Blog tour + UK Giveaway: Haunt: Dead Wrong - Curtis Jobling

I'm hosting a stop today on the blog tour for Curtis Jobling's new book 'Haunt: Dead Wrong'.  Read on for an extract from the book and a fabulous UK giveaway.       

 

 

Will and Dougie are still adjusting to the slight change in their friendship dynamic. . .

Will's dead but Dougie can still see him. Weird, admittedly, but there are some positives: solving a murder mystery (with the help of former living best friend), becoming a local hero and getting the girl of your dreams are pretty big perks.

But what happens when the girl is Will's crush too? The first (and last!) girl he ever kissed? And why has Dougie's dad been acting all weird ever since Will died? Just as things are beginning to go right for Will, it seems he couldn't have been more wrong. .

 

UK Giveaway - win a copy of 'Haunt: Dead Wrong'.

As part of today's blog tour, I have one copy of Curtis Jobling's new book to giveaway.  You must have a UK postal address to enter.  Just leave me a comment on this post with your email address to be entered into the giveaway.  This will end on 13th March. Good luck!

 

Don't forget to also check out the other stops on the blog tour.   

 

 

Wereworld: Storm of Sharks - Curtis Jobling

Wereworld: Storm of Sharks by Curtis Jobling, published by Puffin on 21st May 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
The epic Wereworld saga continues as Drew Ferran—werewolf, leader of people, and the rightful king of Lyssia—battles the evil Catlords who seek to oppress the kingdom. As the war’s scope widens, Drew and his allies take the fight to the high seas. But just as many terrors await them on the water as on land, with pirates and scoundrels abounding and a host of previously-unknown werelords emerging to take sides in the war that threatens to destroy the Seven Realms.

Review:
This is the fifth book in the fantastic Wereworld series by Curtis Jobling and is the penultimate title. I don't know what I'm going to do when it's all over because I've loved it so much.  It's going to leave a big void in my reading calendar as I always look forward to each new instalment being published. 

The story picks up with Drew still fighting for Lyssia's freedom while his allies are scattered and his enemies closing in.  The action packed storyline grabbed me by the throat from the opening chapter and never let go the whole way through.  I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes in the book which took place at sea.  I'm also a fan of Vega the Sharklord and I thought the twist involving him and Casper was perfectly executed.  I certainly didn't guess the truth about them both.    

Whitley has gradually become one of my favourite characters.  She has really grown and matured and is now quite a force to contend with.  There is a romantic undercurrent between her and Drew and I enjoyed the fact that Drew may be a Werelord but he's still pretty clueless sometimes when it comes to the opposite sex.   

I'm looking forward to seeing Trent and Drew finally reunited.  It will be interesting to see what kind of reunion the two brothers have, particularly now that Trent has grown much closer to Gretchen.

I've been Team Hector from the word go and have always believed that he will finally be redeemed.  He comes tantalisingly close to this but Jobling still leaves us hanging about whether or not Hector can ever truly make amends for his actions.  I'm hoping so because I always think back to the type of person he was at the start and those qualities must still be buried deep inside of him. 

I've been a fan of this series from the very beginning and I'm so attached to all the characters and the world that Curtis Jobling has created.  He literally never takes his foot off the gas with some superb storytelling!  I'm excited to find out how it's all going to end in 'War of the Werelords' which is being published in October 2013 but I'll also be extremely sad to wave goodbye to the world of the Seven Realms.  

Review: Wereworld: Nest of Serpents - Curtis Jobling

Wereworld: Nest of Serpents by Curtis Jobling, published by Puffin on 7th June 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
Young Werewolf Drew Ferran, rightful king of Westland, has rushed to the aid of the besieged Staglords, whose mountain stronghold is surrounded by the forces of the Werelion Prince Lucas.

And deep in the haunted Dyrewood forest, the Wereladies Gretchen and Whitley seek sanctuary within the city of Brackenholme. No opposing force has ever breached the palisade walls, but danger could be closer than they think... As Lyssia's greatest war rumbles towards a thunderous climax, the lines between friend and foe are blurred. What if the enemy is one of their own?

Review:
I was super excited when I realised that there was a new book in the Wereworld series out.  After having been left on a cliffhanger at the end of the fourth book, I was eager to pick this one up and start it straight away.

The first part re-introduces the reader to all the characters and picks up the thread of their stories.  Hector, Drew, Whitley and Gretchen, alolng with Drew's brother Trent are scattered throughout Lyssia.  Drew is helping the Staglords defend themselves against the Werelion Prince Lucas, whilst Gretchen and Whitley are headed for Brackenholme and safety.  As the story progresses, an old foe returns to put everyone's lives in danger.

As I've read each book in this series, I've been continually impressed and amazed at the sheer scale and scope of the story and the Wereworld universe.  There's now a huge cast of interesting characters with new faces appearing all the time.  The only problem is keeping track of all of their names! Sometimes I have to check back to make sure I remember who someone is correctly.

I've always made no secret of my love of Hector, the Boarlord.  He's made quite a transformation from the beginning of the series and at times he seems quite unrecognisable from the person that Drew first met.  Without giving anything away, because my lips are firmly sealed, I'm starting to worry that he may finally be beyond redemption.  I'm not sure if there is any way back for him now.  However, there's always hope and I truly believe that although he's done some terrible things, beneath it all is still a heart of gold. 

I also enjoyed getting to see more of Drew's brother Trent who is now repentant about his actions towards his brother and wishes to put things right.  I think there may be a possible romance on the cards between him and another character but I'll have to wait and see.  Gradually all the characters are being drawn back together and I'm looking forward to finally seeing them all reunited. 

Even though Jobling is now on book five, the writing remains wonderfully vivid and the story gets even more engaging with each new instalment.  There are some amazing battle scenes which are brutal, bloody and no holds barred and there's plenty of action and adventure to satisfy readers.  There's a fast and furious pace to the story and I didn't want to put the book down for a single second.

There's an epic quality about this series which I love and I can only hope that Jobling writes fast because I want more now! 

Just a quick note about the cover of the book.  The cover art for the series has been redesigned and published with a whole new look.  I have to say that I preferred the old one and not only because I like all my books in a set to match.

Review: Wereworld: Shadow of the Hawk - Curtis Jobling

Wereworld: Shadow of the Hawk by Curtis Jobling, published by Puffin on 5th January 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
DREW FERRAN, THE RIGHTFUL KING OF WESTLAND, IS TRAPPED.

Enslaved by the Goatlord Kesslar, young werewolf Drew finds himself on the volcanic isle of Scoria, forced to fight in the arena for the Lizardlords. With the help of an unlikely ally, he must find a way to break free - but who has ever managed to escape?

Meanwhile, Hector the Wereboar flees the forces of the Catlords. Now on board the pirate ship Maelstrom, the enemy's net is closing in. Haunted by the spirits of the dead, Hector is soon left wondering who the true enemy is . . .

Review:
This is the third installment of the engrossing and exciting Wereworld series by British author Curtis Jobling.  He can't write these books fast enough for me!  No sooner have I finished one then I'm eager for the next to find out what's going to happen next to all the characters.  Something major nearly always happens at the end of each book as well which leaves me biting my nails and unable to sleep until I know the next publication date. 

The story picks up with Drew enslaved by the Goatlord Kessler and on his way to Scoria where he's forced to fight as a gladiator for the Lizardlords.  He is determined however to gain his freedom and return to Lyssia to claim his kingdom back once and for all and knowing Drew, I have no doubt that he'll do so in the end. He has an inextinguishable spirit and true grit and no matter what stands in his way he never gives up and he always overcomes the obstacles put in his path.  He's endured a lot since discovering his true heritage and he's suffered both pain and despair but I love his loyalty and his single-minded pursuit of what's right.

In a separate plot strand, the story follows the Boarlord Hector, who is onboard the ship the Maelstrom.  Hector has been my absolute favourite character in the series from the word go.  He's also probably been the one character who has changed the most throughout the story and for this reason (and without giving anything away), I'm starting to worry that redemption may now be out of his reach.  His regular communing with the dead has affected him greatly and he may never return to the Hector I knew and loved.  I would love to see him meet up with Drew again because if anyone can reach out to him and put him back on the right path then it's his best friend.

There are some great new characters introduced in 'Shadow of the Hawk', including the Hawklords and one of my favourite things about these books is getting to discover all the new Werelords and their unusual talents, as well as all the unusual places they end up.  I also enjoyed seeing Drew's brother Trent again who wants to track him down but eventually begins to discover the real truth about him.   

Curtis Jobling definitely delivers after the success of the first two books.  There's action, adventure and excitement in abundance and I was glued to the pages throughout.  This book, as is the whole series, is stonkingly good!  If you haven't come across the Wereworld series yet then I implore you to rush out and grab the first book now.  Once you've started you won't be able to stop reading this epic fantasy adventure which will sweep you away into a whole new world.   

Blog tour: Wereworld "7 Realms, 7 Beasts" - Curtis Jobling

Today I'm taking part in the blog tour for the third exciting installment of Curtis Jobling's awesome Wereworld series.  The third book is called 'Shadow of the Hawk' and continues to follow Drew Ferran's action-packed adventure in the Wereworld universe.

Curtis has written a fabulous guest post today all about Arik and Balk, the wereapes who feature in the series.

  
"Few gladiators enter the Scorian Furnace delighting in the grisly work they undertake, but the Apelord siblings are two such characters. Revelling in the adulation of the masses, Arik and Balk are responsible for the deaths of many humans in the Lizardlords’ arena, in addition to a number of therianthropes. The brothers were sold to Ignus by their own father, so fearful was he that the two of them meant to murder harm – patricide is not uncommon in Wereape society, a well-practised means of succession for this warring, therian bloodline. With the promise of glory, fighting for Ignus, Arik and Balk have thrown themselves into the roles of the people’s favourite gladiators, killing for the pleasure of their master as well as themselves. While other Werelords despise the fact that they must fight for the amusement of the Lizardlord, Ignus, Arik and Balk delight in their work.

Not the brightest of characters, the hulking Wereapes’ chests, backs and arms are a mass of muscles. Each brother cuts a brutal sight even in human form, their enormous arms and shoulders covered in a tangle of unsightly black hair. When changed into their frightening therian form, they have the addition of savage canines that can rip chunks of flesh from any foe. Cruel and conniving, Arik and Balk work as a tag-team, using their combined strength and ferocious attacks to bring down their enemies. Their battles aren’t restricted to the arena either – on more than one occasion the brothers have brought about the deaths of their enemies in the training ludus, away from the eyes of an audience. Thugs and bullies of the worst kind, they take great pleasure in tormenting their opponents, both physically and psychologically, enjoying nothing more than teasing and taunting any new blood that arrives in the Furnace. What might they make of a Werewolf in their midst?

Author’s note: I’m a BIG fan of the old Planet of the Apes films from yesteryear (although, that said, best not to bring up Battle for the Planet of the Apes – best to draw a veil over that monstrosity). Bullies and braggarts strike a resonant chord with most readers, something that each of us had no doubt endured at some point during our lives. We all remember that feeling of being trapped when cornered by such a character, the dread at what might come. I was quite lucky in my school-life, able to make the brutes laugh – distraction techniques are winners, especially a little song and dance number – but such luxuries are in short supply for Drew in Wereworld. Drew’s been a young man who always stands up for the little people – he’s been that way since RISE OF THE WOLF and now, in volume three of the series, he’d unlikely to have changed his outlook. The Wereapes provide my hero with an enemy who, though physically more powerful, are a step behind him in the smarts-stakes. This leaves Drew depending upon his quick wits, but also seeking the help of his brother gladiators."

www.curtisjobling.com

www.wereworldbooks.com

Follow Curtis on Twitter: @CurtisJobling

Also make sure you check out the Spinebreakers website throughout the week where you can enter their ‘Friday 13th’ ‘Wereworld lucky for some’ competition!

Waiting on Wednesday #49

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly awaited upcoming releases.  Head on over there to take part or to check out all the other fabulous books that people are looking forward to reading! 

Wereworld: Shadow of the Hawk by Curtis Jobling

Published on 5th January 2012 by Puffin

 

Drew Ferran, the rightful King of Westland, is trapped.

Enslaved by the Goatlord Kesslar, young werewolf Drew finds himself on the volcanic isle of Scoria, forced to fight in the arena for the Lizardlords. With the help of an unlikely ally, he must find a way to break free - but who has ever managed to escape?

Meanwhile, Hector the Wereboar flees the forces of the Catlords. Now on board the pirate ship Maelstrom, the enemy's net is closing in. Haunted by the spirits of the dead, Hector is soon left wondering who the true enemy is...

I'm a massive fan of this fantasy series and have been impatiently waiting for the third book in the series for what feels like forever!  My favourite character is Hector and I can't wait to catch up with his adventure again.  If you haven't discovered this series yet then what are you waiting for! 

Curtis Jobling - Wereworld Books 1 and 2 Giveaway Winner

Thank you to everyone that entered my UK giveaway to win copies of 'Rise of the Wolf' and 'Rage of Lions', the first two books in the Wereworld series by Curtis Jobling.  If you weren't successful this time then good luck next time and don't forget to check out my International giveaway for a copy of 'Texas Gothic' by Rosemary Clement-Moore.

I'm pleased to announce that the winner is:

#14 Natalie D

Congratulations!  I will be contacting you soon by email to confirm your details.  I hope you enjoy the books and thank you once again to everyone that entered.

Review: Wereworld: Rage of Lions - Curtis Jobling

Wereworld: Rage of Lions by Curtis Jobling, published by Puffin on 7th July 2011

Goodreads synopsis:
Young werewolf Drew Ferran is the future king of Westland. He has the makings of a great warrior - but first he must master the blade and the beast. When Lady Gretchen is abducted by the Werelion Prince Lucas, Drew and his friends embark on a perilous chase to stop the prince fleeing to his homeland of Bast. As Drew encounters terrifying new Werelords along the way, he is led to the exotic city of Cape Gala, where the forces of Onyx, the Beast of Bast, await. Now Drew must summon all of his courage and strength - because the Catlords are ready to attack...

Review:
The Wereworld series is fantasy on an epic scale.  I loved the first book, 'Rise of the Wolf' and  so I couldn't wait to return to the world of Lyssia and follow the characters on their next adventure.

Drew finally knows what he is but he's still learning about and trying to accept his true heritage as King-to-be, a position he hasn't been prepared for and doesn't know if he can accept.  Before he can begin to discover what lies ahead of him, the Lady Gretchen is kidnapped and it's up to Drew to rescue her.

What I particularly liked about this installment of the series is that although Drew was still the main character and most of the story is focused around him, a significant amount of time was spent exploring a whole host of new characters and some familiar faces from the first book.  This helped to widen the scope of the story and added a whole new layer of interest.  I have to say that I'm a huge Hector fan, so I was really glad that he featured heavily in the book.  It was fascinating seeing him having to finally deal with the repercussions of his father's death and the consequences of many of the decisions he made earlier on in the series.  I do really like the friendship between Hector and Drew so I was sorry to see that they didn't get many scenes together in 'Rage of Lions' but it gave a chance for the two boys to explore their own future paths.

The story deals mainly with the political factions vying for power and control of Lyssia.  No one can be trusted and people are willing to sell each other out to escalate their own position.  Drew has to deal with his own sudden ascent and the fact that many of his choices about his future have been taken away from him.  I liked the way in which Whitley faces a similar situation but is more accepting of the role she will have to take.

The ending of the book was absolutely jaw-dropping!  I didn't see it coming at all but it's certainly going to make things intriguing for the next book in the series.   

This is one of the most amazing fantasy series I've ever read.  There is incredible attention to detail and the world of Lyssia, created by Curtis Jobling, is stupendous.  Words and images vividly leap off the page and I was utterly sucked into the story from beginning to end.  There are awesome battles, crazy-good fight scenes, danger around every corner and a wonderful group of characters facing the fight of their lives.  

Don't forget to enter my UK giveaway to win the first two books in the series:
http://adreamofbooks.blogspot.com/2011/07/giveaway-wereworld-curtis-jobling.html

Giveaway: Wereworld - Curtis Jobling

On 7th July 2011, the sequel to Curtis Jobling's incredible Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf is published.  The second book in the series is called 'Wereworld: Rage of Lions' and sounds equally awesome.  I'm a big fan of this series so I can't wait to read it.

To celebrate the release, the very lovely people at Puffin have provided a copies of the first two books in the series for me to giveaway.  This giveaway is only open to entrants within the UK at the request of the publisher. To enter just fill out the form below.

Giveaway rules.

• There will be one winner.
• Open to entrants with UK addresses only. International entrants may enter, provided they have a UK address to send the books to.
• Please fill out the form completely - including email address 
• You do not have to be a follower to enter.
• Deadline for entries will be on 18 July 2011
• Winner(s) will be drawn by random.org
• Winner(s) will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to response. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will not be passed on to any third party.