Hey guys! I'm not fully back-back to blogging but I thought I'd take some time out to write something very important to me: representation within YA as a person who is latin@.
We all know the basics of YA, we've read nearly all the type of books the YA genre seems to specialize in; from the chosen one narrative to regular gal (or guy) becoming empowered. However, what seems to escape Young Adult lit at times, is representation either racial or sexual-wise. For every dozen books of a normal girl meeting a mysterious dude that get published yearly, there'll be maybe 3 of normal girl meeting a mysterious girl or a guy meeting a guy. Young Adult is my home, because I identify with it the most. But sometimes, I don't really identify it because I'll be reading experiences of a white narrator. This isn't to say we should take out all white narrators and replace them with people of color (which I'll abbreviate as PoC), but that the publishing market should expand more to encourage more PoC authors to write PoC characters.
What's often brought up in response to the lack of PoC narrators within literature despite there being many PoC authors in the industry is that, PoC narrators don't sell. To which I fondly reply with "That's a giant pile of bullcrap." There's most definitely a market for PoC, it's just the professionals don't understand it because they're not trying to reach that section of the market. In my personal opinion, I believe that the way the marketing for PoC titles will be made to look less appealing. I know this because I am prey to the pretty cover, and have skipped out on few good titles because I thought the covers looked meh. The market is about getting someone's attention and then capturing it long enough for them to hand over money and get the book. Which is why less time is spent on the marketing and art departments while it is diverted to a book that to professionals "is safer" (i.e books about straight, white characters) thought it might not sell well because it's the tired formula.
Now just recently conversation in YA happened on tumblr three days ago: link here.that were between a relatively big name in YA (Sarah Rees Brennan) and a fan in which racebending was the topic of the blogpost.* Essentially what's happening is that often the interviews about big issues (such as racial discussion, sexual identification and the like) are being given to people who are, really, not in a good position to speak about it (i.e they are white authors, who are cissexual (identifying as the gender they were give, so a male and female as opposed to trans*people who have surgeries to add/remove sexual organs.)
What was also brought up is the backlash these allies were facing. If there's one thing I have a big problem with is when allies are being asked for their opinion on a topic they are not equipped to deal with; however, their words carry more weight that the actual people whose opinions do matter: the queer, trans, bisexual, asian, latin@ (and others too) people. We live in a world where there are many people of different sexual orientations and ethnicities but whose opinion are ignored because we live a society where white people are still being looked upon as the "official" voices (of anything, to be quite honest). It's not okay especially when people write in PoC or other minorities into their works and lauded as breaking boundaries/the norm when they're being decent human beings and representing the world how it is; multicultural.
As the fan post puts it best with these two statements:
"when i look at the “young adult” tag on racebending, the interviewed authors are literally just you, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, and Justine Larbalestier**. and i think that’s hugely indicative of a larger problem of focusing on certain already dominant perspectives. so yes! please keep talking about it. it is absolutely part of one’s work as an ally to amplify and open discourse in which one is privileged. but please try to talk about it in such a way that focuses more on highlighting already marginalized voices and experiences, and that encourages and includes genuine social as well as textual diversity. and that continues to be critical of your own work, and to invite criticism so that you can, as you said, do better! i think—i hope—there are ways to discuss literature (even one’s own) within the context of an oppressive society that do not continue to value the ally above the marginalized."
I feel that as a person of color, there should be more works featuring a person of color, or a person who is anything but straight and white should be featured more in the market because of the world we live in. It'd be even more awesome if there were more PoC authors and authors that identify in other ways that weren't heterosexual, were in the market too that wrote about these identites and experiences. However, the market believes that they don't sell or that it'll alienate a large portion of the audience*** and that's a damn shame. Because if the market represented the world and not just a select portion, more discussions could be centered on PoC that were talking about them could be held as opposed to ones in which we have to rally our voices to even get a sliver of representation.
*the article in question was written in Feb of this year, so it's like 3-4 months of old.
** I love these authors very much, I do but I feel the frustration too when it's the same people interview on issues that aren't dealing with the issues themself.
*** the whitewashing of Khan in the new Star Trek movie (I don't care how great Benedict Cumberbatch looks/is, it'd be cool if JJ Abrams and Co. didn't look at just 2 PoC actors and then decide "we can't find a PoC, let's call in BC to bring us some $$$); the ridiculous Revealing Eden book (cannot believe that is even a thing), the even more ridiculous and rage-inducing discussion on abortion that was mainly discussed upon and decided by old, white men. Seriously. These things happened. What is life.
June 19, 2013
April 17, 2013
Waiting on Wednesday (11)
Now Playing:
Hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine
Goodreads says:
No one crosses the wall of light . . . except for one girl who doesn’t remember who she is, where she came from, or how she survived. A harrowing, powerful debut thriller about finding yourself and protecting your future—no matter how short and uncertain it may be.
The Arclight is the last defense. The Fade can’t get in. Outside the Arclight’s border of high-powered beams is the Dark. And between the Light and the Dark is the Grey, a narrow, barren no-man’s-land. That’s where the rescue team finds Marina, a lone teenage girl with no memory of the horrors she faced or the family she lost. Marina is the only person who has ever survived an encounter with the Fade. She’s the first hope humanity has had in generations, but she could also be the catalyst for their final destruction. Because the Fade will stop at nothing to get her back. Marina knows it. Tobin, who’s determined to take his revenge on the Fade, knows it. Anne-Marie, who just wishes it were all over, knows it.
When one of the Fade infiltrates the Arclight and Marina recognizes it, she will begin to unlock secrets she didn’t even know she had. Who will Marina become? Who can she never be again?
April 10, 2013
Waiting on Wednesday (10)
Now Playing: The Adventure Begins - Howard Shore
Hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine
Goodreads say:
A strange meteorite.
A deadly enchantment.
And only Merlin can destroy it.
A meteorite brings a mysterious black stone whose sinister power ensnares everyone except Merlin, the blind son of a swordsmith. Soon, all of Britain will be under its power, and he must destroy the stone—or die trying.
April 9, 2013
The Archived by Victoria Schwab
Now Playing: Arrival of the Birds & Transformation - The Cinematic Orchestra
The Archived begins with an intriguing premise, complex characters, and a beautifully haunting location of the Coronado hotel that unravels its history as soon as Mackenzie, our protagonist, steps foot inside.
Mackenzie is cool; aloof and stand off-ish. She's had her Grandfather, or Da, die a little while back with her younger Ben dying just a few months prior to the beginning of The Archived. Mack buries her emotions deep inside her, leaving the reader to feel sadness for her.
What I enjoyed most about the Archived was its incredibly fresh originality about the dead, and the rich history that Schwab reveals to the reader as Mackenzie gets comfortable at her new home at the Coronado hotel. Mack is a fish out of water as her parents decided to move right after Ben's death to the Coronado. Mack still feels the pain of losing him while her parents try to cover it up with happiness. Mack, understandably, gets mad at them as she believes that they're forgetting about him to quickly. Schwab really shows their strained dynamic in the beginning that, again, you feel sadness for the Bishop family.
The plot of the Archived develops quickly so, and considering that Schwab also manages to keep us in Mackenzie's mind as we watch her grapple with the finality of death considering her job as a Keeper and her wishes to be with Ben one last time; in short, it was absolutely fantastic character and plot development.
The mystery of the Coronado also begins relatively early on in; there are Histories waking up and causing havoc around the Coronado, which leads us to a mystery that began around nearly 70 years ago. Residents at the hotel died and then they were buried as Histories (sleeping) until recently when they're woken up by a villain I totally didn't see coming. The mystery hooks you in as you follow Mack tries to unravel it, only to be met with road blocks by the Librarians who are trying to keep things a secret.
Secret organizations, I beg of you, everytime you (try to) keep potentially life-ending secrets hidden they never stay hidden for long. C'mon guys!
The cast of characters in the Archived were lovely to read about; Roland (who I adored), the Librarian who's most like Mack's 2nd caretaker in the world of the Archived; Mackenzie's best friend Lyndsey who's practically perfect as best friend material; the hilariously, awesome Wesley dubbed Guyliner by Lyndsey; Jill, Wesley's adorably annoying cousin; Nix the old man living in the Coronada as well as others. The main relationships that were really focused on such as Mack and her family's was, at first, tension filled, but turned tender. I loved watching (hearing?) Lyndsey's and Mack's conversations of two best friends miles apart, that also showed Mack trying to keep her Keeper life a secret (even though she really wanted to tell Lyndsey) from her "normal" one. And finally, I really really loved Wesley and Mackenzie's friendship/romance thing ( I also ship it. Lots.)
For me, Mack's relationship with Wesley is really best explained through this gif:
I gushed about the Archived with my librarian who agrees with me that Roland is obviously the best, as we imagined him to be Ten (from Doctor Who) and that the Archived was witty, heartwrenching, and a riveting thriller that you really need to clear out an afternoon to enjoy. As well, The Archived sorta snuck up on me with a shovel, struck me (aka wowed me), stealing a spot on the list of books that I can re-read always.
Goodreads says:
Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.
Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.
Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.
Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.
In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.
Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.
Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.
Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.
In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.
The Archived begins with an intriguing premise, complex characters, and a beautifully haunting location of the Coronado hotel that unravels its history as soon as Mackenzie, our protagonist, steps foot inside.
Mackenzie is cool; aloof and stand off-ish. She's had her Grandfather, or Da, die a little while back with her younger Ben dying just a few months prior to the beginning of The Archived. Mack buries her emotions deep inside her, leaving the reader to feel sadness for her.
What I enjoyed most about the Archived was its incredibly fresh originality about the dead, and the rich history that Schwab reveals to the reader as Mackenzie gets comfortable at her new home at the Coronado hotel. Mack is a fish out of water as her parents decided to move right after Ben's death to the Coronado. Mack still feels the pain of losing him while her parents try to cover it up with happiness. Mack, understandably, gets mad at them as she believes that they're forgetting about him to quickly. Schwab really shows their strained dynamic in the beginning that, again, you feel sadness for the Bishop family.
The plot of the Archived develops quickly so, and considering that Schwab also manages to keep us in Mackenzie's mind as we watch her grapple with the finality of death considering her job as a Keeper and her wishes to be with Ben one last time; in short, it was absolutely fantastic character and plot development.
The mystery of the Coronado also begins relatively early on in; there are Histories waking up and causing havoc around the Coronado, which leads us to a mystery that began around nearly 70 years ago. Residents at the hotel died and then they were buried as Histories (sleeping) until recently when they're woken up by a villain I totally didn't see coming. The mystery hooks you in as you follow Mack tries to unravel it, only to be met with road blocks by the Librarians who are trying to keep things a secret.
Secret organizations, I beg of you, everytime you (try to) keep potentially life-ending secrets hidden they never stay hidden for long. C'mon guys!
The cast of characters in the Archived were lovely to read about; Roland (who I adored), the Librarian who's most like Mack's 2nd caretaker in the world of the Archived; Mackenzie's best friend Lyndsey who's practically perfect as best friend material; the hilariously, awesome Wesley dubbed Guyliner by Lyndsey; Jill, Wesley's adorably annoying cousin; Nix the old man living in the Coronada as well as others. The main relationships that were really focused on such as Mack and her family's was, at first, tension filled, but turned tender. I loved watching (hearing?) Lyndsey's and Mack's conversations of two best friends miles apart, that also showed Mack trying to keep her Keeper life a secret (even though she really wanted to tell Lyndsey) from her "normal" one. And finally, I really really loved Wesley and Mackenzie's friendship/romance thing ( I also ship it. Lots.)
For me, Mack's relationship with Wesley is really best explained through this gif:
I gushed about the Archived with my librarian who agrees with me that Roland is obviously the best, as we imagined him to be Ten (from Doctor Who) and that the Archived was witty, heartwrenching, and a riveting thriller that you really need to clear out an afternoon to enjoy. As well, The Archived sorta snuck up on me with a shovel, struck me (aka wowed me), stealing a spot on the list of books that I can re-read always.
April 8, 2013
The Collector by Victoria Scott
Now Playing: Make It Home - Thenewno2
Now Charlie is a sweet girl to Dante's cockiness. She's sweet but underneath it all, she's got the goldest of hearts. Life's been rough to her as her parents died and she's adopted by an "Aunt" who isn't really related to her. Charlie tries to make the most of what's been given to her. This is later emphasized in the novel that Charlie's perseverance of goodness might be what leads Heaven to win against Hell.
What works for the Collector is that it embraces it's cheesiness and then surprises you with the character change within Dante's character as his conscience pops out and smacks him repeatedly. Which is awesome.
I adored Charlie's 2-person circle of friends; Annabeth and Blue who were so damn swell, and definitely people that you'd love to chill with. Annabeth was hilarious, snarky and a big sister-esque figure to Charlie, as well as having some of the most hysterically funny lines when talking with Dante. Blue was your typical boy in love with best friend (Charlie), a sweet person, fiercely protective of his friends. However, I am still sad with what Blue's fate was at the end of Collector; those of you who've read it, what were your thoughts?
However, there were *some* cons; Some people might not be a fan of the swearing that goes on in here, that I personally didn't mind until I believe one of Dante's friends (or I think Dante himself) using the word "pussy" and I just went like this:
There was also some stereotypical high school cliches, with the queen bee of the school either called a slut and is totally out to torment Charlie, which I overlooked because I didn't really expect much on that front. There were mostly parts throughout the middle that were mainly filler and that dragged on for a little. But besides that, it was solid.
.
Do I recommend this book: Yeah. Though you might get some stares because of the cover.
 |
Review possible thanks to Netgalley |
Goodreads says:
He makes good girls...bad.
Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.
Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:
Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.
Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.
The Collector has been something that's been sweeping YA blogs and twitter feeds for quite sometime now. The hype before the first ARC reviews came out had people skeptical because everyone knows that in the realm of YA, things that get a lot of buzz are bound to be masking a layer of suck. So, when I finally got a copy, I let it sit for two hours because I was worried about how it'd turn out for me. Like any person worried, I used those two hours to watch the episode with the hunkalicious bad boy Jake Berkeley
However, The Collector was a great surprise. Many blogs beforehand were gushing about how Scott's Collector was something to be enjoyed greatly; it was something and totally unashamedly what a novel with teenage protagonists are; hilarious, dramatic, hormonal, rude and sometimes unexpectedly inspire hope.
However, The Collector was a great surprise. Many blogs beforehand were gushing about how Scott's Collector was something to be enjoyed greatly; it was something and totally unashamedly what a novel with teenage protagonists are; hilarious, dramatic, hormonal, rude and sometimes unexpectedly inspire hope.
The Collector's kind of like an 80s teen movie would be if you added paranormal elements and a slightly (hah!) egotistical male protagonist.
The Collector starts off with an intriguing note at the beginning that Dante tells the reader he allowed Victoria to tell his story, and right off the bat, you get the strongest voice I've read in 2013 that is totally distinguishable from its author. Dante is hilarious and rude (at times) with a sailor's mouth. And he's an unapologetic douche-bro that you can't help but be entertained by. By that, he's like the teenage boy that is popular but acts like a douche and says words like 'swag' unironically because he can.
When Dante meets Charlie, he's so assured of his abilities to seduce his way in and out of the assignment to collect her assignment. And in the beginning, he's mean. His internal thought are that "she's nice but she should try a little harder to be desirable" and I know that I wanted to slap that out of him because don't talk about Charlie like that, she's my precious nerdy princess girl.
Later on, Dante grows to be less judgmental of Charlie and develops a fondness for her during the ten days he has to collect her soul. However, he still has ulterior movements that involve manipulating Charlie's emotions for him into getting her to (unknowingly) damn her own soul because Dante realizes that despite being a Collector/half-alive he still has a conscience.
Now Charlie is a sweet girl to Dante's cockiness. She's sweet but underneath it all, she's got the goldest of hearts. Life's been rough to her as her parents died and she's adopted by an "Aunt" who isn't really related to her. Charlie tries to make the most of what's been given to her. This is later emphasized in the novel that Charlie's perseverance of goodness might be what leads Heaven to win against Hell.
What works for the Collector is that it embraces it's cheesiness and then surprises you with the character change within Dante's character as his conscience pops out and smacks him repeatedly. Which is awesome.
I adored Charlie's 2-person circle of friends; Annabeth and Blue who were so damn swell, and definitely people that you'd love to chill with. Annabeth was hilarious, snarky and a big sister-esque figure to Charlie, as well as having some of the most hysterically funny lines when talking with Dante. Blue was your typical boy in love with best friend (Charlie), a sweet person, fiercely protective of his friends. However, I am still sad with what Blue's fate was at the end of Collector; those of you who've read it, what were your thoughts?
However, there were *some* cons; Some people might not be a fan of the swearing that goes on in here, that I personally didn't mind until I believe one of Dante's friends (or I think Dante himself) using the word "pussy" and I just went like this:
There was also some stereotypical high school cliches, with the queen bee of the school either called a slut and is totally out to torment Charlie, which I overlooked because I didn't really expect much on that front. There were mostly parts throughout the middle that were mainly filler and that dragged on for a little. But besides that, it was solid.
.
Do I recommend this book: Yeah. Though you might get some stares because of the cover.
April 3, 2013
Waiting on Wednesday (9)
Now Playing: Smash it Up - The Offspring
Hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine
Goodreads says:
All Dylan wants is mojo. What is mojo? It's power. The ability to command respect. It's everything Dylan doesn't have. He gets no respect at school, and when he finds the dead body of a classmate, even the police push him around. All the thanks he gets for trying to help the investigation with his crime drama skills is a new nickname at school: Body Bag. So when Dylan hears about a missing rich girl from the other side of town, he jumps at the chance to dive into this mystery. Surely if he cracks a case involving a girl this beautiful and this rich, he'll get not only a hefty cash reward, but the mojo he's looking for.
His investigation takes him into the world of an elite private high school and an underground club called Gangland. As Dylan—along with his loyal friends Audrey and Randy—falls down the rabbit hole, lured by the power of privilege, he begins to lose himself. And the stakes of the game keep getting higher.
March 28, 2013
Of Silver and Beasts Cover Reveal, Excerpt and a Giveaway!
Now Playing: Battle in Me - Garbage
Of
Silver and Beasts (A Goddess Wars Novel)
by Trisha Wolfe
Release
Date: June 1, 2013
Genre: New Adult Dark Fantasy
Cover Reveal Organized by: YA Bound
Cover
Designed by: Steven
Novak
Summary
from Goodreads:
In the sand-covered queendom of Cavan, the goddess once
saved a young Kaliope’s life, preventing the mercury her father attempted to
hide in her blood from reaching her heart. Now, a cybernetic clamp filters it,
but the silver streaks swirling faintly beneath her skin are a constant
reminder that she’s different.
When nineteen-year-old Kaliope is chosen as head of the Nactue Guard, she
becomes the sworn protector to her empress. In the midst of an invasion on a
neighboring land, Kaliope is placed in charge of guarding Prince Caben, the
last heir to his kingdom. But when they’re attacked by the feared
Otherworlders, Caben and Kaliope are abducted and taken below to a realm where
they must fight for their life in a caged arena.
Kaliope struggles to protect her princely charge, keeping him and herself alive
while battling inhumanly opponents, and trying to save the stolen, sacred relic
that will restore her empress’s life force and all of Cavan. And if she can
somehow awaken the goddess within her, she may save what’s most important.
***Excerpt***
I open my mouth to say something comforting, but I’m unsure of what. In this moment, I’m reminded that I know little about him. Other than the sarcasm and desire to understand nothing of my queendom, he hasn’t allowed me past the surface.
But then, I have my own walls, hiding things I’d never want him or any other to know. And I understand that need to hide them. You can’t trust anyone.
“Caben…” I start, but still can’t find the right words.
He lowers his hand from his face, never taking his eyes off the glinting water top. “You’re right,” he finally says. “Let’s find the access to Lilly’s section.”
A hollow pang hits my chest, and I’m not sure why. Something in his voice sounds lost, broken. I imagine the gears around my heart spinning faster, trying to keep up with my racing heart.
When he sidesteps me, I reach out and grab his arm. “Caben, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s fine, Kal,” he snaps. “We have work to do.”
“No, I’ve said something to offend you.” I drop my hand, but keep close to him, not allowing him to leave my side. Goddess, trying to understand the male brain is harder than anything in protector training. I’ve heard people say that you have to tip-toe around a woman’s emotions, but a man’s ego is every bit as fragile, if not more so.
He releases a heavy breath through his nose and walks back to the pool. He sits down along the edge and rolls up his pants, then slips off his boots. “I honestly don’t think Bax or his goons will be returning tonight.” He sinks his bare feet into the water and sighs.
Glancing at the back of the cave, I plant my hands on my hips. We don’t have time for indulgencies, but the prince is still my charge. If it were my empress, I’d give her anything she’d ask for. Allow her as much time as she needed to collect herself. I have to watch over his mental state as well as protect him, so I try to push the pending need to find Lilly aside and sit down next to him.
“Here,” he says, turning his hand out near my crossed feet. “You have to feel this.”
A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. “I can remove my own—”
“Have you never been pampered a day in your life?” he asks, lifting an eyebrow. “I know that the Nactue are fierce and will put a hurt on any man for touching them. But try to relax.”
“Is that the rumor in Perinya?”
“What?”
I bite my lip, suddenly regretting my blurt. “Nothing. Never mind.”
From the corner of my eye, I see his lips pucker into a pinched smile, as if he’s trying not to. “Ah,” he says, like he’s made some great universal connection. “Well, there are many whisperings about the Nactue. Some I dare not repeat for fear I’d leave here missing a limb, but that’s one, yes.” He takes my booted foot and begins to unlace it. “I’ve heard that the empress’s protectors are untouchable—forbidden to give themselves to men. And that they’ll snap a man’s neck just for making an advance.”
My mouth drops open. Appalled, I counter, “That’s not true.”
“All right,” he says, as if he hasn’t just insulted my very existence. “It’s only rumors. Things men jaw about in pubs. The unattainable woman is a fantasy, Kal. Don’t be offended.”
“Unattainable?” I grit my teeth, trying to maintain my composure. “Tell me, prince. Do men in your country just go around bedding every woman they can in order to keep them compliant?” I shake my head. “If their fantasy is a woman that would have nothing to do with them, it seems to me it’s their way of feeding their egos after being rejected.”
His eyes widen. “No! How does your brain come up with these—” He bites off his words, his lips thin as he presses them together. “Look, it was a joke.”
I nod, many times. “Another joke. I’m glad that our hard work and sacrifice is amusing to the men of Perinya.”
Caben lets out another sigh and slowly pulls off my boot. His warm fingers skim my calf as he inches up my pant leg. “Just stick your foot in,” he says, then adds lower, “while I stick mine in my mouth.”
Unexpectedly, I laugh. “At least it’s now clean,” I say. “Would you like some help getting it to your face?”
***GIVEAWAY***
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Of
Silver and Beasts (A Goddess Wars Novel)
by Trisha Wolfe
Release
Date: June 1, 2013
Genre: New Adult Dark Fantasy
Cover Reveal Organized by: YA Bound
Cover
Designed by: Steven
Novak
Summary
from Goodreads:
In the sand-covered queendom of Cavan, the goddess once
saved a young Kaliope’s life, preventing the mercury her father attempted to
hide in her blood from reaching her heart. Now, a cybernetic clamp filters it,
but the silver streaks swirling faintly beneath her skin are a constant
reminder that she’s different.
When nineteen-year-old Kaliope is chosen as head of the Nactue Guard, she
becomes the sworn protector to her empress. In the midst of an invasion on a
neighboring land, Kaliope is placed in charge of guarding Prince Caben, the
last heir to his kingdom. But when they’re attacked by the feared
Otherworlders, Caben and Kaliope are abducted and taken below to a realm where
they must fight for their life in a caged arena.
Kaliope struggles to protect her princely charge, keeping him and herself alive
while battling inhumanly opponents, and trying to save the stolen, sacred relic
that will restore her empress’s life force and all of Cavan. And if she can
somehow awaken the goddess within her, she may save what’s most important.
***Excerpt***
I open my mouth to say something comforting, but I’m unsure of what. In this moment, I’m reminded that I know little about him. Other than the sarcasm and desire to understand nothing of my queendom, he hasn’t allowed me past the surface.
But then, I have my own walls, hiding things I’d never want him or any other to know. And I understand that need to hide them. You can’t trust anyone.
“Caben…” I start, but still can’t find the right words.
He lowers his hand from his face, never taking his eyes off the glinting water top. “You’re right,” he finally says. “Let’s find the access to Lilly’s section.”
A hollow pang hits my chest, and I’m not sure why. Something in his voice sounds lost, broken. I imagine the gears around my heart spinning faster, trying to keep up with my racing heart.
When he sidesteps me, I reach out and grab his arm. “Caben, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s fine, Kal,” he snaps. “We have work to do.”
“No, I’ve said something to offend you.” I drop my hand, but keep close to him, not allowing him to leave my side. Goddess, trying to understand the male brain is harder than anything in protector training. I’ve heard people say that you have to tip-toe around a woman’s emotions, but a man’s ego is every bit as fragile, if not more so.
He releases a heavy breath through his nose and walks back to the pool. He sits down along the edge and rolls up his pants, then slips off his boots. “I honestly don’t think Bax or his goons will be returning tonight.” He sinks his bare feet into the water and sighs.
Glancing at the back of the cave, I plant my hands on my hips. We don’t have time for indulgencies, but the prince is still my charge. If it were my empress, I’d give her anything she’d ask for. Allow her as much time as she needed to collect herself. I have to watch over his mental state as well as protect him, so I try to push the pending need to find Lilly aside and sit down next to him.
“Here,” he says, turning his hand out near my crossed feet. “You have to feel this.”
A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. “I can remove my own—”
“Have you never been pampered a day in your life?” he asks, lifting an eyebrow. “I know that the Nactue are fierce and will put a hurt on any man for touching them. But try to relax.”
“Is that the rumor in Perinya?”
“What?”
I bite my lip, suddenly regretting my blurt. “Nothing. Never mind.”
From the corner of my eye, I see his lips pucker into a pinched smile, as if he’s trying not to. “Ah,” he says, like he’s made some great universal connection. “Well, there are many whisperings about the Nactue. Some I dare not repeat for fear I’d leave here missing a limb, but that’s one, yes.” He takes my booted foot and begins to unlace it. “I’ve heard that the empress’s protectors are untouchable—forbidden to give themselves to men. And that they’ll snap a man’s neck just for making an advance.”
My mouth drops open. Appalled, I counter, “That’s not true.”
“All right,” he says, as if he hasn’t just insulted my very existence. “It’s only rumors. Things men jaw about in pubs. The unattainable woman is a fantasy, Kal. Don’t be offended.”
“Unattainable?” I grit my teeth, trying to maintain my composure. “Tell me, prince. Do men in your country just go around bedding every woman they can in order to keep them compliant?” I shake my head. “If their fantasy is a woman that would have nothing to do with them, it seems to me it’s their way of feeding their egos after being rejected.”
His eyes widen. “No! How does your brain come up with these—” He bites off his words, his lips thin as he presses them together. “Look, it was a joke.”
I nod, many times. “Another joke. I’m glad that our hard work and sacrifice is amusing to the men of Perinya.”
Caben lets out another sigh and slowly pulls off my boot. His warm fingers skim my calf as he inches up my pant leg. “Just stick your foot in,” he says, then adds lower, “while I stick mine in my mouth.”
Unexpectedly, I laugh. “At least it’s now clean,” I say. “Would you like some help getting it to your face?”
***GIVEAWAY***
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The Exemeus Blog Tour
Now Playing: My Hero - Foo Fighters
Welcome to my stop on The Exemeus blog tour byFolami Morris and Abeni Morris hosted by YA Bound. Click HERE to see the rest of the blog tour schedule!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Welcome to my stop on The Exemeus blog tour byFolami Morris and Abeni Morris hosted by YA Bound. Click HERE to see the rest of the blog tour schedule! |
| The Exemeus is discounted for 2.99 on Kobo and Amazon for just this week! |
Goodreads says:
Hyalee Smith is dead, she just doesn’t know it yet.
Her short life was devoted to love and to hate. Love of the man who stole her heart, hate for the man who stole the world. Murdered by the government she swore to destroy, she has been given another chance to make it right. But to save the planet, she needs the help of the most powerful mystic the world has ever seen—unfortunately he hasn’t been born yet.
In a world where fear is the only currency, Dephon has committed the ultimate crime: inspiring hope.
His only goal is to make it safely through ninth grade, but on a post-apocalyptic Earth run by the Treptonian government, it isn’t that simple. Heir to a legendary power, Dephon Johnson is the only threat to the government’s rule. And on Trepton, all threats must be eliminated. When hundreds of assassins are dispatched to neutralize him, Dephon is forced to fight back. His only chance of survival is to enlist the aid of the greatest warrior the world has ever known. The only problem is, she's been dead for 13 years.
Hyalee Smith is dead, she just doesn’t know it yet.
Her short life was devoted to love and to hate. Love of the man who stole her heart, hate for the man who stole the world. Murdered by the government she swore to destroy, she has been given another chance to make it right. But to save the planet, she needs the help of the most powerful mystic the world has ever seen—unfortunately he hasn’t been born yet.
In a world where fear is the only currency, Dephon has committed the ultimate crime: inspiring hope.
His only goal is to make it safely through ninth grade, but on a post-apocalyptic Earth run by the Treptonian government, it isn’t that simple. Heir to a legendary power, Dephon Johnson is the only threat to the government’s rule. And on Trepton, all threats must be eliminated. When hundreds of assassins are dispatched to neutralize him, Dephon is forced to fight back. His only chance of survival is to enlist the aid of the greatest warrior the world has ever known. The only problem is, she's been dead for 13 years.
Exemeus is a debut dystopian novel and I can assure you, it's well done. Exemeus follows Dephon, a young boy who lives in a destructed, tyranically ruled new America. Dephon lives an extraordinarily horrible life being constantly bullied and having to take care of his father,who seems to have give up on living and residing on his couch for weeks on end. You feel sympathy and pity for poor Dephon who really just wants a better life. Then, the novel picks up the pace when the Exemeus, a book, lands in Dephon's hands and he realizes he's got a destiny he has to step into quickly.
From there, Hyalee is introduced as an entity to the world. She was killed, thirteen years ago, and has been in a stasis waiting for the next mystic to come. That's where her and Dephon's fates become intertwined, as he's not a weapon for Hyalee but when combined together, you realize that they are powerhouse warriors to be reckoned with.
As their fates are written out, you see more about Dephon's father and you realize why he is the way he is and it's heartbreaking. Once he used to be joyous and willing to wish for a better anything, when someone he loves dearly is lost to him and therefore, breaks the man and makes him moody, depressed, and heartbroken. Admittedly, Dephon's father is a bit of a pain to actually like in the beginning, but that changes over the course of the novel when you begin to come around and like him.
Exemeus's beginning is a bit lengthy for a debut but when the action kicks in right around the middle, it sucks you right in and well worth it. Lots of world building which really cements the fact that the future that Dephon lives in is utter bullcrap and that in itself is totally nifty as you often see dystopias right off the current state of the world as horrible and bleak, but don't really back it up with description.
Exemeus is a wondeful (see what I did there? ;) read and well worth the slow beginning. I honestly cannot wait for the sequel to Exemeus to come out so we can continue Dephon's story.
OKAY GUYS I know you all like getting free stuff, and so here is some free stuff you could potentially win that is INTERNATIONAL!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 27, 2013
Waiting on Wednesday (8)
Now Playing: Good Girls Go Bad (feat. Leighton Meester) - Cobra Starship
EDIT: LOL I AM WRONG THE BOOK IS OUT NOW ON AMAZON! EVERYONE GET IT NOW.
EDIT: LOL I AM WRONG THE BOOK IS OUT NOW ON AMAZON! EVERYONE GET IT NOW.
Hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine
You're probably all wondering "Jazmin why the hell is this book cover supersized on my screen?" to which I reply to you all, "Because I can!" So this weeks WoW is about Victoria Scott's The Collector which is set to come out NEXT WEEK. Now, if you've been on my twitter like around December to now, you know I'm periodically flailing over this fine hunk of a book that I want NOW but alas I've had to wait. But soon, soon... it'll be mine.
Oh wait you were here for the info on The Collector. My baaaad, I got a teeny-bit carried away.
Goodreads says:
He makes good girls...bad.
Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.
Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:
Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.
Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.
March 25, 2013
Cover Reveal: Death and Mr. Right
Now Playing: Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Hey guys! Today I have the pleasure of revealing to you all the cover for Kendra L. Saunder's new book Death and Mr. Right that's gonna be released through Spencer Hill Press's urban fantasy imprint, Spence City.
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Hey guys! Today I have the pleasure of revealing to you all the cover for Kendra L. Saunder's new book Death and Mr. Right that's gonna be released through Spencer Hill Press's urban fantasy imprint, Spence City.
Release Date: October 1, 2013
It is March 32nd, the day that doesn’t exist, and Death, the agent of nightmares, has been demoted and exiled to live among mortals for the rest of his unnaturally long life. Everyone knows They don’t look lightly on important items getting lost or an agent falling in love.
Can the diva-like Death navigate the modern world, recover what was stolen from him (the names of the damned… ooops!) and get his job back? Or will he fall in love with Lola, the pretty thief who got him into trouble in the first place?
Doesn't it sound like it'll be great because I know I'm totally sold!
As well, why not learn a little about Kendra?
Kendra L. Saunders is the author of the magic realism novel Inanimate Objects and the dark comedy Death and Mr. Right. She has been published in Snakeskin Magazine, Premier Bride Magazine and has conducted interviews for Steampunk Magazine, The New England Horror Writers and ipmnation.com. She reports regularly for Pure Textuality and writes helpful writing articles for NerdCaliber’s Pages of Note.
In 2012, Kendra attended a number of sci-fi/anime/steampunk conventions, notably Arisia, Anime Boson, Watch City Festival, ConnectiCon and TeslaCon. She is the creator of the popular “Five Headed Muse” panel, which features fun and witty wisdom from the five aspects of a writer’s life: character building, inspiration, writing habits, publishing and marketing, as well as the “What We Can Learn from Fan Fiction” panel which takes a detailed look at the upsides to reading and writing fanfiction. Kendra was also featured as a guest on other panels throughout 2012 and has been noted for her energy and enthusiastic approach to writing education.
Originally from Texas, Kendra has lived in New Hampshire, Idaho and Wisconsin and has traveled through most of the 50 states. Somewhere along the way she developed a love for discovering the quiet magic in new places, and she seeks to expose it in her novels, short stories and poetry. She also has a lifelong passion for black and white photography and shares photographs from her travels and adventures through her website, facebook, tumblr and twitter.
Kendra is host of the quirky literary podcast, 13 1/2 Minutes and has been a featured guest and co-host on various radio and podcast shows.
In her spare time Kendra likes to daydream about (foreign) boys with dark hair, drink too much tea, read fashion magazines, listen to records on vinyl, plan her dream trip to England and attempt to travel back in time to the Jazz Age. Find her online at www.kendralsaunders.com on twitter at @kendrybird or on tumblr at http://www.inanimateobjects. tumblr.com.
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