Blog Tour (Review & Giveaway): Moonfall by Vanessa Morton

Moonfall Tour Schedule



Title: Moonfall: Tales from the Levant
Author: Vanessa Morgan
Publisher: WEbook Publishing
Release Date: November 1, 2013
Acquired Via: JKS Communications
When 16-year-old Rachav drinks the Moon Temple’s forbidden wine, she hardly expects it to result in the death of a priestess. But when King Nur orders Rachav to serve the Queen of the Night—the kingdom’s powerful goddess—as restitution, Rachav’s identical twin, Zaron, has her own reasons for joining the priesthood and offers to take her twin’s place.

But choices have consequences.

Now Rachav’s family is in danger. As she uncovers the shocking reason why, she finds an ally in Salma, a brooding nomad who wields an ancient force powerful enough to destroy the entire kingdom. While the epic showdown rages above the city, Rachav plays a dangerous game of her own. Can she rescue her sister and right the wrongs of that fateful choice? Or will the king succeed and trap her in the doomed city?

My Review

Though I'm slowly trying to slow down the number of blog tours, when I was offered the opportunity to review Moonfall, I couldn't say anything but yes. Its premise is not something that has been offered to me very often, and who doesn't love a unique book? (Not me.)

Review: The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Title: The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1)
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co. (Macmillan)
Acquired Via: Publisher
Release Date: July 8, 2014
In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

The Kiss of Deception is the first book in Mary E. Pearson's Remnant Chronicles.

My Review

You can read Amber's review of the book HERE.

The Kiss of Deception is a YA epic fantasy by Mary E. Pearson with a strong heroine and a great journey story. Princess Arabella Celestine Idris Jezelia, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan (and main character of the book) chooses her own life as just "Lia" than the one planned out for her.

The Kiss of Deception reminds me of Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword more than any other book that I have ever read. Lia is like Harry Crewe in that she does not allow her situation to overwhelm her and does what is necessary for herself and her people. I rooted for her throughout the novel, even though I did not agree with some of her choices.

Book Blast (Giveaway): Vortex by S.J. Kincaid

Title: Vortex (Insignia #2)
Author: S.J. Kincaid
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins)
Book Blast Organizer: Book Nerd Tours
Release Date: July 2, 2013
The impossible was just the beginning. Now in their second year as superhuman government weapons-in-training at the Pentagonal Spire, Tom Raines and his friends are mid-level cadets in the elite combat corps known as the Intrasolar Forces. But as training intensifies and a moment arrives that could make or break his entire career, Tom’s loyalties are again put to the test.

Encouraged to betray his ideals and friendships for the sake of his country, Tom is convinced there must be another way. And the more aware he becomes of the corruption surrounding him, the more determined he becomes to fight it, even if he sabotages his own future in the process.

Drawn into a power struggle more dramatic than he has ever faced before, Tom stays a hyperintelligent step ahead of everyone, like the exceptional gamer he is—or so he believes. But when he learns that he and his friends have unwittingly made the most grievous error imaginable, Tom must find a way to outwit an enemy so nefarious that victory seems hopeless. Will his idealism and bravado cost him everything—and everyone that matters to him?

Filled with action and intelligence, camaraderie and humor, the second book in S.J. Kincaid’s futuristic World War III Insignia trilogy continues to explore fascinating and timely questions about power, politics, technology, loyalty, and friendship.

Buy Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Fishpond


About the Author

Waiting on Wednesday (62): Chasing Power by Sarah Beth Durst

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



Title: Chasing Power
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Lies, secrets, and magic — three things that define Kayla's life.

Sixteen-year-old Kayla plans to spend her summer hanging out on the beach in Santa Barbara and stealing whatever she wants, whenever she wants it. Born with the ability to move things with her mind — things like credit cards, diamond rings, and buttons on cash registers — she has become a master shoplifter. She steals to build up a safety net, enough money for her and her mom to be able to flee if her dad finds them again. Well, that, and the thrill of using her secret talents.

But her summer plans change when she's caught stealing by a boy named Daniel — a boy who needs her help and is willing to blackmail her to get it. Daniel has a talent of his own. He can teleport, appearing anywhere in the world in an instant, but he lies as easily as he travels. Together, they embark on a quest to find and steal an ancient incantation, written on three indestructible stones and hidden millennia ago, all to rescue Daniel's kidnapped mother. But Kayla has no idea that this rescue mission will lead back to her own family — and to betrayals that she may not be able to forgive... or survive.


I read my first Durst novel, The Lost, earlier this year and loved it. You can read my review HERE. I haven't yet had time to read through the rest of Durst's backlist, but hopefully I can get through some of them before Chasing Power comes out. I enjoyed her take on magical realism and I really like that Chasing Power has normal people with special powers. Plus, teleportation is just a really cool special power to have.

What are you waiting on this week?

Review: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Title: The Queen of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling #1)
Author: Erika Johansen
Publisher: Harper
Acquired Via: Publisher
Release Date: July 8, 2014
On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown.

Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighboring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust.

But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun—a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend…if she can survive.

My Review

You can read Kayla's review HERE.

I apparently went into The Queen of the Tearling “knowing” that I was going to hate it. I realized this when I kept getting surprised at all the things I DIDN’T hate, and once I let that go, I really enjoyed myself.

In any ambitious fantasy, there is a line to straddle between too much info dumping/world building and not enough or conflicting information given to the reader. Johansen straddled that line quite well, so well, in fact, that The Queen of the Tearling does not feel like a debut fantasy novel. She does err on the side of too little information, which I found troublesome at times. Although I realized early on that the Tearling was a land set in the future, I’m still unsure about how exactly that future came about. The entire book I tried unsuccessfully to determine exactly what “the crossing” was. For Mr. Tear to have immigrated a group of people somewhere in the current world is unbelievable to me. Therefore, I think that “the crossing” was either to another planet (which is the most unlikely as the bulk of medical supplies and doctors sunk in a ship) or another world/dimension through magic or some high-tech dimensional travel. Also, what exactly prompted “the crossing”? Was there a nuclear war? Was there an android crash on earth on the dinosaur scale? What happened?!

Top Ten Tuesday: Blogging Confessions

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Blogging Confessions
1. I am a mood reader. Mostly I read fantasies of all kind, but sometimes I get in a mood that I can't read another fantasy so I'll veer off into a contemporary or historical romance so I can read something fluffy. Which leads to the fact that...

2. I could never keep a book schedule. I may not not be in the mood for that certain book that is coming out in two months, so I just try to read the books that are coming out earliest first. Most of the time I am just jumping around all over the place reading whatever catches my fancy and reading the book that doesn't come out for months way before the book that is coming out relatively soon.

3. I have a hard time reviewing books that I absolutely love. I feel like it would just be a lot of gushing and fangirling without any substance.

Blog Tour (Guest Post): This is Sarah by Ally Malinenko

Title: This is Sarah
Author: Ally Malinenko
Publisher: BookFish Books
Release Date: July 3, 2014
When Colin Leventhal leaned out his bedroom window on the night of May 12th and said goodbye to his girlfriend, he never expected it would be forever. But when Sarah Evans goes missing that night, Colin's world unravels as he transforms from the boyfriend next door to the main police suspect. Then one year later, at her memorial service, Colin makes a phone call that could change everything. Is it possible that Sarah is still alive? And if so, how far will he go to bring her back?

As Colin struggles with this possibility, across the street, Sarah’s little sister, Claire learns how to navigate the strange new landscape of life without her sister. While her parents fall apart, Claire remains determined to keep going, even if it kills her.

This is Sarah serves as a meditation on loss, love, and what it means to say goodbye.

Guest Post

Missing Children
Ally Malinenko
I didn’t start off wanting to write about loss. Who does? I mean, honestly who gets up in the morning, turns on their laptop and says, okay let’s see how depressing this can get?

I started this book as a short story and that short story was a ghost story. And not the My-boyfriend-died-but-still-loves-me-so-much-that-he-came-back-from-the-other-side-and-now-we’re-ghosty-lovers kind.

I mean a real honest to goodness ghost story. Boo!

Trailer Reveal: Restraint by Randi Cooley Wilson

Title: Restraint (The Revelation Series #2)
Author: Randi Cooley Wilson
Trailer Reveal Organizer: Barclay Publicity
Release Date: August 1, 2014
A FORBIDDEN LOVE WILL BECOME DEEPER.
A LOYALTY WILL BE TESTED.
AND ONLY DARKNESS WILL REMAIN.

One revelation changed everything, turning Eve Collin’s world upside down. Now, she’s left to struggle with her identity and allegiance. Haunted by grief and tempted by her increasing attraction to her protector, will she ever truly be safe from enemies that refuse to give up?

Restraint is an addictively spellbinding continuation of Eve’s journey of self-discovery, love and sacrifice that will change everything. Readers captivated by Revelation will eagerly devour Restraint.

Praise

“I’ve read so many paranormal books; it’s hard to hook me sometimes. Especially with something unique that is a book hard to put down. I found that in this one. It’s the world building of the story that fascinated me more than anything else.” — Terri Thomas, My Book Boyfriend on REVELATION, book 1

“... Randi pens very believe characters as in who Asher and his brothers are, she brought them to life very well indeed and was a nice take on paranormal elements.” — Michelle, The Romance Vault (4 Stars) on REVELATION, book 1

Book Trailer




About the Author