Mainstream Monday: A Plethora of News!

Happy Mainstream Monday!  In my world, there are many great things about May.  You get out of school, its warm, there usually Derby festivities and festivals, and this May there are several books coming out!  We also have some big news from some of your favorite authors!

- Tuesday, May 1st many great books are coming out:
The fourth and FINAL Laurel series book Destined by Aprilynne Pike
Deadlocked, the second to last Sookie Stackhouse book, by Charlaine Harris
Insurgent, book two of the Divergent Trilogy, by Veronica Roth!

- Tuesday, May 1st is also the release day for H.P. Mallory's Wuthering Frights! This will be book 4 in the Dulcie O' Neal series. Click here to join the online release party on Facebook. Also, if you didn't know you can follow all of your favorite characters in the series on FB. Yes! Dulcie, Dia, Quillan, Bram, Knight and Sam are all on there currently role-playing Great Hexpectations. Add them as friends just as you'd add anyone else to follow them.

 - City of Lost Souls, the fifth TMI book, by Cassandra Clare comes out Tuesday, May 8th.

- Dreamless, the sequel to Starcrossed, by Josephine Angelini comes out May 29th.

- Stephanie Meyer's The Host is being released in 2013! Move over Twilight! This is what I know I've been waiting for. Click here to see the trailer teaser.

- ABC Family has signed on Sara Shepard's The Lying Game for its second season! We couldn't be more excited. :)

- Amanda Hocking has released an excerpt from Wake, the first book in The Watersong Series that's being released August 7th through St. Martin's Publishing. To see the soundtrack for Wake, click here. Also! The third book in the Trylle Trilogy, Ascend was released last Tuesday.

- Julie Kagawa's new series, The Immortal Rules, was also released last Tuesday. I haven't read it yet but everyone is raving about it! Even cooler news? It's been signed for a movie deal! Julie also announced a new offspring of The Iron Fey series, all in teenage Ethan's perspective that should be out in October.  She is also publishing her novellas calling them The Iron Legends, which will contain Winter’s Passage, Summer’s Crossing, and her newest Iron novella, Iron’s Prophecy/ that will have a guide to Nevernever and a chapter from The Lost Prince which will be due out August 28, 2012. 

- Cassandra Clare and Holly Black are releasing a series they wrote together.  It’ll be written for middle grade following the main character from around 12 to 17.  Now before you turn your nose up to middle grade, did most of us not love Harry Potter?  Any Maximum Ride or Witch and Wizard fans?  And there will be no more over done love triangles since the boy is too young for all of that nonsense!!  Other than that there hasn’t been much else released other than the term Iron Trials, which has led me to believe that these books may be about faeries and quite frankly there are not enough faerie books out there right now.  Another plus is that these books will be pushing up the publication for all of Cassandra Clare’s TMI and ID books.

All information provided came from barnesandnoble.com, author's tweets, facebook, blogs, and abcfamily.com

Concerning Recent Events...

By now I'm pretty sure the entire book blogging community and then some know about what happened with Kristy from The Story Siren. If you're not sure who she is, she's one of the most well known bloggers for YA and one that has been at blogging for quite some time. If you aren't sure what happened, well, Rachel from Parajunkee summed things up pretty well in this post. So check it out if you need to catch up. She tells you what happened but she also leaves links for you to see first hand.

I'm not here to talk about that... completely. First off, I'm not entirely sure how I feel on the subject. Yes, what she did was wrong and from the evidence seen here there's really no way to deny Kristy being guilty. But what frustrates me the most is the fact that she didn't come out and just admit that what she did was wrong! Instead she stayed quiet until everything was pulled out against her, claiming she was trying to keep things private and thought the matter could be handled in a quiet fashion. Even when she did apologize though, it felt half-hearted at best.

As bloggers, we get caught up in life, we get tired with going to school, working a day job, having husbands and family to tend to that it seems so easy to rely on someone else to do all the heavy work. Unfortunately though, that's just not an option. While it can be so easy for one of us to see something online (Think about how much we read daily! Come on, we're book bloggers for heaven's sake!) and that get thrown back into your memory and when you go to write about it later it spills out a bit to closely. Plagiarism is a serious offense that needs to be stopped and dealt with accordingly.

I'm not here to bash Kristy though. Frankly, I'm tired of all the berating people are giving her. I'm not saying stop following her, or not to do her IMM meme anymore, I'm simply asking you to figure out where you stand and stand firm. If that's what you decide to do, do that. But in a generation that seems to suggest that everything should be handed to them, that they shouldn't have to work for anything, this is something that needs to be paid attention to.

At The Ink Puddle, we do our best to put as much effort and heart into this blog to make it something that you guys appreciate as much as we do. And my goal, hope and prayer is that we never fall into that trap. However if we do please contact us and let us know. We will take appropriate measures with the subject. I can't help as a book blogger to feel sorry for all of you for what happened here. This doesn't give us a good name but I hope this doesn't discourage you from following those blogs you love including, hopefully our own.

Thank you for your continued support,
All of us at The Ink Puddle

Booking Through Thursday

Has a book ever inspired you to change anything in your life, fiction or non-fiction alike?

The first book that comes to mind is Ordinary People by Judith Guest. This was one that I read my Junior year of high school in my English class with Mr. Barrett. Everyone hated him and thought he was the hardest/ meanest teacher ever, but I enjoyed his teaching so much I ended up taking another class with him the year after! (Even though he had completely changed my hand writing by the end of the semester...)

This book is about an average family going through the loss of their son, or brother in Conrad's eyes. Though the book focuses most on Conrad's view, you also get the in on mom and dad as well. There was specifically a breakthrough scene with Conrad's therapist that just hit me in the rawest way...

I was going through a really difficult time when I read this and I'm not entirely sure why this book meant as much to me as it did, but I'm so glad I read it. It was theraputic in so many ways. This is a book that if you ever get the chance to pick up, you should. It's also a movie, but as usually the movie was nearly as good as the book.

To see other BTT, click here.

Review: Ruined by Kinley Baker

“Jessa is one healing away from death. Under the thrall of her gift, the Court's Senior Healer risks giving her life in exchange for her patient's.

Vale is a rebel ruler. When his brother is killed, he's given the throne and the decree from the Court to produce an heir or lose his family's hold on the land--and his deceiving advisors aren't afraid to use murder as a weapon if their directive to stay away from the Senior Healer goes unheeded.

But Vale burns to possess Jessa. The heat between them leaves a wake of smoke, and even the powerful forces above want to bind them in a union that lasts forever. Vale taking another would be a betrayal neither could survive.

Their enemies fear a child born of such a powerful Healer and Warrior, but the true threat lies in the bond forged in shadows and fused in fire.”

After the unexpected death of his brother, Vale is forced to become the leader of the Shadow Shifters, a position that he neither wants nor feels fit to have. And, as if that wasn’t enough to deal with, he also has to cope with his growing attraction to Jessa, the Senior Healer – a woman who was rumored to be his brother’s mistress. Of course, the fact that someone is trying to kill him definitely doesn’t help matters either. Not everything is as it seems in the Realm of Shadows and it’s up to Vale and Jessa to determine who in the Court to trust. Ruined is a story full of intrigue and suspense, with a little bit of forbidden love thrown into the mix.

I rate this book:

I loved this book. It has everything that makes a good story: an engaging and suspenseful plot, well-developed characters, and a few twists to keep readers on their toes. The forbidden romance was a definite plus for me, as well. I didn’t want to put it down and was a little disappointed when I finished it because it left me wanting so much more. It is so easy to feel like you know the characters intimately in this book, which only makes the end that much more unbearable to get to. If you’re looking for a quick read that will keep your interest from beginning to end, then Ruined is the book for you. However, I do want to warn any potential readers that some of the content of this book is not suitable for young readers. There are definitely some mature scenes in this book, so be mindful of that when considering to read Ruined.

Also, click here to check out Joey's guest post with the author, Kinley Baker.

Kinley Baker read her first romance novel at the age of thirteen and immediately fell in love with the hero and the genre. She lives with her husband and her dog, Joker, in the Pacific Northwest. As a firm supporter of all supernatural lifestyles, she writes fantasy romance, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy. You can find Kinley at www.kinleybaker.com.

Review: Eyes of the Seer by Peter Dawes

“It all started with a murder. Two victims lay dead at the hands of Peter Dawes, but what laid in wait for him was not the sound of sirens or the banging of a gavel. It would turn a doctor into a killer and a man into a monster. Follow Peter as he exchanges his blood-stained clothing for tailored suits, his scalpel for fine-crafted daggers, and is reinvented as the newest vampire-child in a coven of decadent sophisticates. He even takes on the name ‘Flynn’ – a child of red – in honor of his new-found devilish side and to further distance himself from his human past. For four years, Flynn embodies every bit the bloody immortal he was sired to become. Under the reign of his maker, Sabrina, he establishes a reputation as the most feared assassin to ever terrorize the covens of Philadelphia. But the sure footed steps and quick hands that make him a virtuoso when it comes to killing humans and vampires alike are attributes of the mortal destiny which haunts him even beyond death. And despite all efforts, Peter’s humanity is not as dead as some would prefer.”

Life for Peter is about to change. Literally. He’s gone from being a respected doctor to a murderous vampire. And the scariest part about this drastic change is how easily Peter welcomes this new identity he’s been given: the identity of an immortal assassin. Not only does he welcome this new role, he readily embraces it. He revels in each and every kill, delights in the spilling of human blood, and even takes a further step in solidifying this new role of his by changing his name from Peter to Flynn. But he’ll soon find out that this newfound identity is far from permanent. That, in order to fulfill his destiny, Peter will have to become something Flynn never would have expected. Eyes of the Seer is a book that grabs the reader from the very beginning and absolutely refuses to let go until the very end of the story. And even when the reader reaches the end, it isn’t really over.

I rate this book:

I have to say that I absolutely loved this book. It is a book unlike any other vampire story out there. Most books involving vampires nowadays seem to always want to portray the main vampire character as a good and benevolent character who is kind to humans. Eyes of the Seer takes this idea and completely flips it on its head with the character of Flynn and it’s something that I really enjoyed about this book. Flynn is not your typical vampire protagonist, by any means. He is ruthless, bloodthirsty, and rather sadistic in nature. In many other vampire books of today, Flynn would be considered the villain of the story, rather than the main character. But he’s not, and that’s what I love about this story. It’s refreshing - if not a little frightening - to see a vampire character actually act like a vampire. If you’re looking for a refreshing take on the role of the vampire protagonist, then you should definitely pick up Eyes of the Seer. Its gripping detail and surprising plot twists will leave you craving more. I would like to caution readers, however that this book is definitely for mature audiences only, as it contains some content that may not be suitable for younger readers.

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 Peter, 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.

Guest Post: Kinley Baker

Today we have Kinley Baker here with us from Bewitching Book Tours to talk about about her book Ruined!  

Testing Perceptions

I’m a huge fan of the paranormal. I love the idea of ghosts, vampires, and werewolves. This fascination led me down the path to writing fantasy. I think this is a good lead into the post because the paranormal tests the limits of our imaginations.

Ruined is a fantasy romance novel, but the story is also about challenging perceptions. Jessa and Vale, the heroine and hero, are forced to fight for their places in the world. They find that they can’t allow others to establish their roles. They must take charge of their own destinies and forge ahead.

There are numerous rumors and scandals permeating this kingdom, but at the heart the story tests the limits of their society.

The ways the people in the village view Jessa are very different from who she is. Part of her struggle is figuring out why the way she’s viewed is important. As the Senior Healer, she is supposed to be something distinct. But she’s constantly challenging the personality that people believe she should have. She’s not a normal Healer beyond her need to save.

Similarly, Vale is faced with living up to being the king. Once he’s thrust into power, he only has memories of his brother ruling and his corrupt Court to guide him. He’s a very different person than his brother, so the way his brother ruled isn’t very applicable. He struggles against who he should be and who he is.

The characters struggle internally. But they also struggle against society as a whole. Then it becomes almost as important for the village to understand why these characters are the way they are.

Many characters throughout Ruined face similar challenges. I think we can all relate to this. How does the world view us? And who are we really?

Sometimes, we make judgments that turn out to be wrong. Characters in Ruined do the same. But part of the fun of a story is discovering the truth. And watching those who made life difficult for a favorite character find out they were wrong.

In a realm that is at risk, with all their beliefs and traditions being challenged, I think that’s the time that really shows the depth of a character. Then we really get to see what they’re made of. I hope Jessa and Vale prove to you that they’re made of strength.

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Thank you so much for stopping by Kinley! Your book sounds great and is definitely on my to read list. In fact, Crissy is in the middle of reading this right now so stand by for a review next week! 

Review: Halflings by Heather Burch

Split. After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret---and the wings that come with. A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys' powers, as well as her role in a scientist's dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.  --barnesandnoble.com

Halflings is yet another winged immortal books (fangs and claws are out and wings are in).  Nikki is basically your tough chick.  She is a master at karate and drives a ninja street bike to school instead of a car.  Despite her best friends efforts she wears boyfriend jeans and old tees that go with her couldn’t care less artist side.  Her life is pretty normal until the day she finds herself running through the woods where she had just been peacefully working on her next art piece before being interrupted by a pack of hell hounds.  Luckily, before they could drag her off she was saved by Mace, Raven, and Vine who afterwards basically become her guardian angels in this much bigger world where there is an eternal struggle of good versus evil and your either on one side or the other.  But what does the dark side want with Nikki? Halflings is an easy read filled with action, fantasy, a possible love triangle, and great loss. 

My Rating for this Book:

I am really loving that there are books out that aren’t about vampires and werewolves and right now I’m on a winged immortal kick.  So I was pleased to find another interesting take on angels.  I like that in this version the half angels are very torn.  *Spoiler* If they follow their hearts they could lose an eternity that they aren’t guaranteed anyways.  They seem very lonely in a lot of ways.

I like Nikki’s character a lot.  She’s a tougher girl who can take care of herself.  So when she has to rely on these guys it really puts her out of her element.  In just this first book you really get to see her character grow in ways that you don’t usually see in just one book.

This book was a very easy, quick read as well.  There isn’t a moment when there isn’t anything happening.  None the less, at the beginning of the book, although I didn’t dislike it, I found myself considering not reading it.  This could have been because it was my third book in like four days but if something that keep me glued to the pages then I feel I can’t give it a five.

Lastly, it was only $1.99 on my nook at the time and who doesn’t love good books for good prices?