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!

In My Mailbox #52

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for holding this meme every week.

I love seeing what everybody else got in their mailboxes. 

All links go to Goodreads, where you can add the books to your wishlist if you like the look of  them.

I received some really great books in the mail this week and I've started reading some of these already!

This is Not Forgiveness by Celia Rees

(I've read this one already and found it extremely thought-provoking.  It's also an interesting change of direction for Celia Rees)

Desert Angel by Charlie Price

(This sounds very scary and not to be read before bed)

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

(Yay!  Have been dying to get my hands on the sequel to the amazing 'Unearthly')

Oliver Twisted by JD Sharpe

(I'm going to be taking part in the blog tour for this book in February)

I also wanted to include the one and only book I got for Christmas which I've read and fallen in love with!  My review will be up on the blog very soon.

           

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

(Stephanie Perkins can do no wrong!  I only wish she'd write faster!)

Review: Stolen Away - Alyxandra Harvey

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey, published by Bloomsbury on 5th January 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric—who may or may not betray them.

Review:

It’s official! Alyxandra Harvey can do it all!  After having successfully written about the world of vampires and ghosts, she’s now moved onto a new subject, faeries, weaving a captivating story of love and danger amidst the faerie realm.  I found myself totally immersed in ‘Stolen Away’ from the moment that Lucas appears on the scene with his sword by his side and kneels at the feet of the main protagonist Eloise.  He has vowed to protect her against the danger posed by Lord Strahan, the faerie king, who wants to use Eloise as a pawn in his battle to hold onto his crown.

There’s romance aplenty between Eloise and Lucas, but also some hot and sizzling moments between Eloise’s best-friend Jo and Eldric, the dark and handsome stranger that arrives on the scene to sweep Jo off her feet. I absolutely adored the relationship between the latter pairing as Eldric set my heart aflutter too.  Everyone loves a bad boy!  He’s quite an enigmatic figure and so at the beginning of the book it’s impossible to know whether or not he can be trusted but as his character is gradually developed we learn more about him and his own family history.  I loved the way that he seemed as drawn to Jo as she was to him, like a magnetic force which is out of their control and he always appeared just when she needed him. There are plenty of hot kisses between them and an undeniable spark in the air whenever they're together.  My only complaint was that I wanted to read more about them and I have my fingers firmly crossed that we may just see a sequel about them in the future. 

Eloise and Jo are joined by their other best friend Devin who is right there by their side throughout the events of the story.  Their friendship is rock solid and I liked the fact that even when they didn't necessarily agree with each others opinions or choices, they were always there to back each other up.   

I love the writing style of Alyxandra Harvey and the way she paints such vivid pictures of people and places that I always feel completely transported into the story.  'Stolen Away' is no exception with wonderful descriptions particularly of the fae, including Isadora, the no-nonsense and feisty flower fairy, as well as the wasp and hornet riding fae who manage to be both endearing and fierce at the same time.  There are also some fabulous passages conjuring up images of the realm of the fae which appears to be deeply magical as well as incredibly dangerous.

Harvey had me hook, line and sinker, captivating me completely with her tale of blossoming love amidst the world of the fae.  This is another brilliant book by my favourite YA Queen and I look forward to seeing what subject she'll turn her hand to next!

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Tempest - Julie Cross

I am thrilled to welcome Julie Cross to the blog today as part of her tour for the fantastic 'Tempest'.  It may only be January but I have a feeling that this is going to be one of my favourite debuts of the year!  'Tempest' is a rollercoaster ride of time-travel, romance, action and adventure and is so utterly gripping that you won't be able to put it down!

I’m super excited that TEMPEST is going to be available to the UK audience around the same time it is in the US. It works out perfect because in the UK it will be cold and everyone will be looking for a new book to cozy up with inside. Of course, those in Australia can read TEMPEST on the beach. And anyone who’s made New Years resolutions to shed holiday pounds can read the book while burning calories on the elliptical. So, really, I couldn’t ask for a better publication month.

#This Time Last Year

This time last year, TEMPEST was getting all set for copy edits. There was no cover. No one in my town or hardly anyone online had heard of me or knew that I was a writer. Only one person in my family had read the book. I was still working full time and still not sure exactly where I was headed with this trilogy.

#This Time Next Year

Honestly, I can’t even imagine next year. I’m in the mode to think about tomorrow and the day after and not much beyond. But I suppose, I’ll be preparing for the book 2 release and that’s just scary since only three people have even read it as of right now. Since Tempest is my debut, I have no idea what to expect in the next year. Maybe my life won’t change as much as people are predicting. Knowing me, I’ll cling to every ounce of my current self for as long as humanly possible.

Check out Julie's Blog

Follow on Twitter @Juliecross1980

Don't forget to check out the next stop of the 'Tempest' blog tour
over at The Vault tomorrow.

The wonderful people at Macmillan have very kindly provided me with a copy of the book to giveaway.  This giveaway is UK only at the publishers request.  Please fill out all the details required on the form below and good luck!

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 but it's always appreciated
• Deadline for entries will be on 15 January 2012
• 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.

Review: Tempest - Julie Cross

Tempest by Julie Cross, published by Macmillan Children's Books on 5th January 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
Jackson Meyer is hiding a secret. He can time-travel. But he doesn't know how he does it, how to control it or what it means. When Jackson, and his girlfriend Holly, find themselves in fatal danger, Jackson panics and catapaults himself two years into his past, further than he's ever managed before, and this time he can't find a way back to the future. All the rules of time-travel he's experienced so far have been broken and Jackson has no choice but to pretend to be his younger self whilst he figures out a solution. Jackson is tearing himself apart with guilt and frustration, wondering if Holly survived. He's also become the target of an unknown enemy force and it seems even his dad is lying to him. Jackson is racing against time to save the girl he loves, but to do that he must first discover the truth about his family and himself. And stay alive.

Review:
'Tempest' is a time-travelling romantic action-adventure which will probably be read by most people in one sitting because it's so compulsively good that you won't be able to put it down!  It's the debut novel from Julie Cross who's an exciting new writing talent and is the first in a trilogy which I'm thrilled about because I want more...now!  There's been a lot of buzz surrounding the release of 'Tempest' and the film rights have already been optioned by Summit Entertainment, the company behind the Twilight Saga.

I'm a huge fan of books about time-travel.  One of my favourite adult novels is 'The Time Traveller's Wife' and I love the idea of being able to travel both into the future and into the past to revisit people and events.  Jackson's ability to travel through time is initially explained at the start of the book in a very manner of fact type of way, which makes it feel like although this is something quite extraordinary, it's also believable and not beyond the realms of possibility.  Because Jackson is constantly time-travelling I did have to concentrate on keeping track of what was happening and when but the date and time were often provided at the start of the chapter which made this a bit easier.   

Having a male narrator in the form of nineteen year old Jackson, is a refreshing change.  I enjoyed seeing and hearing about things from a male perspective and he makes a fantastic central character who I really loved by the end of the book.  His sole purpose in 'Tempest' is to ensure the safety of his girlfriend Holly and he's willing to do literally anything to protect her.  Jackson and Holly are both only nineteen but they have a very mature and grown-up relationship and are secure in their feelings for each other.  There are some incredibly romantic and sizzling moments between them and I was rooting for them all the way.  I loved Jackson's completely unswerving devotion and loyalty to Holly and the sacrifices he makes for her are admirable.  They're definitely my new favourite book couple!

The writing was fast paced, the plot exciting and there were some great action scenes interspersed.  There was also a good balance between chapters which were jam-packed full of adventure and excitement and quieter scenes where Jackson had time to stop and share a special moment with Holly. 

'Tempest' had everything you could wish for in a book including time-travelling teenagers, good guys doing battle with bad guys, an awesome sidekick best-friend and a spine tingling romance.  I was constantly kept on my toes and there were so many surprises and intriguing revelations.  The ending broke my heart and the sequel can't come soon enough.  This was an amazing start to a trilogy which will blow your mind.

Review + Giveaway: Cinder - Marissa Meyer

Cinder by Marissa Meyer, published by Puffin on 5th January 2012


Goodreads synopsis:
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Review:
Marissa Meyer delivers a knockout with her story about Cinderella as you've never seen her before.  'Cinder' is a futuristic take on a traditional fairytale which is both inventive and truly original.  I was incredibly excited about this book prior to publication even though I wasn't really sure what to expect from it.  I started it one evening planning to read just a couple of chapters but ended up becoming so immersed in the story that I stayed up half the night reading.  This is only Meyer's debut novel but it's ingenious and imaginative and an astounding and fascinating book that I ended up loving. 

It's the first book in the Lunar Chronicles quartet which will be followed by other fairytale inspired tales including 'Scarlet' (Red Riding Hood), 'Cress' (Rapunzel) and 'Winter' (Snow White and the Seven Dwarves).  I think I would have cried if I hadn't known that there was more to come!

'Cinder' is set in New Beijing where cyborgs and androids live among the human citizens.  I thought the mixing of an old and well known fairytale with a futuristic backdrop was brilliant and so clever.  Cinder herself is not your normal heroine, she's half human and half cyborg and is 'owned' by her step-mother Adri.  Cinder is also a gifted mechanic and it's this occupation which leads to her meeting the handsome Prince Kai who is ignorant of what she really is.  I enjoyed seeing the friendship between Kai and Cinder blossom and although Cinder keeps the fact that she's a cyborg secret from him, they share a number of intimate moments which leads to a level of trust and mutual respect to grow between them.  I also liked the fact that the Prince isn't a snob and wants to get to know Cinder even though she isn't of the same standing as him.  One obstacle in their path is the sinister Queen Levana of Lunar who sent shivers down my spine and literally drips evil off the page. 

Meyer has assembled an engrossing and imaginative cast of characters, my favourite whom was Cinder herself.  She's incredibly gifted and immensely loyal to the people she loves and cares about, including her android friend Iko and her step-sister Peony.  She can be unconventional at times, stubborn and headstrong but I adored her and was rooting for her throughout.  She often doesn't care about her own well being, as long as she can protect her friends and family. 

One of the plot lines in the book involves the search for an antidote to Letumosis, a plague like disease which is rampant in the city and deadly to anyone who contracts it.  This was really interesting and brings Cinder into contact with Dr Erland who holds the key to a number of secrets about her past as well as to her future happiness.   

Many of the hallmark features of the Cinderella fairytale were here but always with a slightly quirky spin on them.  For example, instead of a glass slipper there's a cyborg foot and  instead of a pumpkin there's a hover car.  There's also an evil stepmother and a wicked stepsister, plus a handsome Prince and a huge ball. 

Although I did guess the big reveal quite early on in the book, it was still shocking when it eventually came and has set the stage brilliantly for the second book in this amazing series.  I'm eager to get my hands on the follow-up and I only hope we won't be kept in suspense for too long.   

To celebrate the release of 'Cinder' the very lovely people at Puffin have given me a copy of the book to giveaway.  This giveaway is only open to entrants within the UK at the request of the publisher.  Good luck!

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 but it's always appreciated
• Deadline for entries will be on 15th January 2012
• 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.