post about this contest on your blog, twitter, or any other site (add the link in the comments please)

-For 1 extra entry Follow the IB Bookmarked Blog (companion to IB Teen Blog)

-Contest is open to all, including international readers

CONTEST HAS ENDED, THANKS FOR ENTERING!

IT's HERE! Cover Release for Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

2011-05-21T17:06:00.000-07:00

Ashes
Book One in Ashes Trilogy
by Ilsa J. Bick
Coming September 13, 2011
from Egmont
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“A haunting and epic story of survival in a shattered world. ASHES is a must read.” - Michael Grant

It could happen tomorrow...

A cataclysmic event.

An army of "The Changed."

Can one teen really survive on her own?

An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky, destroying every electronic device and killing billions. For those spared, it's a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human...

Desperate to find out what happened and to avoid the Changed, Alex meets up with Tom---a young army veteran---and Ellie, a young girl whose grandfather was killed by the electromagnetic pulse.

This improvised family will have to use every ounce of courage they have just to survive.

“Gripped me from the beginning to end—-dark, creepy and suspenseful. I loved it” - James Dashner

I have been waiting for so long for the cover of this book to be revealed, and finally my wait has ended. The cover usually sets the tone of what a reader can expect from the pages it protects, and in Ashes I feel that I'll get a ride as unflinching and chilling as the synopsis of the book suggests. I'm hoping for a thrill ride on par with Ann Aguirre's Enclave, and am very excited to immerse myself in a whole new world with this book.

What I'm Excited About: Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

2011-05-12T09:19:00.000-07:00

DARKER STILL
Magic Most Foul Book One
by Leanna Renee Hieber
Coming November 8, 2011
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The shadows deepen on the gaslit streets of New York City in the year 1880. Curses and spirits, demons and rituals, blood and faith, love and danger; such is the stuff of Magic Most Foul. Find your voice... or else.

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I was obsessed.

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It was as if he called to me, demanding I reach out and touch the brushstrokes of color swirled onto the canvas. It was the most exquisite portrait I’d ever seen. Everything about Lord Denbury was unbelievable. So lifelike.

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There’s a reason for that. Because despite what everyone says, Denbury never did commit suicide. He’s alive. Trapped. I’ve crossed over into his world within the painting and I’ve seen what dark dreams haunt him. They haunt me too. He and I are inextricably linked. And whatever demons may be out on the gas-lit cobblestone streets of Manhattan, we have no choice but to face them together…

-----------------------------

“A lush Gothic tale that begs for reading… I couldn’t put it down.” – New York Times Bestselling Author Sarah Maclean
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I cannot wait for this book. There are not enough gothic historical fantasy romances coming out this year in YA to satisfy my hunger for them, but I am over the moon that Darker Still is one of the New Releases for 2011. The book feels like it has a dose of the dangerous romance of Jane Eyre and the feel of The Picture of Dorian Gray combined with such a lush, gritty, dangerous and unique backdrop to the YA genre. As a book geek bonus, it will come out when the weather is cold and gloomy making this the perfect book to hide under the covers and devour. In the mean time I'll have dreams of Lord Denbury.

Demon Trapper's Giveaway Winner

2011-05-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

Congrats Elaine at My Love for Books Blog! You win a copy of Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver.

2011-04-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

SUMMER'S CROSSING
An Iron Fey Novella
-Events between the end of Iron Queen and Iron Knight-
Coming June 1, 2011
------------
A Midsummer's Nightmare?Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.

Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help—into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice—betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist.

This is a fantastic series and any addition to it is worth special attention. Can't wait to read this story in particular because it's not from Meghan's POV.

Contest Reminder: Demon Trapper's Daughter & Author Interview

2011-04-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

THE DEMON TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER
Demon Trappers Book 1
by Jana Oliver
Available Now!
(US Cover & Title)
---------------------------
Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on…

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life?

REVIEW

From the onset Demon Trappers Daughter held me attention, I felt like it grabbed me by the lapel and shook me until I was hooked. Riley Blackthorne is one tough chick who has a fantastic mix of attitude, self deprecating humor, and a fierce desire to prove herself worthy of the Blackthorne family name. Mix in an adorably fiendish demon that pisses florescent green on you, curses up a storm, flips you the bird, can wreck a library in seconds flat, and tries to bargain his way out of trouble ("Boon I grant thee!") means that you are crazy if you don't fall instantly in love with this book. Reading from Riley's point of view you will laugh love and despair with her, cry with her, and you will always be her on.

Then there's Beck, older, tough, worldly, and a pain in Riley's ass. The story goes that she had a serious crush on him but as he's her father's apprentice, ex-military, and there's an age gap that was a problem. So Beck lets Riley know that there's is no chance in hell he'd ever consider dating her. From that humiliating point on Riley thinks of Beck as the enemy. The guy who humiliated her and then the one who, as she sees it, takes up all of her father's time. Their bickering, grudging respect, secretly still attracted, resentful relationship is like an onion, there are a lot of layers and they go through the ringer and into the deep fryer because because of each other. Beck has always had to fight for and with everything and he's hard on himself. Through Beck we witness Riley go from having a hard life of her own in this dystopian version of Atlanta, to her have to grow up and cope with an impossible situation. Beck journey isn't easy, but as he watches someone he considers his responsibility push him away and fall for someone else, I was completely with him and rooting for him every step of the way.

Don't get confused by the US and UK versions, they have different titles and covers (see the UK version, Forsaken, pictured left), but it's the same ridiculously awesome book.

Urban fantasy is a genre that's rich but crowded, it's difficult to read one that feels fresh, enticing, dangerous, and deliciously familiar all at once. Blending urban fantasy with a gritty dystopian backdrop Demon Trapper's Daughter is the first in a series that will make you sit up and take notice. This is one of those novels that transcends the YA classification, any fan of this genre will fall head over heels for this story. If you are like me and follow religiously the cults of Jim Butcher, Kelley Armstrong, Patty Briggs, and Rob Thurman (just to name the tip of the iceberg) then trust me that this is a series for you.

IB Teen Blog Interview with Jana Oliver

IBT: Who was easier to write, Riley or Beck?

JO: To start with, Beck was the easier of the two. I “heard” him right off, Southern drawl and all. I knew his background, his hopes and fears, all of it. Riley was definitely more of a challenge and took longer for me because she was seventeen. I wanted to ensure she was a realistic young adult in terms of emotions, speech and actions. Since it’s been some years since I was that age, it took longer to achieve “Riley-ness”.

IBT: What are your key ingredients to a good story?

JO: I love a story that grabs onto me and doesn’t let go. I want multi-layered characters, a pretty complex plot and unforeseen outcomes. I love to be surprised. Stories that plod, have one-dimensional characters or an author who doesn’t bother to build a believable world, don’t get finished. Life is too short for boring books. You know, I think that should be a bumper sticker (LOL).

IBT: There's a wealth of urban fantasy yet Demon Trader's Daughter is exceedingly unique. How challenging is it to pave your own path when making new mythologies or world building?

JO: It’s was a big challenge. I’m always afraid I’m unconsciously borrowing stuff from other authors, which all of us do to some extent or another. I always enjoy a story where the setting/environment is a character in itself, and that requires pre-planning. I started with where Atlanta is today and then made it worse. Lots of “what if this happened?” questions led to outcomes such as a bankrupt school system where the students attend class in abandoned buildings or where the price of gas ($10/gallon) has required the city to retrofit some of the parking places as “retail shopping opportunities”. My alternate Atlanta isn’t dystopian, but it’s getting there.

As for the demons, they’re a mashup of Christian, Jewish and Islamic sources. I borrowed a little from here and there to craft my world with just enough “reality” to make it plausible, though fortunately we are not plagued by Hellspawn at present.

IBT: What is your favorite type of hero?

JO: The flawed one. The one who has to face his/her own personal insecurities, overcome them and then do what has to be done no matter the personal cost. The hero can be either male or female. The bottom line is that they face something they fear. I’m also fond of “unintended consequences.” A hero makes a decision and it ripples out into the world in ways he/she never thought possible. This is a variant on the old adage: “No good deed goes unpunished.”

IBT: Will we ever hear the story of the Blackthorne house fire? Was a Pyro demon involved? Or is it back story and ultimately not essential to the bigger picture?

JO: I might end up writing about the condo fire one of these days. I’m guessing there was a Pyro-Fiend in the mix and I think that might be fun to write about. They are so…incendiary. I’d love to write about Beck’s capture in the Marta station that required a Hazmat team. I can only imagine what led to that disaster.

IBT: "Boon I grant thee..." coming from a three inch tiny demon with major attitude problem or a tiny bling obsessed ninja-clad demon (with a bad rap in my opinion) are well, precious. How or where did you come up with the little fiends?

JO: I decided it was going to be easier for the readers if I graded the Hellspawn according to cunning and lethality, Grade One through Five. At the bottom end of the scale are fiends that are annoying, but not necessarily lethal. The Biblio-Fiend (book hating demon) seemed a logical pest for libraries and bookstores and a rather nasty fellow at that. The Klepto-Fiend (aka Magpie because of their obsessive love of shiny objects) explains why we can never find stuff in our house. Like the ring that went missing in my bedroom that showed up underneath the carpet runner in our downstairs hallway. Rather than blame that weirdness on fairies, I figured there had to be a demon involved. Since they’re small, they have mega attitude. Somehow that fits the little guys.

IBT: As an author how do you respond to those who think censorship is a necessary evil?

JO: There are certain books I know aren’t my thing, but that doesn’t give me the right to tell someone else they shouldn’t read them. I have no issues with parents auditing what their children read, but deciding what they find offensive should apply to the rest of the world is, to be blunt, rather arrogant. Each child and adult is unique. We read different material and we process that material differently. So yes, censorship is evil, but not necessary.

IBT: Reading Demon Trapper's Daughter I felt as if you didn't pull any punches, but did you find that you censored yourself knowing that what you were writing was intended primarily for a younger audience?

JO: I didn’t rein myself in as much as I might have. Now when I look back at some of the scenes I go “Whoa!” But then young adults have been exposed to more of the real world than I was at that age. They are plugged in, they are aware of the bigger issues, the fact that sometimes there isn’t a happy ending. Some have lost their parents or a sibling to illness or war. I felt that if I pulled those punches, not shown the risks inherent to Riley’s profession, it would be sending the wrong message. I’d be telling my younger readers they were too immature to handle the tough stuff, when in fact they face that tough stuff every day of their lives.

IBT: The short story Retro Demonology is an inspired way to get readers thirsty for more. I love that author/publishers are now offering these free little jewels up to tempt readers. Will there be any others in the future?

JO: I thought it was a great idea when my publisher asked me to write Retro Demonology. One scene I’d love to tell is Beck’s nightmare capture of a Pyro in a rush hour MARTA station (which I mention in Demon Trapper’s Daughter). I just have to figure out why it was such a disaster (LOL).

IBT: I'm curious, if you could have dinner with any three people (living, imaginary, or dead), who would they be and why?

JO: Edgar Allan Poe (providing he was sober). Inspector George Abberline (he was in charge of the Jack the Ripper investigation). Queen Elizabeth the First since I’d love to have her tell me how she kept those English nobles dancing to her tune all those years.

Jana thank you so much for the interview. You all should check out the Demon Trappers Bonus Short Story that you can find free online!

CONTEST INFORMATION:

-The winner will get a copy of The Demon Trapper's Daughter!

-To enter you must comment on this post

-For 1 extra entry start Following the Blog (Followers will automatically get an extra entry)

-For 1 extra entry: post about this contest on your blog, twitter, or any other site (add the link in the comments please)

-For 1 extra entry Follow the IB Bookmarked Blog (companion to IB Teen Blog)

-Contest is open to all, including international readers

CONTEST ENDS 04/30/11 at 11:59 pm.

The Girl in the Steel Corset Prequel!

2011-04-19T16:05:00.001-07:00

The STRANGE CASE of FINLEY JAYNE
The Steampunk Chronicles Prequel
by Kady Cross
Available May 1, 2011
Or you can find it FREE at Barnes&Noble.com
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Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined…

An ebook exclusive prequel to The Steampunk Chronicles.

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The GIRL in the STEEL CORSET

The Steampunk Chronicles Book One

by Kady Cross

Available 05/24/11

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

Soul Thief Cover Art Revealed!

2011-04-18T11:06:00.001-07:00

SOUL THIEF

Demon Trappers Book Two

by Jana Oliver

Available 08/30/11

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Riley Blackthorne’s adventures continue in the second spellbinding Demon Trappers novel, as she battles demons… and a love that could destroy her.

At the start of the second thrilling installment of the Demon Trappers series, 17-year-old Riley Blackthorne has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her sweet boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. Add to the mix: Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad, and Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.

But as the demon count in Atlanta increases, the already crippled Trappers Guild has its hands full, and, when the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever. As Riley’s life becomes a dangerous balancing act, will she be strong enough not to tip? And who will be there to catch her if she falls?

(UK Edition pictured right)

I am going crazy waiting for this book. I love love love this series!

Enclave Contest Winner (s)

2011-04-01T00:03:00.001-07:00

Here are the winners for the Enclave Contest: Braiden from the awesome That Boy Needs Therapy Blog and Lyndsay from the über amazing Narritively Speaking, check out their blogs!

New Cover! Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

2011-03-29T23:23:00.001-07:00

DEARLY, DEPARTED
by Lia Habel
Coming 10/18/11

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A maximalist, post-apocalyptic, neo-Victorian steampunk zombie novel in which a girl, whose blood is impervious to the “Z-virus,” searches for her missing dad, is kidnapped by (good) zombies, falls improbably in love with a rather sweet zombie boy, and sets out to save the world from a zombie plague beyond imagining.

As far as romantic pairings go in the year 2195, you don't get much more unlikely than an upper-class schoolgirl and a poor miner from enemy tribes. Filter in the fact that he's a zombie, and you're definitely talking about star-crossed love.

Dearly, Departed is a cyber-Victorian/steampunk romance that takes place in the shadow of a new ice age. Nora Dearly, a mouthy teenage girl and apparent orphan, leaves school for Christmas - only to be dragged into the night by the living dead. Luckily for her, though, the good ones got to her first. From her reanimated rescuers she learns not only that zombies are roaming the countryside, but that her father is one - and that he's in terrible trouble. She also meets Captain Bram Griswold, a noble, strong, and rather sweet undead boy for whom she starts to fall.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Pamela Roe, is just trying to carry on with life as best she can in the wake of Nora's disappearance - when she ends up killing an evil zombie in self-defense. Pam is galvanized into action, and ends up leading a group of survivors as the city of New London is thronged by the ravenous dead.

Upon hearing of Pamela's plight, Nora and Bram set out to rescue her friends, find her missing father, and maybe just save what's left of the world.
---------------------------------------------

For a book that's synopsis defies logic, I have to say I am extremely excited to read this novel. Sure each sentence, nay, each word in the book description seems to be daring itself to be more improbable than the next, but that's exactly what's awesome about it. Standing so far apart from all other books in neighboring genres and subgenres, this looks to be a unique reading experience. Nora Dearly and Captain Bram Griswold take starcrossed lovers to a whole new level. All that and the gorgeous cover is absolutely jaw dropping. Here's an excerpt that can be found on Amzaon.com.

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

2011-03-22T13:01:00.001-07:00

ENCLAVE
by Ann Aguirre
Coming April 12, 2011
Read the first two chapters here
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WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

REVIEW (SPOILERS AHEAD- READ WITH EXTREEM CAUTION):

"Spooky-cool, grimly gorgeous, tactile, tough, and terrifying." --Sharon Shinn

I must prefice this review by letting you know that I consider this one of my favorite books of all time. Having said that, in Enclave I've found the heroine I've been waiting for since Graceling's Katsa (sure there was Katniss in between, but the these two heroines share a much feircer fighters intensity that stands them apart for me), Deuce has an almost inexorable will as a survivor, a fighter, and a leader. By adding an equally strong and often mysterious partner in Fade, Duece learns that compassion is not a weakness. That blind obidience is not strength.

I could "see" their world with an absolute clarity and it came to me almost instantly. The author never had to describe all the minutia, a few words were suffcient. I could feel the grit and the smothering darkness underground, the claustrophobia of the enclosed spaces crammed almost check to jaw with unimaginable horrors hunting them in the darkness.

Conversely, when the story went Topside I could feel the vastness of the open space above them and how terrifying infinity makes you feel, but especially when it's starring you in the face for the first time. Strangely evocative, I felt as though I could smell the various and often putrid bouquet surrounding Deuce and Fade. In the Freaks I found a horrific humaniod mutation that feed mostly on the carcasses of the dead with teeth and claws made for ripping, clawing, and chewing you up. There are so many unanswered questions about their origins, and their behavior. It seems the more well fed, the more sentient they become. I cannot wait to find out more about them. This world they all live in is not so much dystopian, but a seemingly true representation of a post-apocalyptic world.

I was blown away by the characters in Enclave, and this story evoked such a passion from me for this series. I admire both of the lead characters, all Deuce wants is to shoulder the weight of the responsability to keep her loved ones safe, she hopes she's up to the seemingly insurmountable obstacles and odds of their world. She doesn't waver, but there is nothing between her and certain death besides her brain, her knives, and her feirce and infallible partner Fade.

IB Teen Blog interviews Ann Aguirre:

IBT: I read in your FAQ's that voices in your head are where your story ideas come from, but I was wondering how Enclave and especially Deuce came to be.

AA: I was in Austin, Texas talking to my agent in IM one night. She was talking about a YA manuscript that she'd really loved. That proved a segue, and I told her about an idea I had about a world where kids lived underground and nobody lived to be older than twenty-five, due to a variety of problems.

Since I'm an organic writer, I know how a story begins and how it ends. I have the voices in my head, whispering to me. In this case, it was Deuce and Fade. When I told my agent, Laura Bradford, my idea, she loved it. So that fall, I wrote the book with her blessing. I had pondered writing a YA for a while, but I wanted to make sure I had the right idea first. Since my books are always gritty, a dystopian world seemed like the natural setting for my YA debut. And I think it was the right move.

IBT: You explained in your author's note how biological weapons and manufactured plagues had caused the apocalypse, but you didn't (yet?) hint as to the origins of the freaks. Are they humans who mutated because of the plagues? Do they breed or do they infect? Is hunger a reason why the ones near the College Enclave were so animalistic and the ones near the Nassau Enclave and Topside, being better fed, so sentient?

AA: If I answer these questions, it will reduce the impact of book two, OUTPOST. So rest easy when I say answers are forthcoming, but the kids have to learn things in a way that's organic to the story.

IBT: Can Deuce read thoughts now? It started to happen after she was bit, am I grasping at straws?

AA: No, she can't. She may seem more attuned to Fade because they've become so close, but it's not a supernatural phenomenon.

IBT: When can we expect to see Outpost on the bookshelves? Assuming that this is the second book in the series, is it going to end as a duology or will there be more?

AA: OUTPOST drops in fall of 2012. I don't have an exact release date yet. The book is drafted.

IBT: What are your key ingredients to a good story?

AA: Tension, conflict, emotional depth, three-dimensional characters with goals and flaws, action, heart, good writing and worldbuilding.

IBT: Which characters voices in Enclave came easiest to you?

AA: Since I was writing in Deuce's head, I know her most intimately. And all the other characters flow through her. So the answer must be Deuce. But I love everyone in the Razorland world.

IBT: What does it say about society that we do not always take care of our "weaker" or "poorer" citizens? In Enclave, there were many cases where the weak or defenseless were left behind or abandoned to their own fate. This dictum was one of the things that Fade fought against and something he made Deuce recognize wasn't a characteristic of strength. That it takes courage to defend those who can't do it for themselves, and that is something that real leaders do.

AA: I suspect I have strong feelings on the subject because when I was fourteen, I spent a week volunteering at a homeless shelter. It changed the way I view the world. People often pretend not to see misfortune, as if it's contagious, like you can become poor or unhomed simply by sparing someone a kind word. In our society, these weaker, poorer citizens go unseen. Unheard. What does it say about our society? I suppose it speaks to our complacency and entitlement.

IBT: What is your favorite type of hero?

AA: I have a weakness for the dutiful man, who will sacrifice personal dreams and pleasures for what he knows is right.

IBT: As an author how do you respond to those who think censorship is a necessary evil?

AA: Censorship is wrong. That's not to say I think eight year olds should read books with graphic sex and violence. Their parents must make sure their fiction is appropriate. But those books have a right to exist for those who have the maturity and the desire to read them.

IBT: When writing your YA novels, do you find that you censor yourself knowing that what you write is intended primarily for a younger audience?

AA: I write what the story demands. I don't pull punches.

IBT: I'm curious, if you could have dinner with any three people (living, imaginary, or dead), who would they be and why?

AA: Mark Twain, Doctor Who, and Sting.

Mr. Twain has always seemed irreverent and amusing. I think his dinner conversation would be top-notch. Doctor Who, well, obviously because after dinner, I hope he'll make me his companion and take me on some mad adventures. And wouldn't that make fabulous book fodder? Finally, Sting, because I really love his music, and I might get him drunk enough to sing something for us. Before I went off in the Tardis, of course.

IBT: I also read in your FAQ's that you live in Mexico, a place I would love to travel to if only to gorge myself on the street food (an episode of Tony Bourdains' No Reservations clinched Mexico City as one of my must travel-to destinations). What is your favorite type of street food?

AA: Los esquites, no question. This is roast corn, sliced from the cob into a cup. The street vendors serve it with your choice of chile, mayo, lime, or cojita cheese. I like it with all of the above. It's sooo good.

Thanks Ann!

Borderline by Bonnie Rozanski

2011-03-15T17:10:00.001-07:00

BORDERLINE
by Bonnie Rozanski
Available Now!

Picture Holden Caulfield in 2004: smart but unfocussed, energetic but restless; creative but disorganized, with a smutty mouth. He's mostly unmotivated, really screwing up at school. He detests his autistic younger brother Austin. With his mother obsessed with caring for Austin, and his scientist father immersed in his research, Guy, the twelve-year-old Everyman his name implies, is ignored. 'I might as well be the Guy in the moon for all they care,' he observes.

Borderline is a skewed coming-of-age story of a normal boy in a crazy world -- a fast-paced world of high-tech gismos, global air travel and antibiotics, a world in which high schools have replaced cafeterias with fast food counters and the scourges of autism, asthma, allergies, diabetes and obesity are the norm.

REVIEW

Not everything that chills you and gives you nightmares comes from fictional monsters. The scariest things in life are those life changing experiences that are oh so very real. Borderline is a story about a family changed forever by their youngest member, Austin, who has autism. Told by Guy, Austin's smart-ass older brother, who's point of view on his family and life is told with humor, confusion, frustration, and not a little bit of anger. He's just a kid, and yet he's expected to deal with such a huge and confusing issue and behave as an adult. His parents are so wrapped up in their lives and their youngest son that Guy just falls through the cracks because he's "normal". I found myself emotionally invested in this lovable highly dysfunctional yet functioning family and with his adorably food addicted best friend Matt.

Read this book for it's richness in human drama, it's mirror to the way humans are different now than even thirty years ago. "...a 400% rise in autism... a signal to us that we've changed our own environment, and now it's changing us." pg. 160

And it's true, good or bad, we are dealing with things no other generation had to deal with before, it's a fact. The conveniences we all depend on all have new adverse effects on us and the environment. The way we eat is all about convenience and cost effectiveness. The chemicals we've put into our environment, our food, our bodies all has an effect on our lives now, but are going to greatly affect our newest generation and that of the generations to come. We've all almost given up on what's right in favor of what's easy. I know these things have changed me in adverse ways and that I need to make an effort to make smarter choices and start thinking about more than just the moment. I'm glad I read this book because it opened my eyes a little more to things that were already worrying me, and put them all into one short punch to the gut.

Copy of the book provided was provided to IB Teen Blog by the author.

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld- Cover Reveal!

2011-03-11T14:43:00.001-08:00

GOLIATH
Leviathan Trilogy Book Three
by Scott Westerfeld
Coming September 20, 2011
---------------
#1 New York Times bestselling author Scott Westerfeld presents the final book in his masterful trilogy that began with Leviathan.

I am so in love with this series. Because of time constraints I tried it in audio format, and it was as if I'd dropped headfirst into the book. Read by Alan Cumming, the audio book (much like the Harry Potter series read by the amazing Jim Dale) sucked me in completely. These characters came alive for me, not just because I was listening to the book, but because the story and characters are so rich. I kept going through my favorite chapters again and again, and going to the book to read and to see those awesome illustrations that are littered throughout the pages. I cannot wait to see what's in store for Alek and Deryn in Goliath!