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Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Blog Tour: Disruptor by Arwen Elys Dayton

Welcome to the blog tour for Disruptor by Arwen Elys Dayton! I'm excited to take part in the promo for this exciting conclusion novel. You can read my thoughts on this book and its predecessors below. I've got a guest post from the author as well!

Seeker review | Traveler review | Disruptor review

Arwen's Top Five: If you liked these books, you'll like the Seeker trilogy!

Because Seeker blends fantasy and ancient traditions into a near-future world, it treads a line between fantasy and science fiction (many have described it as “genre-bending”). The series intertwines four character points of view—Quin, Shinobu, John and Maud—into one larger story with high stakes, family betrayal, misplaced love, and—after setting the stage—a breakneck pace.

via GIPHY

If you liked any of these series, you will be fit right into the world of Seeker:

The Illuminae series by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Because, in this wonderful sci-fi-YA series, several different character points of view are closely interwoven to tell one integrated and kick-ass story, which leaves the reader hardly a moment to catch her breath. Love betrayed, high stakes, evil masterminds, and imminent peril.

via GIPHY

The Maze Runner series by James Dashner

Because the characters in The Maze Runner are pawns in a world and game—an all-encompassing game—they don’t fully understand. And this series is set in the near future—though a very different near future than the one we see in the Seeker series.

via GIPHY

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

Because this series has the ancient, storied, beautiful traditions of the Grisha, coming into conflict with the personal dreams of the main characters. Light and dark, good and evil, braided together so insidiously that it is easy to mistake one for the other...

via GIPHY

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

Because girl assassins!

via GIPHY

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Because The Young Elites gives us an alternate version of our world where small differences bloom into an entirely new sort of story.

via GIPHY

Thank you, Arwen!

About the Book:

Disruptor by Arwen Elys Dayton

Book Three of the Seeker series

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: February 7, 2017

Summary (from Goodreads):

For readers of Sarah J. Maas and of Marie Lu’s Legend trilogy comes Disruptor, the sequel to Traveler, the thrilling conclusion to the Seeker series.

Quin has spent her life as her father’s pawn. She was trained to kill and manipulated to guarantee her family’s power. And now that she’s broken free of that life, she’s found herself trapped again, hostage to a plot that has been centuries in the making.

It’s taken generations for the pieces to come together, and finally all is in place. Her best friend Shinobu’s mind has been corrupted, the Young Dread has aligned with her enemy John, and the bloodthirsty Watchers are being awakened and gathered. Now there is nothing that can stop the force of time.

But Quin will no longer be a pawn. Quin is a Seeker. She stands for light in a shadowy world. She will face the vengeance of the past and its enemies and save herself and the ones she loves, or she will die trying.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Check out the series:

(Click on the covers for more information.)

Follow the Author:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Thank God It's Monday Blog Tour: June 21st

Blog Tour Contemporary Guest Post Jessica Brody Romance Standalone

Welcome to the blog tour for A Week of Mondays by Jessica Brody! Today is the seventh Monday before the publication of this book. I've read A Week of Mondays and I guarantee that this is not one to miss. Here is a SWOON from the book, to further convince you!

Today, I'm featuring Jessica Brody herself!

The Guest Post:

ELLISON “ELLIE” SPARKS: An idealistic, ambitious sixteen-year-old junior with a lot on her plate.

Those were the first words I ever wrote about Ellie Sparks. They were written in a synopsis for my publisher when I was first trying to sell them on the idea for a book called A WEEK OF MONDAYS.

Of course, you can’t write an entire book about a one-sentence character. Just like you can’t live your entire life as a one-sentence person. But every character has to begin somewhere. And this is where Ellie began for me.

As an idealistic, ambitious sixteen-year-old junior with a lot on her plate.

In my mind, this is who she had to be. I thought, if you’re going to write about a girl who relives the same horrible Monday over and over again, trying to “get it right,” these are the adjectives that must describe her. She has to be idealistic enough to think she can fix everything in her life. Yet, she also has to be ambitious enough to try it. And how else are you going to fill seven Mondays with interesting storylines if the main character doesn’t have a lot on her plate.

So there was Ellie. And there was me, ready to write her, thinking I understood her. Thinking I knew everything I needed to know about her.

This is the writing process for me. I start with an idea of who someone is. I draw a box around them, like an identity fence. I stuff them inside and I lock the gate. I tell them, “This is who you are. Don’t try to change that. Don’t try to be or do anything else. I don’t have time for detours. I’m on a deadline.”

I never learn.

A WEEK OF MONDAYS is my tenth published novel and I’m still trying to lock characters inside fences. Eventually, though, they always break free. They always get bigger than their boxes. And even though I try to adjust, I keep drawing bigger and bigger boxes around them, trying to contain them to the world I built, the world I envisioned, they never quite want to stay inside. Just like people. You can try to identify them, label them, build a fence around them that makes you feel safe, and yet they’ll always surprise you. Because no character—no human being—fits inside a box.

One of my favorite reviews of A WEEK OF MONDAYS says, “Watching Ellie relive her horrible day is something like peeling an onion. Each Monday, a piece of her people-pleaser facade melts away, revealing more of her real self.”

I smiled when I read that because it wasn’t until then that I realized exactly what had happened in the writing of this book. I had done it again. I had tried to put yet another character in a box, and she had slowly, word by word, page by page, Monday by Monday broken free.

This book is ultimately a story of self-discovery.

Seven days. Seven chances to completely reinvent yourself. Wear different clothes, make different choices, explore different paths, say different things, be different people.

Because sometimes it takes a whole week of Mondays to figure out who you really are. And when you finally do, you may find yourself thinking 'Thank God It's Monday' after all.

For the next five Mondays, blogger friends across the internet will be sharing their best and worst Monday. Follow along with us online with #TGIM and #AWeekofMondays, because whether a Monday is memorable for good reasons or memorable for bad reasons, we stand to learn a lot about ourselves.

About the Book:

A Week of Mondays by Jessica Brody

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Publication Date: August 2, 2016

Summary (from Goodreads):

When I made the wish, I just wanted a do-over. Another chance to make things right. I never, in a million years, thought it might actually come true...

Sixteen-year-old Ellison Sparks is having a serious case of the Mondays. She gets a ticket for running a red light, she manages to take the world’s worst school picture, she bombs softball try-outs and her class election speech (note to self: never trust a cheerleader when she swears there are no nuts in her bake-sale banana bread), and to top it all off, Tristan, her gorgeous rocker boyfriend suddenly dumps her. For no good reason!

As far as Mondays go, it doesn’t get much worse than this. And Ellie is positive that if she could just do it all over again, she would get it right. So when she wakes up the next morning to find she’s reliving the exact same day, she knows what she has to do: stop her boyfriend from breaking up with her. But it seems no matter how many do-overs she gets or how hard Ellie tries to repair her relationship, Tristan always seems bent set on ending it. Will Ellie ever figure out how to fix this broken day? Or will she be stuck in this nightmare of a Monday forever?

From the author 52 Reasons to Hate My Father and The Unremembered trilogy comes a hilarious and heartwarming story about second (and third and fourth and fifth) chances. Because sometimes it takes a whole week of Mondays to figure out what you really want.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

About the Author:

Jessica Brody is the author of several popular books for teens, including the Unremembered trilogy, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, and The Karma Club, as well as two adult novels. She splits her time between California and Colorado. Find out more at jessicabrody.com.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

A terrible Monday experience from my past: I used to have piano lessons on Monday, about a half hour after school ended (this was back in middle and high school). There were a few times when I went to the lesson completely unprepared, not having practiced all week. And it showed! SO embarrassing. And it happened on several Mondays over the years (though not too many - usually I was a diligent student). :D

So, readers! Tell me about your worst Monday experience. :)

Monday, June 6, 2016

Blog Tour: And I Darken by Kiersten White

Blog Tour Guest Post Historical fiction Kiersten White

Welcome to the blog tour for And I Darken by Kiersten White! This is the first book in a new series, a book that I liked. I hope you'll enjoy the post!

Top Five Hardest Things About Writing a Trilogy

By Kiersten White

And I Darken is the start of a new trilogy. With book two in the editing phase and book three in drafting (not to mention that my first three books were a trilogy), I know a thing or three about writing them! So, I give you the definitive list:

TOP FIVE HARDEST THINGS ABOUT WRITING A TRILOGY:

1. Writing the first book

2. Writing the second book

3. Writing the third book

Wow, look at that! Writing a trilogy is so easy, there are only three top hardest things! Everyone should do it! In fact, everyone should write mine. I’ll be over there. Waiting. With my eyes closed.

Okay, okay. In all seriousness, here’s an actual top five hardest things.

1. Planning for book three when writing book one. Writing a single book is hard enough, without also having to weave in threads that won’t come into play until the second or third book! YA tends to be very tight plot-wise, so finding the right amount of building for future reveals without stealing from the tension in the first book is a tricky balancing act.

2. Similarly, it’s challenging to be doing promo for book one, editing book two, and plotting book three. It’s a lot of information to keep track of, and I constantly worry I’ll accidentally let a huge spoiler slip just because I’m talking about book one but living in book three. MY BRAIN. MY BRAIN.

3. Remembering how everyone’s names were spelled in the previous book. No, seriously, this is really hard for me.

4. Redoing research. When writing historical fiction, I do a TON of research. And, because of the schedule, sometimes it has been a year since I read those thousand or so pages on the siege of Constantinople, or that entire book on the life of the real Vlad Dracul. So I have go back and redo all the same research. It’s SUPER FUN!

5. Expectations. I still remember the horror I felt when I started getting reader reactions to Paranormalcy. Everyone loved Tasey, her bedazzled Taser. Suddenly I was plagued with insecurity. Did I use Tasey enough in Supernaturally? Was there time to go back and add more Tasey action? MY READERS LOVED TASEY, AND I HAD ALREADY BLOWN IT. I know what to expect this time around, but I do wonder: Who will everyone ship? Which characters will be their favorites? What unexpected aspect will they adore so much I’ll kick myself for not exploiting it more in books two and three?

But, in the end, that’s also the most amazing thing about writing trilogies. Because knowing as And I Darken goes out there and finds its readers that I still have so much in store for them is one of the giddiest, most wonderful aspects of writing. I get to live with these characters for years, and share their whole journey with you. And that is the number one best part of writing trilogies.

Thank you for joining me here at The Eater of Books!, Kiersten!

About the Book:

And I Darken by Kiersten White

Book One of The Conquerors Saga

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: June 28, 2016

Summary (from Goodreads):

NO ONE EXPECTS A PRINCESS TO BE BRUTAL.

And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.

Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, who’s expected to rule a nation, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.

But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

From New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White comes the first book in a dark, sweeping new series in which heads will roll, bodies will be impaled . . . and hearts will be broken.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Follow the Author:

Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

**Please note: The Eater of Books! has no rights/copyright/permissions in terms of the gifs used in this post. If there is any issue with such, please contact Kiersten White or Penguin Random House.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Nil on Fire by Lynne Matson

Blog Tour Conclusion Giveaway Guest Post Lynne Matson Science Fiction Thriller

Welcome to my stop of the Nil on Fire blog tour! This is the conclusion to this LOST-esque series. Today, Lynne Matson is saying good-bye to one of her beloved characters (he's one of my personal favorites!). And there is a giveaway!

Nil review | Nil Unlocked review | Nil on Fire review

A note from Lynne, and her farewell letter to Rives

Okay, Alyssa, before we get to the post, I have to give you some serious love and thanks! You’re part of the original #NILtribe, and I’m truly grateful for every Nil-related post, every review, every tweet, every rec you’ve shared about the Nil series over the past few years. Your time is packed and precious, and I’m so appreciative you chose to give some of your blogging (and reading!) time to my characters and the entire Nil world. So from the bottom of my author heart, THANK YOU for all you’ve done to spread the word about the Nil series! *HUGS*

*sniffs*

Oh, and one more thing!

A quick note to all my readers: THIS POST GUTTED ME. Oh my land, I had no idea what I was in for when Alyssa asked me to write a farewell letter to Rives. Finishing a trilogy is both bitter and sweet, and saying goodbye to Rives was HARD. I had not idea how emotional I’d get. (So thank you Alyssa for making me teary lol). I wrote this letter to Rives—the Rives you meet at the start of NIL ON FIRE, the Rives who risked his heart and found the love of his life in NIL UNLOCKED, the Rives who already survived Nil and who is desperately worried about Skye. This is the Rives I wrote to. Happy reading!

P.S. To the #NILtribe: NIL ON FIRE is for you.

Farewell Letter to Rives

Hi Rives!

I thought I’d write you a note to say thank you. Thank you for being Thad’s wingman in NIL, and for becoming such a huge part of the Nil story that you needed not just one more book, but two. Thank you for having Charley’s back as much as you have Thad’s, and thank you for being the strongest and most vulnerable character I’ve ever written. Thank you for daring to risk your heart again in NIL UNLOCKED, and for being the perfect match—an equal—for Skye.

Which brings me to NIL ON FIRE. This is the last time you’ll hear from me before the next chapter of your story unfolds. I know Skye is a blind spot for you—or rather, your feelings for her sometimes obscure the truth; your feeling keep you from seeing things as they actually are. Please don’t forget to see the girl you fell in in love with—the strong, resilient fighter who is as selfless as you are—and as independent. Don’t let her push you away.

I know you’ll ignore my advice, and I know you’ll probably not be happy when you discover I’ve sent you back to Nil. Believe me when I tell you it was the only way. Skye agrees; she told me herself. And you won’t like the ending either, but again—it is how it must be. Keep the faith, and don’t let your blind spot grow so big you lose sight of the person standing in front of you. Skye needs you, even at the end. Especially at the end. And remember: some things aren’t meant to be seen; they are only to be felt.

Take care, Rives. Thank you for the memories, and for your role to come. Be strong. Be brave. And above all, be you.

I wish you well. *cries*

Godspeed.

Lynne

*wipes eyes*

Alyssa—thank you for having me today! And to you and all my readers, thank you for sharing Rives and Skye’s journey with me! And the journey of all the characters in the Nil world—including Nil itself. It’s been a fun ride!

You find out the end soon…:)

Lynne

[Edited to add - I love this letter so much. Thank you, Lynne! *hides under tissues*]

Nil on Fire by Lynne Matson

Book Three of the Nil series

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Publication Date: May 31, 2016

Summary (from Goodreads):

Despite Rives and Skye's attempt to destroy Nil, the island remains. And back in this world, Nil won't let Skye go. Haunted by a darkness she can't ignore, Skye wrestles with Nil nightmares that worsen by the day and threaten to tear her apart. As Skye fights to keep her mind intact, she realizes that to finally break free of Nil, she must end Nil's vicious cycle once and for all--and she can't do it alone.

Who will return to Nil, and in the end, who will survive? In this thrilling final installment of the Nil series, the stakes have never been higher: everyone's fate hangs in the balance, including Nil's own--and Nil will fight to the death. When the full force of the island is unleashed, Skye faces an impossible choice, a cruel one she'd never imagined she'd have to make. Soon one Nil truth becomes painfully clear: only one side can win.

Losing isn't an option, but winning will cost Skye everything.

Perfect for fans of Lost and survivalist stories, NIL ON FIRE is a stunning conclusion to the Nil trilogy that will leave readers breathless.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Check out the rest of the series!