Interview + Giveaway: The Darkest Minds Blog Tour

Today, I have the unique opportunity to interview the artist behind the cover for The Darkest Minds. Marci Senders is the Lead Designer for Disney-Hyperion, and is here to answer some of my questions. I've never done an interview with a cover designer before, and I really enjoyed learning more about the process. I hope you do to! And stick around, there's a giveaway at the end of the post.

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Sara: Do you read the novels you design for beforehand, or are you given a sort of primer to work with?

Marci: Yes, I read the novels before I get started. We also get an Art Form from the editors that include a summary, character descriptions, comparative titles, etc.

Sara: Do you plan your cover designs beforehand, or do you wing it?

Marci: The best covers are the ones that are well thought out. I do sketch and collect inspiration before I get started. I also look for illustrators and freelancers who can create the perfect artwork for the project. Working with outside artists helps us keep our covers unique.

Sara: Can you describe your design process? What are the steps you normally take when designing a cover?

Marci: First I read the book. Second, I do research and look for inspiration. Then I discuss and brainstorm with the editor. From there I either sit down and get started and work with an illustrator. For The Darkest Minds, I worked with freelance designer/photo-illustrator Sammy Yuen who I know could give us that intense cover we were looking for.

Sara: Is there a certain genre you like to design for more than others? Is there a certain genre you find harder to design for?

Marci: I think designers are natural problem solvers so I like to work on all genres. I would get bored to always work on the same type of books.

Sara: The cover of The Darkest Minds is very striking in its simplicity. Was this the direction you wanted to take from the beginning, or were there other designs before the cover was chosen?

Marci: Our very first comps had the Psi symbol... they were pretty and more colorful. We also tried showing figures and more conceptual directions. Ultimately, we went back to the Psi symbol but in a much grittier way.

Sara: Did you find the cover for The Darkest Minds to be easier or more difficult than your average design?

Marci: It did take a lot of elbow grease to get this just right. There is a lot going on in this story and so many directions we could have gone in. Sometimes you have to try a bunch of things to find the right combination. This is also a popular genre so it had the added challenge of making it stand out from some tough competition.

Sara: What is your favorite thing to design outside of book covers?

Marci: Stuffed animals

Sara: What are your artistic influences?

Marci: I think I will always be an art history buff at heart.

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Thanks Marci for stopping by and giving us all a look into what goes into making a gorgeous cover! Now, for the giveaway. Thanks to Disney-Hyperion and Authors on the Web, I have one (1) copy of The Darkest Minds to give away to one lucky reader.

To enter, just comment on this post and tell us what you think of the cover for The Darkest Minds.

The giveaway is open to the US only and will run through 11:59pm on Friday February 1st. The winner will be chosen via random.org and announced shortly after.

About The Darkest Minds

When Ruby awakened on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." Because Ruby might have survived the mysterious disease that's killed most of America's children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby knows that she is one of the dangerous ones and, when the truth comes out, she barely escapes Thurmond with her life. On the run and desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her, Ruby joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can't risk getting close. Not after what she did to her parents.

When they arrive at the safe haven, East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work too, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. And soon Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

The heart-pounding first book a near-future dystopian series, Alexandra Bracken’s The Darkest Minds will leave you begging for the next installment.

Alexandra Bracken was born and raised in Arizona, but moved east to study at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. She recently relocated to New York City, where she works in publishing and lives in a charming apartment overflowing with books. You can visit her online at www.alexandrabracken.com or on Twitter (@alexbracken).

The Darkest Minds Blog Tour Schedule

January 6th: TheSkipKids.com
January 7th: Mundie Moms
January 8th: Laura’s Review Bookshelf
January 9th: The Book Smugglers
January 10th: Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf
January 11th: The Book Muncher
January 14th: The Compulsive Reader
January 15th: Anna Reads
January 16th: Emily's Reading Room
January 17th: *Headdesk*
January 18th: BlookGirl
January 21st: Once Upon a Twilight
January 22nd: Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog
January 23rd: Good Choice Reading
January 24th: Novel Novice
January 25th: Tynga's Reviews

Stacking the Shelves (24)

Thanks to Tynga at Tynga's Reviews for hosting Stacking the Shelves and making this awesome graphic!

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process! --Tynga

I'm tentatively back. For those of you who don't follow me on twitter, I have recently been going through a break up. It has been hard (we were together for over six years) and my reading/blogging suffered even more than I thought it would during the holiday season. Now the holidays are over and I'm slowly putting my heart back together. This post may seem like a lot of books, but remember I haven't posted one of these since November and it also includes Christmas.

Bought:
Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout [Buy Now]
Beta by Rachel Cohn [Buy Now]
Reached by Ally Condie (signed) [Buy Now]
Touched by Corrine Jackson [Buy Now]
The Farm by Emily McKay [Buy Now]
Black City by Elizabeth Richards [Buy Now]
Renegade by J.A. Souders (signed) [Buy Now]
Undeadly by Michele Vail [Buy Now]
Beta was super marked down on Black Thanksgiving (I went in at 8:45, it was not Friday yet...) I found a signed copy of Reached at one of the local used bookstores. Renegade is by a local author, so I was able to make one of her signings.

Used:
The Better to Hold You by Alisa Sheckley [Buy Now]
Moonburn by Alisa Sheckley [Buy Now]
I've seen these around for years and finally decided to grab them when I traded in some books.

Kindle:
The Maze Runner by James Dashner [Buy Now]
Entice by Jessica Shirvington [Buy Now]
Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder [Buy Now]
These titles were $1.99, $0.99, and $1.99 when I purchased them, but may no longer be those prices.

Review:
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken ARC [Buy Now]
Shadowlands by Kate Brian ARC [Buy Now]
Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed ARC [Pre-order]
I received a copy of The Darkest Minds for review via Authors on the Web. I did not request the other two ARCs, they just showed up. They aren't genres I would normally read, but I will give them a shot.

Won:
The City's Son by Tom Pollock [Buy Now]
I won via a giveaway on twitter.

Library:
Dark Companion by Marta Acosta [Buy Now]
Blood on the Moon by Jennifer Knight [Buy Now]
Redemption by Veronique Launier [Buy Now]
Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson [Buy Now]
Dead is a Killer Tune by Marlene Perez [Buy Now]
Demon Eyes by Scott Tracey [Buy Now]
The Temptation by Alisa Valdes [Buy Now]
Blood Fever by Veronica Wolff [Buy Now]
I always find awesome YA titles at the library.

Christmas:
$25 B&N GC from dad
Indigo Awakening by Jordan Dane [Buy Now]
The Trouble with Fate by Leigh Evans [Buy Now]
Sealed with a Curse by Cecy Robson [Buy Now]

$25 Amazon GC from dad
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken [Buy Now]
Conjure by Lea Nolan [Buy Now]
The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent [Buy Now]

$30 Amazon GC from brother
The Druid Stone by Heidi Belleau & Violetta Vane
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard [Buy Now]
Worlds Apart by Barbara Elsborg [Pre-order]
Necromancing Nim by Katriena Knights
Everblue by Brenda Pandos [Buy Now]
Half Blind by Christine Price
The Healing & the Dying by L.A. Witt

Review + Giveaway: Sealed with a Curse by Cecy Robson

Title: Sealed with a Curse
Author: Cecy Robson
Series: Weird Girls #1
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 12/31/12
Reviewed by: Sara
Buy the Book:

Summary:

Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls -- with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, weird...

The Wird sisters are content to avoid the local vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region -- until one of them blows up a vampire in self-defense. Everyone knows vampires aren't aggressive, and killing one is punishable by death. But soon more bloodlust-fueled attacks occur, and the community wonders: are the vampires of Tahoe cursed with a plague?

Celia reluctantly agrees to help Misha, the handsome leader of an infected vampire family. But Aric, the head of the werewolf pack determined to destroy Misha's family to keep the region safe, warns Celia to stay out of the fight. Caught between two hot alphas, Celia must find a way to please everyone, save everyone, and oh yeah, not lose her heart to the wrong guy -- or die a miserable death. Because now that the evil behind the plague knows who Celia is, it’s coming for her and her sisters. This Wird girl has never had it so tough.

Plot: 4 Stars
The powers that the four Wird sisters received through a curse are very interesting. I really liked how they were able to work together with their different abilities when fighting bad guys. I really enjoyed the fresh, new take on vampires and werewolves that the author brought to the table. And the bloodlust plaguing the vampire community kept everyone, including me, on their toes. Over and over, the sisters' found themselves in tight situations that I didn't think they'd find a way out of. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat for most of the novel.

Pace: 4 Stars
This novel started out with a bang as the sisters were dragged into vampire court to defend themselves. From there, it was a non-stop journey as they dealt with the vampire bloodlust. One of the things that made the novel really flow for me was how the sisters went to work at the hospital in between the fight scenes. And sometimes the danger met them at the hospital. There was never a dull moment as the sisters ran into danger at every turn as they tried to help Misha and his vampires, along with Aric and the werewolves.

Characters: 5 Stars
The Wird girls are some of the best characters I have read. All four of them were strong in their own ways with their own powers. No one overshadowed everyone else. This book was balanced between the four of them in a way I haven't read before. Most series that involve larger groups of main characters focus on a different character in each book. Although Celia narrated this novel, she never overshadowed the Taran, Shayna, or Emme. All four sisters had a moment in which I said to myself, "She's my favorite!" I'll have to read the next novel to figure out which one is actually my favorite because right now they're all tied. I wish we could've seen more of Bren and Danny because I really enjoyed their interactions with the sisters. Although I thought the some of the relationships with the wolves seemed a bit rushed at first, but soon grew to enjoy the wolves and their protective instincts.

Cover: 4 Stars
There are many details to this cover that I really enjoy. I like how the color is kinda purple and kinda blue because it reminds me of twilight (the time of day, not the book). I really enjoy the swirls on the title. I like the full moon showing through the branches in the background. I like the claw marks on the cover model, and I think she's a great interpretation of Celia. I think the only thing keeping this cover from being great to me is the fact that I'm missing the other three sisters. I realize there isn't room on a cover for four people, but I enjoyed all four sisters and would've really liked for them to be represented.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I received an eARC of this novel from via Netgalley and also purchased a finished copy with a GC I received as a gift.

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Now, for the giveaway! Cecy has offered up an advanced reader copy (ARC) of Sealed with a Curse to one lucky winner. To enter just leave a comment with a valid e-mail address. For extra entries, you can follow Cecy on Twitter or Facebook. The giveaway will be open until 11:59pm on Monday 01/21. I will choose a winner using random.org.

Giveaway Winner

There were a total of 8 participants and 12 entries in the giveaway for a Weird Girls swag pack from Cecy Robson. Using random.org, I have randomized the entries and the winner chosen is...

Silverlight!

Congratulations! Please respond to my e-mail with your mailing information within 72 hours.

Review + Giveaway: The Weird Girls by Cecy Robson

Title: The Weird Girls
Author: Cecy Robson
Series: Weird Girls #0.5
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 12/04/12
Reviewed by: Sara
Buy the Book:
Summary:

Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls -- with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, a little weird...

The Wird sisters are different from every race on earth -- human and supernatural. When human society is no longer an option for them, they move in among the resident vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region. Could this be the true home they’ve longed for? Um, not quite. After the sisters accidentally strip a witch of her powers in a bar brawl, they soon realize the mistake will cost them. Because to take on a witch means to take on her coven. And losing the battle isn’t an option.

Review: This novella was the perfect introduction to Celia and her sisters' world. I can't wait to read Sealed with a Curse because I want to learn more about the sisters and their curse. Each sister had such a unique personality and they worked together very well. The plot of this novella was excellent. The witch coven had a number of things up their sleeves that I wasn't expecting, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The cover was nice and simple, while tying into the cover for book #1. I really liked that it was purple because that color just seems to fit the sisters. Anyone that likes magic and curses and interesting takes on the paranormal should pick this novella up immediately!

Plot: 4.5 Stars
Pace: 4.5 Stars
Characters: 5 Stars
Cover: 4 Stars
Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this novella from the author.

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Now, for the giveaway! Cecy has offered up a lovely water bottle, dragon fruit lip balm, and official (well, not really) SEALED WITH A CURSE magnets to one lucky winners. To enter just leave a comment with a valid e-mail address. For extra entries, you can follow Cecy on Twitter or Facebook. The giveaway will be open until 11:59pm on Monday 12/10. I will chose a winner using random.org.

Giveaway Winner

There were a total of 27 entries in the giveaway for a mystery book from Suzanne Johnson. Using random.org, I have randomized the entries and the winner chosen is...

Spav!

Congratulations! Please respond to my e-mail with your mailing information within 72 hours.

And don't forget to stop by Suzanne's blog on December 16th to see if you're a winner of the blog tour long giftcard giveaway.

Stacking the Shelves (23)

Thanks to Tynga at Tynga's Reviews for hosting Stacking the Shelves and making this awesome graphic!

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process! --Tynga

Bought:
Her Sky Cowboy by Beth Ciotta [Buy Now]
Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings [Buy Now]
Fated by Alyson Noel [Buy Now]
Echo by Alyson Noel [Buy Now]
I hadn't been able to find Poltergeeks at any local bookstore until I ventured out near the outlet malls with my mom and went to a different B&N. I have been waiting for Fated to come out in paperback because I'm trying to save money where I can, and I'm glad I did since Echo did not come out in hardcover. I like when they match. And I grabbed Her Sky Cowboy on a whim because it sounded pretty interesting and I can't say no to steampunk.

Kindle:
So Close to You by Rachel Carter [Buy Now]
Ocean's Surrender by Denise Townsend
So Close to You was $2.99 when I downloaded it, but it may not still be that awesome price. I really enjoyed Ocean's Touch so I had to pick up Ocean's Surrender.

Author Interview + Giveaway: Suzanne Johnson

Today, I would like to welcome Suzanne Johnson to Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog. Her latest book, River Road, released yesterday. She is here today to answer some questions, and if you stick around until the end, there's details about the blog tour giveaway.

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Sara: How would you describe River Road, for readers who haven’t heard of it before?

Suzanne: It’s the second book in the Sentinels of New Orleans series, after Royal Street, but it can stand alone. It’s the story of a wizard, DJ, whose job it is to police the borders between the modern world and the world Beyond. Humans aren’t aware of magic in this world, and after Hurricane Katrina opens the preternatural floodgates, she has her hands full! In River Road, she has to deal with feuding merpeople, someone poisoning the Mississippi River, and the attentions of the undead pirate Jean Lafitte.

Sara In three words, how would you describe your main characters?

Suzanne: Snarky chaos magnet.

Sara: Do you have a favorite character to write? Is there a character that’s a bit harder than the rest to write?

Suzanne: My favorite character to write -- and also the most challenging -- is the pirate Jean Lafitte. In real life, he was a famous, very powerful French-born pirate who ruled the Gulf in early 19th-century New Orleans. In my world he’s given physical immortality through the magic of human memory. So Jean is forever up to his neck in whatever chaos is going on. The fun (and challenging) thing about Jean Lafitte is to stick to the nature of the historic figure, to some degree anyway, and make him morally ambiguous as he was in life -- but also sexy and likeable. He’s like cheesecake to my heroine DJ -- addictive, sweet, and very, very bad for you in large doses.

Sara: What sets River Road apart from other urban fantasy?

Suzanne: I think it’s depth of the world-building -- not only the world of magic and the different species, but also how the characters are grounded in the culture and history of South Louisiana. You couldn’t pick up the story in River Road, set it in any other place on earth, and have it make sense whatsoever. The mermen are Cajun aquatic shapeshifters who work in the South Louisiana fishing industry, for example. (And a portion of author royalties from this book goes to the Greater New Orleans Foundation for its oil spill relief fund, by the way, to help the people of Southeast Louisiana who continue to be impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.)

Sara: Where did the idea for the series come from? Is it something you have always wanted to write or did it sneak up on you?

Suzanne: The whole idea for the series came from my own experiences as a New Orleanian during Hurricane Katrina. I’ve spent my career in editing and feature writing for magazines, and hadn’t really thought about writing fiction until the storm. Afterward, I needed some way to exorcise my own demons, and that’s how it all started. It was all built around the what-if: What if, when Hurricane Katrina pushed the waters of Lake Pontchartrain into New Orleans, the storm also tore down the “metaphysical levees” between the modern world and the world Beyond?

Sara: Hurricane Katrina played a big role in the first novel of this series, Royal Street. Is there a significant event that River Road is based around?

Suzanne: Not really. Much of River Road is set in Plaquemines Parish, which lies just southeast of metro New Orleans. Plaquemines was badly impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010 (then took another hard hit from Hurricane Isaac this year), but the first draft of River Road had already been written when the spill occurred. My editor and I debated whether to change the timeline of the book to reflect the disaster, but decided not to. So it’s really coincidental. Plaquemines, which is about half wetlands and tied to the Mississippi River more than any other Louisiana parish other than perhaps Orleans, is an area I love and find interesting.

Sara: Tell us a little about your writing process. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Suzanne: I’m definitely a plotter. I have a full-time day job at a university, and do a lot of blogging in addition to writing a couple of series, so I have to maximize my limited writing time. I usually write from about 7:30-11 p.m. every evening, and pretty much all day on Sunday.

Sara: Are there any genres you would like to branch out to in the future?

Suzanne: I think historical fantasy would be fun to write, but I’d have to find a historical event or era that fascinated me enough to immerse myself in all the research that would be required. But it could happen...

Sara: What are your influences both in and out of urban fantasy?

Suzanne: Outside of urban fantasy, I’m a big fan of the nonfiction writing of Rick Bragg, especially his memoirs All Over But the Shouting and Eva’s Man. He knows how to tell a story in such evocative (and funny) language that you forget you’re reading nonfiction. In urban fantasy, I love Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series and Kim Harrison’s Hollows. Both funny, sharp series that have kept it fresh even after a lot of books.

Sara: What are you currently reading?

Suzanne: I’m reading Cynthia Eden’s new Angel in Chains, a paranormal romance, and am on book five, Wolves of the Calla, of an online read of Stephen King’s entire Dark Tower series that I’m leading for tor.com. We started about a year and a half ago!

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Thanks Suzanne for stopping by! Now, for the giveaway details. Suzanne is offering two $25 gift cards to an online bookseller of choice to two commenters throughout the River Road blog tour. Plus, a mystery book from her stash will be awarded at each stop. Suzanne will be choosing the gift card winners at the end of the blog tour, and I will announce the winner of the mystery book on Saturday November 24th. To enter, just leave a valid e-mail address and answer the following question in the comments:

What is you favorite type of paranormal character and why?

This giveaway is open internationally and will close at midnight Friday November 23rd.

Title: River Road
Author: Suzanne Johnson
Summary:

Hurricane Katrina is long gone, but the preternatural storm rages on in New Orleans. New species from the Beyond moved into Louisiana after the hurricane destroyed the borders between worlds, and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the preternaturals peaceful and the humans unaware. But a war is brewing between two clans of Cajun merpeople in Plaquemines Parish, and down in the swamp, DJ learns, there’s more stirring than angry mermen and the threat of a were-gator.

Wizards are dying, and something -- or someone -- from the Beyond is poisoning the waters of the mighty Mississippi, threatening the humans who live and work along the river. DJ and Alex must figure out what unearthly source is contaminating the water and who -- or what -- is killing the wizards. Is it a malcontented merman, the naughty nymph, or some other critter altogether? After all, DJ’s undead suitor, the pirate Jean Lafitte, knows his way around a body or two.

It’s anything but smooth sailing on the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans series continues.

Waiting on Wednesday (72)

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Opal
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux #3
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release date: 12/11/12
Chosen by: Sara
Pre-order:

Summary:

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

Holiday Review Policy

Last year, the holiday season kicked my butt. By the time Black Friday rolled around, I was exhausted and it didn't let up until New Year's. My reading and blogging took a major hit. So this year, I will be updating my review policy for the holiday season.

From now until January, I will be closed to review requests.

What does this mean? I will not be taking any review requests that will require me to read and review the novel between now and New Year's. Basically, if you have a book releasing between now and February, I will not have the time or resources to read/review in a timely manner.

The only exception will be authors that I have previously worked with who have a release within the holiday season, although I will be taking those on a case by case basis.

This does not affect requests I received prior to today, and I promise I am working my hardest to catch up.

Also, if you have a review request for February or later, feel free to e-mail me before New Year's. But these will also be taken on a case by case basis, and will mostly depend on what my hours look like after the holiday season and how well I caught up over the holidays.

And just an FYI, somewhere between February and April, I will be moving so this may factor into my decisions as well.

Thank you so much for understanding and enjoy the holidays!

Birthday Books

Today, instead of doing my normal Stacking the Shelves post, I will be highlighting only the books I received for my birthday. I apologize for how long this post took to put up (considering my birthday was October 26th), but the package from B&N took longer than expected due to the hurricane. Normal Stacking the Shelves posts will be back next weekend (hopefully).

As I showcased in an earlier Stacking the Shelves post, I received a number of giftcards to Amazon and B&N. I kept track of which giftcard each book was purchased with so that I could thank everyone for specific books. (A few didn't add up completely perfectly, but I'm sure I'm the only one that bothers...) I also got a couple checks from my grandparents, and although I did buy some clothes, I also bought a couple more books. Don't act like you're surprised...

I ended up buying a LOT more YA than UF or PNR, but that's probably because I do not wait to buy new UF releases. I pretty much purchase them every Tuesday. YA on the otherhand, I don't always buy right away because hardcovers are more expensive.

From my Dad

Kindle:
Crewel by Gennifer Albin
Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Starling by Lesley Livingston
The Tourist by Clare London **
Defiance by C.J. Redwine
After the Crux by Dani Worth **
What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

B&N:
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Phantom Shadows by Dianne Duvall
Black Lament by Christina Henry
The Blessed by Tonya Hurley
Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

From Christen

Kindle:
The Darkest Day by Britt Bury
The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke
Blood of Innocence by Tami Dane
Storm by Brigid Kemmerer *
The Given & the Taken by L.A. Witt **

From my brother

Kindle:
Wake by Amanda Hocking *
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas *
Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr *

From my grandparents

Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake
Desperately Seeking Shapeshifter by Jessica Sims
The Shattered Dark by Snady Williams

*I'm sure the titles marked with one asterisk seem familiar. I had already purchased these titles in print. I ran into a bit of a cash flow issue, so I returned them knowing my birthday was coming up. The cats thank me for this, because one of the things I needed to buy with this money was cat food.
**The titles marked with two asterisks are titles I have already read and enjoyed, and should be posting some reviews soon.

Review: Second Chance by Heather Brewer

Title: Second Chance
Author: Heather Brewer
Series: Slayer Chronicles #2
Publisher: Dial
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 10/16/12
Reviewed by: Christen
Buy the Book:

Summary:

The stakes are life or death.

The summer after Joss failed to kill the vampire Vladimir Tod, he gets a second chance to prove himself as a Slayer. He is sent to New York City to hunt down a serial killer that the Slayer Society believes is a vampire. It is up to Joss to lead his Slayer team, and through their detective work, they discover that there are actually four vampire brothers who are on the killing rampage. Joss must use all his skill to save the innocent people of New York City from the murderers. Joss's status as a Slayer depends on it.

The Slayer Chronicles can be read alongside The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod or entirely on their own. This second installment gives readers even more insight into the nightmares that drive Joss the Slayer.

Plot: 3 Stars
To save his neck for the screw up that happened between the first and second book, Joss must take the leadership role in his very first mission with the Slayer Society. I get it on a superficial level, but if you actually think about it, why would anybody think that holding a fifteen year old responsible for the lives of his five team members is a good idea? Why would they also expect a fifteen year old boy to take on super fast, super strong and mind-reading vampires without a weapon of any kind? I know, I know, it's just a book, plus Vlad kind of needs a foe his own age, but taking this series as a stand alone, it doesn't give you enough of a glimpse into why Joss is so bothered by what happened between books and why Dorian's character is so important. But that very well may be elaborated on in the next book.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
I found the pace to be a bit slow in places when there was a lot of inner dialogue, but all in all it was a steady read.

Characters: 4 Stars
I find Joss to be a wonderful character. I really feel the sad, lonely little boy he is deep inside. You can also get a sense of the psychological issues he has dealing with the guilt over the death of his sister. I am also glad that he was given a friend in Morgan. And although Morgan has his own demons, I felt that Joss' character grew from the interaction that happened between them. On the other hand, Uncle Abraham I do not understand. It's like he wants Joss to suffer even though he claims he loves him. In the first book, I understood his behavior but in this book all I got were mixed signals when it came to him.

Cover: 5 Stars
I love the covers to this and the Vlad series! I love that the match each other, I love that each one is a different color, and I love how the two series play off each other.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this novel from the author.

Stacking the Shelves (22)

Thanks to Tynga at Tynga's Reviews for hosting Stacking the Shelves and making this awesome graphic!

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process! --Tynga

Review:
Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep ARC [Pre-order]
Sealed with a Curse by Cecy Robson eARC [Pre-order]
Thanks to Jennifer Estep, Cecy Robson, and Signet for these awesome books!

Won:
Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama ARC [Buy Now]
Thanks to Suzanne Johnson for hosting this awesome giveaway on her blog! And I think I like the old cover on the ARC a little more than the one they published.

Bought by Christen:
Mate Claimed by Jennifer Ashley [Buy Now]
Poison Princess by Kresley Cole [Buy Now]
Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride [Buy Now]
These are not pictured because the books are in NC with Christen and she keeps forgetting to send me a photo.

Kindle (Christen):
North of Need by Laura Kaye [Buy Now]
This title was $2.99 when Christen purchased it.

Library:
Glitch by Heather Anastasiu [Buy Now]
Child of Darkness by Jennifer Armintrout [Buy Now]
The Mephisto Kiss by Trinity Faegan [Buy Now]
Erasing Time by C.J. Hill [Buy Now]
Everlost by Neal Shusterman [Buy Now]
Foretold anthology [Buy Now]
I always find interesting titles at the library.

Birthday Gifts:
$25 Amazon Giftcard from Christen
$25 Amazon Giftcard from Zack
$50 Amazon Giftcard from Dad
$50 Barnes & Noble Giftcard from Dad
Library sign from Mom
My girlfriend and family are amazing! I've already spent all of my giftcards and will post all of the awesome titles when the print books I ordered arrive. Not gonna lie, I think I'm most excited for the library sign from my mom. I have been eye-balling it at work for months, and can't wait to hang it up in the spare bedroom aka the library.

Mini-Review: Out With A Fang by Jessica Sims

Title: Out With A Fang (The Undead In My Bed anthology)
Author: Jessica Sims (includes Katie MacAlister & Molly Harper)
Series: Midnight Liasons #1.5
Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 09/25/12
Reviewed by: Sara
Buy the Book:

Summary:

Under the covers, these lovers come alive!

Katie MacAlister conjures supernatural sparks in Shades of Gray

A TV crew is filming a paranormal reality show on the grounds of an imposing old Czech Republic estate. But the electric passion behind the camera is what’s out of this world. When Noelle, a Guardian, meets vampire Grayson, who has roamed for three centuries, she awakens an aching hunger in him that only her touch can relieve...

Molly Harper cooks up laughter and thrills in Undead Sublet

After overworked Chicago chef Tess flips out (can everyone hear that arugula talking, or is it just me?), she rents a quiet house in Half-Moon Hollow for a month of R & R. But when she finds the place occupied by a drop-dead gorgeous vampire, Tess’s tastes -- for comfort food, for small Kentucky towns, and for her irresistible lover -- become nearly insatiable!

Jessica Sims excites the senses in Out with a Fang

When lonely were-jaguar Ruby consults a paranormal matchmaker, she hopes to finally move on from a heart-wrenching breakup with her one true love, a forbidden human. Nervously agreeing to a blindfolded first date with a vampire, she finds the spicy scent of him intoxicating, his voice low, sexy, and so very familiar...

Mini-Review: Out with a Fang was the perfect short story to tide me over until the release of Desperately Seeking Shapeshifter. I absolutely love the idea of a paranormal dating service, so this series is definitely one of my favorite paranormal romance series. I liked that this story was in the same world, but introduced us to new characters. I really enjoyed Ruby as she dealt with the curveballs this blindfolded first date had in store for her. There were some surprises that left her dealing with feelings she had buried away. The cover screams paranormal romance, but I wish the title could've been a different color that went with the rest of the image a little better.

Plot: 4 Stars
Pace: 4.5 Stars
Characters: 4 Stars
Cover: 4 Stars
Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this novel for my reading pleasure.

Giveaway Winners

There was a total of 33 entries in the Break My Heart 1000 Times by Daniel Waters Giveaway. The winner chosen by Rafflecopter is...

Katie W.!

Congratulations! Please respond to the e-mail I sent with your mailing information within 72 hours.

The original winners of Fathom by Merrie Destefano never e-mailed me, so I have chosen new winners:

bn100 & erin!

I have forwarded your e-mail addresses to Merrie and she should be contacting you soon about Fathom.

Waiting on Wednesday (71)

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Hyperion
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release date: 12/18/12
Chosen by: Sara
Pre-order:

Summary:

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her -- East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

Mini-Review: Perception by Kim Harrington

Title: Perception
Author: Kim Harrington
Series: Clarity #2
Publisher: Point
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 03/01/12
Reviewed by: Sara
Buy the Book:

Summary:

When you can see things others can't, what happens when someone is watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only, Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared. Clare needs to see her way to the truth -- before it's much too late.

Mini-Review: This was a great follow up to Clarity, which I read and enjoyed last summer. I am a big fan of paranormal young adult novels that include a psychic element, and Clare Fern is one of my favorite psychics. Fans of The Body Finder series and the Touch series will love Clare also. This novel was a quick read in all of the right ways, just like its predecessor. I really enjoyed jumping back into this world. I also enjoyed learning more about the characters and watching them grow. I really liked the new cover model because she looks a bit more like how I imagined Clare. I also like that the cover has a lot of white. It's bring a brightness that helps it stand out against all of the other dark covers in paranormal young adult.

Plot: 4 Stars
Pace: 4.5 Stars
Characters: 4 Stars
Cover: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I purchased a used copy of this novel.

Giveaway Winners

There was a total of 6 participants in the Mysterious Madam Morpho by Delilah S. Dawson giveaway. Using random.org, I randomized the list of entries, and then random selected the winners. The winners are...

donnas & JenM!

I have sent both of you an e-mail about the giveaway.

There was a total of 5 participants in the Fathom by Merrie Destefano giveaway. Using random.org, I randomized the list of entries, and then random selected the winners. The winners are...

SandyG265 & Catrina Bradley!

I need both of you to e-mail me at sara_UFblog [at] yahoo [dot] com so that I can pass your e-mail addresses along to Merrie so that she can send your copies of Fathom.

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to respond to my e-mail/e-mail me, otherwise I will choose new winners.

Stacking the Shelves (21)

Thanks to Tynga at Tynga's Reviews for hosting Stacking the Shelves and making this awesome graphic!

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process! --Tynga

Bought:
Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones [Buy Now]
Alchemystic by Anton Strout [Buy Now]
I'm excited foe both of these novels, and felt I needed a reward after this past week at work. My direct supervisor quit and he was one of the few people in the store keeping me sane.

Guest Blog + Giveaway: Daniel Waters

Today, I would like to welcome Daniel Waters to Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog. His latest book, Break My Heart 1,000 Times, released yesterday. He is here today to talk about his writing process, and if you stick around until the end, there's a giveaway.

---

On the writing process

I am a process junkie. I'll read every word I can find from individual writers and their various processes, even if I don't particularly like the writer's work. I'll also read about artists and their creative processes; also musicians, cartoonists, chefs, architects -- if you create something, I want to know about how you do it.

Possibly all that reading on process has led me to alter my own processes dozens of times. Sometimes I write my first draft in longhand on a legal pad. Sometimes a spiral bound. I've written a first draft on a laptop, an iPad, a desktop computer and an Alpha Smart Neo. Sometimes I invest certain pens with totemic significance. I will occasionally outline extensively before writing but sometimes I don't see the structure until I write fifty pages or so. I've begun editing my first drafts immediately after typing "The End" and others I've edited after they sat in a drawer for months. I sometimes don't finish what I start, I sometimes blow up what I've started. I've rewritten a single chapter 13 times and once I wrote one that I did not change a single word of (my editor was not as impressed as I was). I've written in a caffeine fueled passion at 2 a.m. and I've taken an hour to write one sentence when first sitting down at my desk. I like to write in my home office, but I've done decent work in fast food restaurants, libraries, the allergists', and especially airports and airplanes.

With so much of my process in flux, I realize that only two things remain constant:

1. Discipline: I write every day. I'll do it wherever, whenever, and however I can. I'd rather write than do almost anything, so that helps me be disciplined. It doesn't matter if what I'm writing at the time is unusable garbage, what matters is the writing itself, the process.

2. Love: I love writing. I love the scratch of pen on paper, the tap of my fingers on keys (I can't type; I'm sort of a two finger, one thumb writer. My fingers strike the keys with force, like I'm trying to stab out an infestation particularly chitinous bugs), and I love story. I'm a writer who loves both writing and having written. This isn't to say that every single moment is pure ecstasy; writing can be frustrating. It can break your heart, 1000 times and more.

But love is like that.

(Note: For the fellow process junkies out there, I wrote Break My Heart 1,000 Times in longhand, with a blue fine line pen of totemic significance. Much of it was written in airports and airplanes while drinking iced coffee and listening to a playlist called "Blast" on my iPod. Then I wrote an outline, and then I typed the second, more structurally sound draft, which went into the desktop computer in the sunroom office at my last house. Then it sat in a drawer. For a loooong time. When I printed it out I also made a cover for it, which is something I do for all my manuscripts-in-progress. The cover, for no discernible reason, was a photograph of a pheasant running through my backyard. Pheasants are not native to Southeastern Connecticut, I'm told, so this one was likely released in time for hunting season from a breeding farm a good twenty miles away. You can see the photo if you look in the archives of my website, www.danielwaters.com. I had exceptional editorial guidance first from my agent, Al Zuckerman, and then my editor Catherine Onder. Hayley Wagreich helped me with final touches and helped me fix some continuity errors I'd made. I did my last edit pass with purple ink, but the pen I used had no totemic significance. It was just a cool pen. It is my most fervent wish that this note will help you in your own artistic endeavors, but I don't see how it possibly could).

---

Thanks Daniel for stopping by! Now, for the giveaway. Thanks to Authors on the Web, I have one (1) copy of Break My Heart 1,000 Times to to give away to one lucky winner. The giveaway is open to US/Canada. I'm going to try Rafflecopter out for the first time, so please you the following Rafflecopter form to enter the giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Break My Heart 1,000 Times
Author: Daniel Waters
Summary:

Living in the aftermath of the Event means that seeing the dead is now a part of life, but Veronica wishes that the ghosts would just move on. Instead, the ghosts aren’t disappearing -- they’re gaining power.

When Veronica and her friend, Kirk, decide to investigate why, they stumble upon a more sinister plot than they ever could have imagined. One of Veronica’s high school teachers is crippled by the fact that his dead daughter has never returned as a ghost, and he’s haunted by the possibility that she’s waiting to reappear within a fresh body. Veronica seems like the perfect host. And even if he’s wrong, what’s the harm in creating one more ghost?

From critically acclaimed Generation Dead author Daniel Waters, comes a delectably creepy and suspenseful thriller. Break My Heart 1,000 Times will leave readers with the chills. Or is that a ghost reading over the page?

[http://www.gendead.com/][http://www.danielwaters.com/][http://mysocalledundeath.blogspot.com/]