Review: Inescapable by Amy A. Bartol

"My name is Evie Claremont and this was to be the making of me–my freshman year of college. I’d been hoping that once I’d arrived on Crestwood’s campus, the nightmare that I’ve been having would go away. It hasn’t. I may be an inexperienced seventeen-year-old, but I’m grounded…sane. I look for rational explanations to even the strangest circumstances. Since meeting sophomore Reed Wellington, however, nothing makes any sense. Whenever he’s near, I feel an attraction to him–a magnetic kind of force pulling me towards him. I know what you’re thinking…that sounds fairly awesome. Yeah, it would be…if he liked me, but Reed acts as if I’m the worst thing that has ever happened to Crestwood…or him. But get this, for some reason every time I turn around he’s there, barging into my life. What is the secret that he’s keeping from me? I’m hoping that it’s anything but what I suspect: that he’s not exactly normal…and neither am I. So, maybe Crestwood won’t be the making of me, but it could be the breaking of me. I’ve been left to wonder if the dark future my dream is foretelling is…inescapable."

Evie Claremont is about to start the next chapter in her life: college. And at the beginning, everything seems to be going well -- she's enjoying her classes, she's making new friends, and even finding time to try out some new sports, too. But that all changes when she meets Reed Wellington. Whenever she's around him, she feels automatically drawn to him, like there is something pulling them together. But every time he sees her, Reed acts as if he can't get away fast enough. It's almost as if he hates her for some reason and Evie can't seem to figure out why. Unfortunately, that isn't the only thing that she hasn't been able to figure out lately. The nightmare that has been recurring for a while now didn't stop when she went off to college, like she thought it would. Between this dark dream and Reed's odd behavior, Evie can't help but wonder if maybe there is something strange going on in the little town of Crestwood -- and if she might somehow be at the center of it all. Inescapable is the first in the Premonition Series and, as the title suggests, it proves to be a story that any reader will have trouble escaping from.

I rate this book: 

I'm the kind of reader that will read anything and everything that she can get her hands on, and won't pass judgment until she's finished the book. I'm usually looking for something to read, especially when I've zipped through every book in a series or I'm waiting for the next installment to come out. While browsing Amazon one day, I came across Inescapable and, on a whim, I decided to give it a try -- and I'm so glad I did! This book is amazing. The characters are really down to earth and easy to relate to, which is always something that makes reading through a book go smoothly. But what I really enjoyed about this book was the story itself. I wasn't able to put this book down, the plot was that interesting. I was hooked from the very first page and continued to be drawn in with every secret that was revealed about the characters. It's no surprise that immediately after finishing this book, I rushed to purchase the next one in the series. Inescapable is definitely worth a read. It's a refreshing new series that hooks you from the beginning and keeps you enveloped in its world well past the final page. Be sure to check it out! You won't be disappointed. 

Amy A. Bartol lives in Michigan with her husband and their two sons. Her family is very supportive of her writing. When she's writing, they often bring her the take-out menu so that she can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when she talks about her characters like they're real. They rarely roll their eyes when she tells them she'll only be a second while she finishes writing a chapter...and then they take off their coats. They ask her how the story is going when she surfaces after living for hours in a world of her own making. They have learned to accept her "writing uniform," consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at her nerdy bookishness whenever she tries to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get her, so they are perfect and she feels blessed. Check out her website: http://www.amyabartol.com.

Review: Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back

Sometimes after the first few books of a series the author seems to lose there creative edge.  But this is not this case for Julie Kagawa.  The Iron Queen was fabulous, like the rest of the series.  Meghan really shows what she is made of in this one.  In the first book she was the mind blown girl looking to save her brother and get the heck out of faerie.  But, as we know that didn't quite workout so well.  In the second book we find her stuck in the winter court freezing her booty off and continously in heart ache because of Ash.  The third books starts out with Meghan and Ash banished from the faerie world and all Meghan really wants to do is go home.  Apparently that is too much to ask for.  Meghan and Ash have to find Meghan's 'father' and to do so she has to get her memory back from the oracle in New Orleans.  Turns out Puck is exiled as well and decides to join Meghan and Ash in their journey to find Meghan's dad.  The iron fey are destroying NeverNever under the rule of the false King.  King Oberon and Queen Mab agree to unexile Ash, Puck, and Meghan if Meghan will go into the Iron Realm and defeat the false king.  The Iron Queen is full of friendship, loyalty, love, and bad a** fight scenes as well as sacrifice and heart break that may leave you crying like a baby at the end. 

 

I really like has Meghan has evolved from book one to now.  In the first book she just wanted to save her brother and didn't care how it happened.  She was likeable but reckless and making promises, friends, and enemies left and right.  In the second book she starts out heart broken and imprisoned and devestated for a large portion of the book.  But in this one she begins to own her powers and earns her rightful place in the land of NeverNever.  Despite all of the major events that happen in this book she stays level headed and doesn't need to be saved every few minutes by the boys.   

Ash shows a new side of himself that you don't get to see in The Iron King and The Iron Daughter.  In the first two books he cold and very much the winter prince he was raised to be.  But by the end of the second book when he chooses to be with Meghan and go into exile over NeverNever and the winter court he shows that he really does love Meghan.  In the Iron Queen you see that grow even more and he seems to warm up and become more friendly to even Puck.  Don't get me wrong he will always be the fierce Prince Ash but there is much more to him now.  Plus you can't go wrong with his and Puck's squabbling. 

There is an event at the very end of the book that is my favorite part.  It's very minor but for anyone else that was wondering about this very minor character I don't want to give it away.  It was something that had really been bothering me since book one and thought that it was completely forgotten about.  So to see it pop up at the end of book three I was fantastic.




If you guys didn't know Julie Kagawa's newest faerie book, the Lost Prince came out this past tuesday!!!

Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

"Everything is in ruins. A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them. So what does Araby Worth have to live for? Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all. But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does. And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for—no matter what it costs her."

Imagine a city where everyone lives in fear -- fear of losing a loved one, fear of contamination, fear of any form of human contact or emotion. Imagine a place where the wealthy live their lives sequestered in towering penthouses, while the less fortunate are forced to live in filth and are exposed daily to the dangerous disease that nearly wiped out the city's population. If you can imagine such a place, then you can glimpse the kind of life that Araby Worth has been forced to live. The daughter of the scientist who developed the masks that the fortunate wealthy now wear to protect themselves from disease, Araby is one of the lucky people in the city. Not that she feels fortunate at all. Because the life that she lives now was bought with a price that she was never willing to pay and, after paying that price, she wants nothing more than to forget it all. Until she meets Will, and then Elliott. Both men have secrets that they keep from her, but that's okay. Because she has her secrets, too. But when these secrets are shared, Araby may find that one thing that she needs to live -- and fight -- for, no matter how great the cost is. What transpires within the pages of Masque of the Red Death is a story that draws you in and refuses to let you go, even after you've reached the novel's end. 

I rate this book: 

This book completely blew me away! There really is no other way to describe it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book -- so much so that, by the time I reached the end, I was bewildered that there wasn't more for me to read. Many times, when readers describe how it feels to read a good book, they say that they feel like they've been transported to another world. This statement could not fit my feelings while reading Masque of the Red Death any better. The plot of this book was so immersive that it left me craving more the instant I'd read the last page. I couldn't get enough of the characters, the scenery, or the plot itself. I wanted so desperately to know what would happen next, and was slightly saddened to realize that I had indeed reached the end of the book, because that meant that I wouldn't be able to keep reading about the characters that I'd grown to love so much while reading through their struggles and triumphs. I would encourage each and every one of you guys to pick this book up. If the magic of the book is as successful with you as it was with me, then you won't be able to put it down -- even after you've finished it! 

Bethany Griffin is a high school English teacher who prides herself on attracting creative misfits to elective classes like Young Adult Literature, Creative Writing, and Speculative Literature. She is the author of Handcuffs and Masque of the Red Death. She lives with her family in Kentucky.

Mainstream Monday

Happy Mainstream Monday guys!!!

As you know all of us here at the Ink Puddle are pretty big fans of books to film and there have been a few more to add to your radar for possible must sees in the next few years.

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington has been picked up by the CW as a new tv show that is said to be the next Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The only news is that there is a script prepared but nothing else.  The story is centered around Violet, who becomes a key piece in the secret war between fallen angels and the protectors of Earth.  Along with angels there are magic tattoos and different small aspects that make me think of Cassandra Clare's shadowhunter series.  Obviously not the same but similar.  None the less the story the sounds pretty good and I, like a lot of people I've spoken to recently, are a little tired of vampires and happy to find something new.

Black City by Elizabeth Richards hasn't been released yet but it's right have already been taken by Screen Gems and they are currently looking for a screen writer.  So it may be a while, if ever, for this book too.  Black City is about wars between a Darkling race and humans.  The main character falls for a forbidden half darkling guy.  This is supposedly one of the most anticipated books of this year and is released November 13th.

If there are any Divergent series fans casting seems to be starting for the movie version.  Shailene Woodley, from The Secret Life of the American Teenager and The Descendants, is the main rumored actress to portray Tris.  I didn't really have anyone pictured for that character so to me she is as good as anyone else.  It would probably be a good oppurtunity for her to show of her talents or lack there of.  I'm excited to see who all will be casted for this movie.

Some other important dates for you guys:

If you didn't already know, Hidden: A House of Night Novel by P.C. and Kristen Cast came out last tuesday.

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa comes out comes out October 23.  I have been dying to read this ever since I read the Iron Fey trilogy.

The thrid installment of the Matched trilogy comes out November 13.

The Hobbit Part I comes to theater in December and Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part II comes out in theaters in November.

And a completely off subject book I've been waiting a year for, The Big Book of Yoga by Kathryn Budig, comes out October 30th incase we have any yogi Ink Puddle fans out there.  

Are there any books hitting the shelves soon that you guys are excited about.  We're always interested in discovering new books so let us know.

--Meg

Infomation from hollywoodcrush.mtv.com and Hollywood Reporter.

Review: Avenge by Sarah Ross

“Six months ago, Lucy Donovan thought that being killed by a drunk driver was the worst thing that could happen to her.
She was wrong.
Now, the person she loves most has been ripped away from her, soul held hostage, and Lucy has vowed to stop at nothing to get it back.
Part of a new team with enhanced powers, Lucy and her friends begin a quest to avenge the souls that have been stolen. Enemies of the Patronus have united, however, and a spy from within the Patronus realm is feeding the enemy their every move.
When a mission goes horribly wrong, Lucy’s soul becomes compromised. It will take a strength she didn’t know was within her to escape the darkness, return to the light and avenge the soul she loves.”

Avenge is the second book in The Patronus series and Sarah Ross brings it even more than she did the first time around. We have many familiar faces along with some new friends to tag along our group; my personal new favorite being the sassy Lola.

I loved the imagery Sarah brought. Going back and forth from their quarters to New Orleans (which I may be slightly biased because it is one of my favorite places in the world!), she did such a wonderful job of capturing the smells, the voices and landscape that just for a moment I could close my eyes and be right back there. From Bourbon Street to Café Du Monde, I loved it.

My rating for this book:

There were so many twists and turns in this book that I was really put on my toes. From the first time we see Jessica, to everything that happens when Lucy’s soul is compromised, to the mole hiding out stealthily, I was impressed and finished this book in record time.

So can Lucy get everything she’s lost back, including herself? Better start reading to find out!

Review: Incarnate by Dana Michelle Burnett

*Spoiler Alert: If you haven't read either the other books in the Spiritus series (Spiritus and Haunted), I'd recommend holding off on reading this review.*

"To be in a love affair with a ghost is both a fantasy and a punishment for Becca. Always searching for balance between her deep love for Alastor and her desire for a normal life, a chaotic period of impulsiveness, death, and mourning have led her to the ultimate turning point. Can she and Alastor go against the laws of nature and cheat death to be together again? And at what price?" 

When we last saw Becca, she had just gotten a grip on her sanity again. After that, however, she was a woman on a mission -- especially after she discovered the possibility of bringing Alastor back from the dead. What follows is a whirlwind of emotions for both her and the ghost that she loves, as she considers a way that is dangerous to both of them. If successful, Becca will finally be able to have a real life with the man that she loves. But will Alastor really be able to come back from the dead? And, if he can, what will be the cost to both Becca and Alastor? Incarnate is the final installment in the Spiritus series and it will leave you breathless until the very last page.

I rate this book: 

It only took me a matter of hours to finish this book -- and I loved every second of it! It was such a fitting conclusion to this series and, while I was sad to see the end of the story for these characters, it was still a great thing to take part in and I wouldn't have wanted it to end any differently. What I especially enjoyed were the glimpses of Becca and Alastor's past lives that were shown to the reader throughout the book. These really helped to move the plot along, but they also gave some insight into the people that they were before the story started in Spiritus. It was interesting to see how much two people could change so much. If you've read the first two books in this series, then you absolutely must pick up Incarnate as soon as possible. And if you haven't read the Spiritus series, then I'm not sure what you're waiting for? Go check it out! If you're anything like me, you'll devour it in no time and, hopefully, you'll enjoy it just as much as I did. 

Dana Michelle Burnett was born and raised in beautiful Southern Indiana. She spent most of her life writing short stories and sharing them with family and friends. Over the years, her work was published in numerous commercial and literary magazines, including Just Labs, Mindprints: A Literary Journal, Foliate Oak, and many more.  Her short story "John Lennon and the Chicken Holocaust was included in The Best of Foliate Oak 2006.  Burnett still lives in Southern Indiana. She continues to manage NanasAtticStore.com and works on her writing every day. Her site, DanaMichelleBurnett.com, has more information about upcoming projects and appearances, or you can also check her out on Facebook.

Review: Rebirth of the Seer by Peter Dawes

*Spoiler Alert: If you have not yet read Eyes of the Seer, I would strongly suggest holding off on reading this review*

"Flynn’s quest for redemption continues in the second installment of The Vampire Flynn.

Condemned by the Supernatural Order and sentenced by their High Council to die, he and his watcher Monica must avoid capture while deciphering a riddle left by Lydia Davies. The mission takes them from Philadelphia to the Windy City of Chicago, with a master seer named Julian nipping at their heels. There, they are joined by wary allies and a cunning vampire who is bent upon exposing the full hypocrisy of the Order.

The hunter becomes the hunted. The villain transforms into a champion. But even as Peter begins to emerge from the crimson shroud of his alter ego as a newly-gifted seer, he finds himself placed on a game board he would have sooner avoided. A destiny trails him, but so does the realization that he has become a country without affiliation, about to be presented with an offer too enticing for him to simply refuse. And while the Order’s band of gifted humans might be misguided, are they beyond redemption themselves?

What remains to be seen is who might be right – the ones who remember the murderous assassin, or the few who believe in the heart of a hero nobody asked for.

Where would your wager lie?"

 As the second installment in Dawes' Vampire Flynn series, Rebirth of the Seer picks up where the first book (Eyes of the Seer) left off. When we last saw Flynn, he was preparing to face the High Council of the Supernatural Order with his watcher, Monica, in an attempt to plead his case to them as a vampire-seer with a mission from the Fates themselves. Considering a seer is a person who is gifted by the Fates with the skills necessary to hunt and kill vampires, the High Council is obviously wary of Flynn -- after all, he is the first and only being of his kind. So, it's of little surprise to Flynn when he is condemned to death by the Council, forcing him and Monica to flee. However, they're being hunted by a master seer that the Order has sent after them. Will Flynn and Monica be able to hold him off? Can they prove to the Council that Flynn is on their side? Rebirth of the Seer answers all of these questions and more from the point of view of the vampire-seer himself. It's a book that you will have to read to find out the answers to, but it's also one that you won't regret picking up, nor will you be able to put it down once you do.

I rate this book: 

I could not wait to get my hands on this book. It didn't take long for me to fall completely in love with Flynn in the first book and, considering the way things ended in the previous book, I was very eager to know what would happen next to Monica and Flynn. And I was not disappointed. I loved this book just as much, if not more than, its predecessor. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Flynn and Monica in this book, especially. The way they interacted with each other, challenged each other every step of the way, made for an incredibly engaging read and made me fall in love with these characters -- and this series -- all the more. I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a different kind of vampire story, one where the line between good and evil isn't as clearly defined as readers are used to. Rebirth of a Seer is a book that will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat from the very beginning, as well as long after you've finished it. Of course, as I stated about the first book, I do want to caution young readers from reading this book, as it does contain some rather adult themes that might not be entirely suitable for a younger audience. If you haven't checked out this series (and you're of age, of course), you should definitely pick it up. You won't be disappointed. And be sure to check out our review of Eyes of the Seer here, should you need further convincing. You can also check out the guest post by Peter Dawes here, to learn more about the character of Flynn. 

Peter Dawes is an author of urban fantasy, native to the Philadelphia, PA area. The stories he writes often focus on the paranormal, with real life people being thrown into extraordinary circumstances. The clash of good vs evil and hero vs villain is a staple of his work, though he is never content to leave the hero unscathed by the end of the day. There is always a trial experienced and a lesson learned, even if it's learned the hard way.

Far from being an archetypal author, though, Peter Dawes recognizes that what is black and white is often painted with shades of gray and even the heroes fall while the villains rise above. To him, the classic struggle epitomizes something within all of us that digs deep for the last mile, doggedly holds on to love, and sometimes ignores the safe path for the road less traveled.

He also may or may not be a vampire. He leaves that for the reader to determine.

Review: The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle by L.J.Smith

"Torn between two vampire brothers

Damon: determined to make Elena his, he'd kill his own brother to possess her.

Stefan: desperate for the power to destroy Damon, and protect Elena, he gives in to his thirst for human blood.

Elena: the girl who can have anyone finds herself in the middle of a love triangle . . . one that might turn deadly."

Elena Gilbert has gotten what she wanted. Stefan Salvatore is her boyfriend and everything should be fine. Except for the fact that everyone in Fell's Church blames him for the murders that have happened recently -- murders that his brother, Damon, seems to be responsible for. On top of everything else, Damon doesn't seem to want to leave Elena or her friends alone, either. Will she be able to protect those she loves from her vampire boyfriend's ruthless brother? Will she be able to protect herself as well? The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle is an enticing follow-up to its predecessor and will definitely leave you wanting more of this love triangle. 

I rate this book: 

I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. While I made it clear in my review of the first book in this series that these books are nothing like the television show, I also stated that the difference between the two wasn't a bad one. This book yet again demonstrates how refreshing such a difference can be. Even though the difference was shocking at first between the books and the show, I really came to love the differences in plot and characters in these books after reading The Struggle. I think the most interesting character in these books would have to be Damon. And in this second installment of The Vampire Diaries, you get to see him a lot more than in the first book. He's scary, but there's also something about him that seems to draw you in. It's obvious that Elena isn't the only one that this character has that certain effect on. If you've read the first book in this series, then you'll definitely want to check out this book. If you haven't picked up this series at all, what in the world are you waiting for?

L. J. Smith has written a number of bestselling books and series for young adults, including The Vampire Diaries (now a hit TV show), The Secret Circle, The Forbidden Game, Night World, and the #1 New York Times bestselling Dark Visions. She is happiest sitting by a crackling fire in a cabin in Point Reyes, California, or walking the beaches that surround that area.

Wondering On Wednesday

It's that time of year again.  Amazon recently released their new Kindle, apple released the iPone 5 and there is rumor that there will be a new iPad before long.  So naturally, Barnes and Noble has two new nooks, Nook HD and Nook HD+, coming out on November 1st.  As someone who owns the original ereader tablet, the Nook Color, I'm pretty stoked.  They've added a hand full of new features since the Nook Tablet as well as a sleekier style.

The Nook HD+ looks similar to the Nook Tablet and Nook Color but it now has a 9 inch HD screen making it around the same size as the iPad but a bit lighter weighing in at 18.2 oz.  It has more internal storage than the other nooks and is available in 16 GB or 32 GB and like the other Nooks you can expand your storage with a microSD card.  The battery life is now 10 hours as opposed to the 8 hours of the Nook Tablet.  It has new and improved "cinema like sound", which, honestly, anyting is an improvement over the Nook Color sound which I couldn't hear over the sound of an air conditioner without ear buds. Barnes and Noble added a new Scrapbooking feature that allows you to "tear out" pages in magazines and catalogues to save which I think it really cool because that is one of the main reasons that I keep buying actual magazines now so that I can save the articles that I want out of them.  Catalogues themselves are a new feature on the nook.  The new movie feature allows you to buy or rent movies directly onto you device and you can pick up where you left off on your TV or smart phone.  Before the only way you could watch TV or movies was through Netflix or Hulu.  If your Nook is something the whole family uses, it can create up to six indiviualized profiles with each persons own books, movies, and apps.  If you have young children that you don't want buying things without your permission, or just inapporpriate things in general, there is now parent controlls that allow parents to monitor kids activites and purchases.  With all of the new features plus the original ones that we all love, the Nook Cloud, Nook IQ, books, apps, magazines, etc. the Nook HD+ is sure to be a best seller and barnes and noble fan favorite.

The Nook HD has all of the built in features that the Nook HD+ has.  The main difference is the sizing which also makes it cheaper.  The Nook HD has a 7 inch screen and different body style than any of the other nooks.  It is also a bit lighter than the other Nook Tablets.  It comes in white or smoke.  The built in memory is less than the Nook HD+ at either 8 GB ($199) or 16 GB ($229).  It has a slightly longer battery life at 10.5 hrs.  If I get a new nook this is the one I'm going with.

Are there any nook fans out there?  Do you see yourself replacing your old Nook for the newer, sleeker ones?  With all of the new features, it would be hard not to.

Halloween Giveaway!

Hey everyone,
This is just an exciting week here at The Ink Puddle. Yesterday sharing the new cover of J.L. Bryan's book Jenny Pox Plague Bringer, to letting you guys know of a new giveaway we have going on from TODAY until October 31!

What do you have to do for this giveaway? I'm so glad you asked.
You see, Halloween is all about dressing up, having fun and of course candy. And we're all about books. Smash the two of them together and what do you get? Our epic giveaway of course!

To be entered in our giveaway, you have to send us a picture of you dressed up as your favorite book character. Don't worry, we wouldn't ask you to do something we wouldn't do ourselves; so over the next few weeks be expecting a picture of the 3 of us dressed our favorites!

What are you being entered in for if you do send us those awesome pictures?

A $20.00 Gift Card to your choice of Amazon or Barnes and Nobles

A copy of your favorite book we've reviewed here at The Ink Puddle

And a spppoookkkyyy surprise! (We can't have you know EVERYTHING!)

So start planning your pictures, thinking of your characters. If you can get a group photo we'll even count that as 2 entries.

To enter: send us your pictures to jordan.butcher2@gmail.com along with the character names and a way to contact you in case you're the winner!

Jenny Plague Bringer Cover Reveal!

Not too long ago I told you guys that J.L. Bryan announced that there would be a 4TH Jenny Pox book! (More specifically known as The Paranormals) Well today we have the brand new cover to go along with that! Who is as pumped as I am? Probably no one, because I've been squealing like a little girl for a while now...

"Jenny has enjoyed a year of quiet seclusion, but her peace is about to be shattered by two new paranormals who are searching for her. Their intentions are unknown. The timing couldn't be worse, because Jenny couldn't use her pox without risking the life of the baby growing inside her..."

Not only do we have the pleasure of showing you how awesome this cover is... we also have a giveaway to present you to celebrate! Can this day get any better?

The giveaway is... The first 3 books of the Paranormals autographed by J.L. Bryan himself. This offer is not limited to the U.S. but also goes out to those in the U.K. and Canada.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway