Review: Super Adjacent by Crystal Cestari

Super Adjacent
by Crystal Cestari
Hardcover, 304 pages
Expected publication: March 17th 2020 by Disney-Hyperion

Purchase
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Claire has always wanted to work with superheroes, from collecting Warrior Nation cards as a kid to drafting "What to Say to a Hero" speeches in her diary. Now that she's landed a coveted internship with the Chicago branch of Warrior Nation, Claire is ready to prove she belongs, super or not. But complicating plans is the newest WarNat hero, Girl Power (aka Joy), who happens to be egotistical and self-important . . . and pretty adorable.

Bridgette, meanwhile, wants out of WarNat. After years of dating the famous Vaporizer (aka Matt), she's sick of playing second, or third, or five-hundredth fiddle to all the people-in-peril in the city of Chicago. Of course, once Bridgette meets Claire-who's clearly in need of a mentor and wingman-giving up WarNat becomes slightly more complicated. It becomes a lot more complicated when Joy, Matt, and the rest of the heroes go missing, leaving only Claire and Bridgette to save the day.

In this fresh and funny take on the world of supers, author Crystal Cestari spotlights what it's like to be the seemingly non-super half of a dynamic duo with banter-filled romance and bold rescues perfect for readers seeking a great escape.

Super Adjacent was a fun read! I think there were elements that were a bit unbelievable, but in a world where you're trying to convince us of super heroes, the unbelievable does kind of come with the territory. 

I have to be honest - I do not get this cartoon cover trend. I get that Super Adjacent is Young Adult, but to be honest, I feel like the intended audience is at a stage in their life where they are more likely to skip this book than they are to pick it up, based on the cover. 

Speaking of intended audiences - if I had one complaint about the book, it would be that. What IS the intended audience? It is young adult, sure, and I know that there are a plethora of sub-genres and variations to young adult. But to me it felt like Super Adjacent jumped back and forth between intended age groups. At times it felt very MG, but then suddenly the characters would use YA language and it felt a bit inconsistent.

Ultimately though, I enjoyed this book! The characters were a lot of fun, and it was pretty entertaining.

Cover: 2 | Characters: 3 | Plot: 4 | Pace: 4 | Creativity: 4

Review: Sanity & Tallulah by Molly Brooks!

Sanity & Tallulah
Author: Molly Brooks
Genre: YA Age Appropriate: 8-12 Grade Appropriate: 3-7
On Sale In Store: 10/23/2018
Hardcover, 240 pages
Expected publication: October 23rd 2018 
by Disney-Hyperion

Sanity Jones and Tallulah Vega are best friends on Wilnick, the dilapidated space station they call home at the end of the galaxy. So naturally, when gifted scientist Sanity uses her lab skills and energy allowance to create a definitely-illegal-but-impossibly-cute three-headed kitten, she has to show Tallulah. But Princess, Sparkle, Destroyer of Worlds is a bit of a handful, and it isn't long before the kitten escapes to wreak havoc on the space station. The girls will have to turn Wilnick upside down to find her, but not before causing the whole place to evacuate! Can they save their home before it's too late?

Readers will be over the moon for this rollicking space adventure by debut author Molly Brooks. Sanity and Tallulah is an action-packed graphic novel about how two friends, Sanity and Tallulah, end up putting their home at risk. Sanity Jones is a young girl with lots of intelligence and passion. Her understanding of science is extraordinary. Tallulah Vega is a bit of a free spirit and is very fearless. She is a great friend to have by your side. Both live in space on a space station called Wilinick. Tallulah’s parents are great workers that help Wilinick run. Sanity’s father is the station’s director. In this story Sanity over steps her boundaries when it comes to what she can experiment with and ends up making a living breathing...cat. The cat has three heads. Its name is Princess Sparkle, Destroyer of Worlds. After Sanity loses track of Princess Sparkle, Destroyer of the Worlds, it’s up to the two girls to find her without getting caught. When it seems like the daring duo are getting close to finding the cat a new threat has sneaked its way onto the station and is threatening the survival of Wilinick station’s residents.

I thought that this suspenseful adventure was wonderful. The suspense itself kept me turning one page after another until I realized I was already finished. I thought the book showed the theme, that friends will always have your back and will help you when you need them, perfectly. The graphic novel was filled with tons of funny one-liners and silly answers to mysteries. Speaking of the mysteries, I liked how there was just one major plot line to follow. In other books that I have read there were so many unknown answers in books that it felt like the books were just one big question mark. I could also follow the story really easy.

Overall, the book was great to read. One thing though kind of slowed down the story for me. I didn’t like how the amount of text bubbles kept fluctuating from page to page. At first a couple of pages would just have clear back and forth communication. Then, when I would move on in the story I would see lots of various bubbles. If the conversation was a bit more even from page to page I think it would flow better, but that’s just my opinion.

This book about friendship, mystery, and extraordinary science, was heartwarming and hilarious at the same time. I loved the suspense, jokes, and easy plots to follow all at the same time. Sanity & Tallulah is going to put tons of concentrated and smiling faces on the kids that read it. Good job Molly Brooks. The other thing to change is the text bubble problem and then it will be ready to send to shelves.

Lucais is a 6th grader from South Jersey. He is one of 4 children. His interests include math and science, and reading. His favorite genres are non-fiction, dystopian novels, and graphic novels and the occasional textbook. In his free time he enjoys filming videos for his YouTube channel, reading his favorite genre of books, and working on his first dystopian novel; hoping to complete within the next 6 months. He's looking forward to having a more relaxing environment to work on his hobbies in the very near future. This is Lucais's first review for Good Choice Reading and looking forward to doing more. Happy Reading!

The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken Virtual Signing - SPECIAL EDITION BOX + Goodies!

Don't miss the hotly-anticipated new novel in the New York Times bestselling Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken, just in time for the major motion picture adaptation of The Darkest Minds, starring Amandla Stenberg and Mandy Moore! Told through the eyes of beloved character Zu, now seventeen, this harrowing, standalone story of resilience, resistance, and reckoning will thrill loyal fans and new readers alike.

We have another AWESOME special virtual signing for you all! We have teamed up with New York Times bestselling YA author, Alexandra Bracken to bring you a very special THE DARKEST LEGACY virtual signing!!!

Starting today through July 15, 2018 you will be able to order a special book related box filled with some goodies, a signed personalized copy of THE DARKEST LEGACY, enamel pin, and more!

If you do not want to purchase the box, there is an option to just order the book signed and personalized below.

PLEASE READ ALL TERMS & CONDITIONS BEFORE PLACING YOUR ORDER. 

The Darkest Minds Series by Alexandra Bracken (Special Editions) Virtual Signing!

We have a special virtual signing for you!!!

For a limited time you can order a signed personalized copy of THE DARKEST MINDS series by Alexandra Bracken in paperback.

Each book will feature bonus content. 

The Darkest Minds will features a short story about Liam. 

Never Fade will feature a prequel story about Vida.

In The Afterlight will feature a short story about Clancey.

Through The Dark will special bonus content that has not been revealed yet. :) 

All four books are being released January 2nd!

You can order your signed personalized copy(s) below. 

Plus, this beauty will be included in your order!
(1 per order)

Please read all Terms & Conditions before placing your order. 

By placing an order below you are agreeing to all terms & conditions. 

Book Highlight & Author Note: ROSEMARKED by Livia Blackburne + Giveaway!

Hi Everyone!

This is Livia Blackburne, and I'm thrilled to share ROSEMARKED with you at long last. There are a lot of

elements to this book, including a love story, a spy story, reflections on trauma and mortality, medical ethics, and political intrigue.  Perhaps because of this, my research for the book was equally eclectic, from archery and stick fighting lessons, to chats with memory researchers and soldiers, and lots and lots of reading, including books about leper colonies, hospice care, and PTSD. Hopefully, I wove it all into an entertaining and thought-provoking story!

This story centers on Zivah, a talented healer with an incurable illness, and Dineas, a traumatized soldier. The two couldn't be more different, and I had a lot of fun writing their unlikely love story.  In order to work together, they both have to let go of their own prejudices and preconceptions. It's a painful process, with fights and misunderstandings, anger, laughter and tears, but in the end, they both come out as stronger people.

To celebrate the ROSEMARKED release, I’m offering 3 lucky winners a ROSEMARKED swag pack, which includes a copy of ROSEMARKED and a signed bookplate! Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate. Best of luck, and happy reading!

#AListofCages by Robin Roe Giveaway! #BeBrave

HUGE thank you to Disney-Hyperion for this opportunity and for providing the AWESOME prize pack!

In honor of the release of A List of Cages by Robin Roe (January 10, 2017) I wanted to share a post about my best friend, Fanny. 

Fanny and I have known each other since we were 11 years old. She lived in our building on the fourth floor. I was very big on Spanish reggae growing up and one day I was sitting by our back window and heard loud music playing from someones window. Me, being obsessed and a little curious cat, I walked all the floors until I found who was playing this awesome Spanish reggae song. I knocked on the door and said hello to my neighbor and asked her who was playing the music? (Yes, I am a little bold one. I've never been shy. LOL!) She told me that her step daughter just recently came to live with them and that it was her. She invited me in and introduced us. Ever since then Fanny and I have been the best of friends. She is more like my sister from another mother. She even lived with us for a couple of years before she decided to move out of state. We lost touch for a while, but as we grew older we found each other again and have stepped right back into things. We are still close till this day. I recently moved to South Carolina and she now lives an hour and twenty minutes away. 

It feels good watching my kids play/grow with her kids. The best part about our friendship is that it never changed. We've changed individually, but not with each other. I love this girl with all my heart!


The picture above is a recent one we took on NYE in Myrtle Beach. We got the family together and went to dinner, saw fireworks, and walked around the boardwalk. We had such an amazing time! BFF!!! LOL!

ABOUT THE BOOK

W.O.W: Starfall by Melissa Landers

STARFALL 
by Melissa Landers
Hardcover, 368 pages
Expected publication: February 7th 2017
by Disney-Hyperion

When Princess Cassia Rose fled her home world of Eturia to escape an arranged marriage, she had no idea her sudden departure would spark a war. Now after two years hiding as a ship hand, she is finally returning to her beloved home, but not in the way she imagined. Shackled by bounty hunters, she is violently dragged back to account for her crimes. Her only solace is that the Banshee crew managed to evade capture, including Kane Arric, her best friend...with occasional benefits.

Meanwhile, Kane and the rest of the crew of the Banshee plan a desperate rescue mission. But when they arrive on Eturia, Cassia isn't exactly in need of heroics—she's claimed her birthright as Eturia's queen, but has inherited a war-torn planet simmering with rebellion. Cassia must make alliances, and Kane, the bastard son of a merchant, isn't a choice that will earn her any friends. Kane knows he will never find someone to replace Cassia—and is certain she returns his feelings—but how can he throw away his own promising future waiting on a queen?

When the outer realm is threatened by the dangerous Zhang mafia, Cassia, Kane and the rest of the Banshee crew uncover a horrifying conspiracy that endangers the entire universe. In the face of unspeakable evil, Cassia must confront her own family's complicated legacy on Eturia and decide once and for all who her real family is.

Available for pre-order:

Amazon † B&N

ABOUT BOOK ONE...

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

Review: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

Passenger
by Alexandra Bracken
Hardcover, 464 pages
Expected publication: January 5th 2016
by Disney-Hyperion

passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: #Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles, but years from home. And she's inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she's never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods–a powerful family in the Colonies–and the servitude he's known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can't escape and the family that won't let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, his passenger, can find. In order to protect her, Nick must ensure she brings it back to them–whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods' grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home... forever.

Books I Cannot Wait To Read & Think You Should Read Too! #Giveaway

Hey GCReaders!

So I've been staring at my bookshelf for the past hour or so wondering what I should read next? I am just so super stoked over so many upcoming releases, that I honestly cannot choose. So I decided, why not let you all choose?!?

The one that gets the most votes, I will giveaway right here on GOOD CHOICE READING when I am done reading!

All you have to do is comment below with which one I should read next!

GOODREADS

Pre-order today!
Amazon † BN 

When the glass slipper just doesn’t fit…

The tale of Cinderella has been retold countless times. But what you know is not the true story.

Pin has no recollection of who she is or how she got to the Godmother’s fortress. She only knows that she is a Seamstress, working day in and out to make ball gowns fit for fairy tales. But she longs to forsake her backbreaking servitude and dares to escape with the brave young Shoemaker.

Pin isn’t free for long before she’s captured again and forced to live the new life the Godmother chooses for her—a fairy tale story, complete with a charming prince—instead of finding her own happily ever after.

Sarah Prineas’s bold fairy tale retelling is a dark and captivating world where swords are more fitting than slippers, young shoemakers are just as striking as princes, and a heroine is more than ready to rescue herself before the clock strikes midnight. 

GOODREADS

Pre-order today!

Amazon † BN

The strange war down south—with its rumors of gods and monsters—is over. And while sixteen-year-old Hallie and her sister wait to see who will return from the distant battlefield, they struggle to maintain their family farm.

When Hallie hires a veteran to help them, the war comes home in ways no one could have imagined, and soon Hallie is taking dangerous risks—and keeping desperate secrets. But even as she slowly learns more about the war and the men who fought it, ugly truths about Hallie’s own family are emerging. And while monsters and armies are converging on the small farm, the greatest threat to her home may be Hallie herself.

GOODREADS

Pre-order today!
Amazon † BN

A jinni who's lost everything.

A master with nothing to lose.

A revolutionary with everything to gain.

When Nalia arrives in Morocco to fulfil Malek's third and final wish she's not expecting it to be easy. Though Nalia is free from the shackles that once bound her to Malek as his slave, she's in more danger than ever before.

Meanwhile, Malek's past returns with a vengeance as he confronts the darkness within himself, and Raif must decide what's more important: his love for Nalia, or his devotion to the cause of Arjinnan freedom.

Set upon by powerful forces that threaten to break her, Nalia encounters unexpected allies and discovers that her survival depends on the very things she thought made her weak. From the souks of Marrakech to the dunes of the Sahara, The Arabian Nights come to life in this dazzling second installment of the Dark Passage Cycle.

GOODREADS

Pre-order today!

Amazon † BN

In Mal's world, magic is everything. But Mal is a "blank," the anti-magic. Blanks can't be hexed or cursed or saved or killed by magic. And everyone is afraid of them--even Mal himself.

So Mal hides what he is--except from Essie Roe, a witch and his best friend. On the day Essie reveals his secret and casts him out from the only home he's ever known, Mal experiences the true shock of betrayal.

Now Mal travels the world in search of rare, illegal magical relics. When his partner in crime, Boone, hears rumors of a legendary dagger that can steal a witch's power, Mal knows he's finally found his means of revenge. But as the chase for the fabled knife takes them from Boston to Paris to Constantinople, Mal realizes there are secrets afoot that he's only beginning to understand--and all the while the blank monster inside him threatens to escape.

GOODREADS

Pre-order today!
Amazon † BN

A world battered by climate shift and war turns to an ancient method of keeping peace: the exchange of hostages. The Children of Peace - sons and daughters of kings and presidents and generals - are raised together in small, isolated schools called Preceptures. There, they learn history and political theory, and are taught to gracefully accept what may well be their fate: to die if their countries declare war.

Greta Gustafsen Stuart, Duchess of Halifax and Crown Princess of the Pan-Polar Confederation, is the pride of the North American Prefecture. Learned and disciplined, Greta is proud of her role in keeping the global peace, even though, with her country controlling two-thirds of the world’s most war-worthy resource — water — she has little chance of reaching adulthood alive.

Enter Elián Palnik, the Prefecture’s newest hostage and biggest problem. Greta’s world begins to tilt the moment she sees Elián dragged into the school in chains. The Prefecture’s insidious surveillance, its small punishments and rewards, can make no dent in Elián, who is not interested in dignity and tradition, and doesn’t even accept the right of the UN to keep hostages.

What will happen to Elián and Greta as their two nations inch closer to war?

GOODREADS

Pre-order today!

Amazon † BN

Samantha Donaldson’s family has always done its duty for the British Crown. In the midst of World War I, seventeen-year-old Sam follows in their footsteps, serving her country from the homefront as a Girl Guide and messenger for the intelligence organization MI5. After her father disappears on a diplomatic mission, she continues their studies of languages, high-level mathematics, and complex puzzles and codes, hoping to make him proud.

When Sam is asked to join the famed women’s spy group La Dame Blanche she’s torn—this could be the adventure she’s dreamed of, but how can she abandon her mother, who has already lost a husband to the war? But when her handlers reveal shocking news, Sam realizes there’s no way she can refuse the exciting and dangerous opportunity.

Her acceptance leads her straight into the heart of enemy territory on a mission to extract the most valuable British spy embedded in Germany, known to the members of LDB only as Velvet. Deep undercover within the court of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Samantha must navigate the labyrinthine palace and its many glamorous—and secretive—residents to complete her assignment. To make matters worse she finds herself forming a forbidden attraction to the enemy-a dangerously handsome German guard. In a place where personal politics are treacherously entangled in wartime policy, can Samantha discover the truth and find Velvet before it’s too late…for them both?

From author Teri Brown comes the thrilling story of one girl’s journey into a deadly world of spycraft and betrayal—with unforgettable consequences.

GOODREADS

Pre-order today!
Amazon † BN

Young, beautiful, and witty, Ginevra de’ Benci longs to take part in the artistic ferment of Renaissance Florence. But as the daughter of a wealthy family in a society dictated by men, she is trapped in an arranged marriage, expected to limit her creativity to domestic duties. Her poetry reveals her deepest feelings, and she aches to share her work, to meet painters and sculptors mentored by the famed Lorenzo de Medici, and to find love.

When the charismatic Venetian ambassador, Bernardo Bembo, arrives in Florence, he introduces Ginevra to a dazzling circle of patrons, artists, and philosophers—a world of thought and conversation she has yearned for. She is instantly attracted to the handsome newcomer, who admires her mind as well as her beauty. Yet Ginevra remains conflicted about his attentions. Choosing her as his Platonic muse, Bembo commissions a portrait by a young Leonardo da Vinci. Posing for the brilliant painter inspires an intimate connection between them—one Ginevra can only begin to understand. In a rich and enthralling world of exquisite art, elaborate feasts, and exhilarating jousts, she faces many temptations to discover her voice, artistic companionship, and a love that defies categorization. In the end, she and Leonardo are caught up in a dangerous and deadly battle between powerful families.

GOODREADS

Pre-order today!

Amazon † BN

Sixteen-year-old heiress and paparazzi darling Liddi Jantzen hates the spotlight. But as the only daughter in the most powerful tech family in the galaxy, it's hard to escape it. So when a group of men show up at her house uninvited, she assumes it's just the usual media-grubs. That is, until shots are fired.

Liddi escapes, only to be pulled into an interplanetary conspiracy more complex than she ever could have imagined. Her older brothers have been caught as well, trapped in the conduits between the planets. And when their captor implants a device in Liddi's vocal cords to monitor her speech, their lives are in her hands: One word and her brothers are dead.

Desperate to save her family from a desolate future, Liddi travels to another world, where she meets the one person who might have the skills to help her bring her eight brothers home-a handsome dignitary named Tiav. But without her voice, Liddi must use every bit of her strength and wit to convince Tiav that her mission is true. With the tenuous balance of the planets deeply intertwined with her brothers' survival, just how much is Liddi willing to sacrifice to bring them back?

Haunting and mesmerizing, this retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Wild Swans strings the heart of the classic with a stunning, imaginative world as a star-crossed family fights for survival in this companion to Stitching Snow.

There you have it!

Vote all weekend long, and on Monday I will pick my next read! :)

Once I am done reading, I will share my review and give the book away!

Book Highlight/Giveaway: Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

Every Last Word
By: Tamara Ireland Stone
Publication: June 16th 2015
By Disney-Hyperion

If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling.

Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off.

Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn't help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she'd be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam's weekly visits to her psychiatrist.

Caroline introduces Sam to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.

Purchase Links:

Amazon † Barnes & Nobles † Book Depository 

Read an excerpt HERE

Tamara Ireland Stone

(www.TamaraIrelandStone.com) is the author of Time After Time and Time Between Us, which Melissa Marr praised as a "beautifully written, unique love story," and has been published in over twenty countries. A former Silicon Valley marketing executive, Tamara enjoys skiing, hiking, and spending time with her husband and two children. She lives just outside of San Francisco.

WORDS THROUGH TIME
Prize Pack "Prizes & samples provided by Disney-Hyperion"

One (1) US only winner receives the complete Tamara Ireland Stone collection:
A copy of Every Last Word
Plus copies of Time Between Us and Time After Time. Just leave a comment below with your email and tell us why you want to win this great package!!
Giveaway Ends JUNE 1st!

LEARN MORE

Learn more on Un-Required Reading
Follow Disney-Hyperion on Twitter and Tumblr
Follow Tamara Ireland Stone on Twitter and Tumblr
#EveryLastWord

#TheDarkestMinds by Alexandra Bracken #Giveaway! @HyperionTeens

Hey GCReaders!

We have a special giveaway for you all today!

Keep track of your memories! 

Enter for your chance to win a tripod and telephoto lens for your camera-phone, plus The Darkest Minds series & tote bag.

About IN THE AFTERLIGHT...

   

Ruby can't look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government's attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. Only Ruby can keep their highly dangerous prisoner in check. But with Clancy Gray, there's no guarantee you're fully in control, and everything comes with a price.

     When the Children's League disbands, Ruby rises up as a leader and forms an unlikely allegiance with Liam's brother, Cole, who has a volatile secret of his own. There are still thousands of other Psi kids suffering in government "rehabilitation camps" all over the country. Freeing them--revealing the governments unspeakable abuses in the process--is the mission Ruby has claimed since her own escape from Thurmond, the worst camp in the country.

     But not everyone is supportive of the plan Ruby and Cole craft to free the camps. As tensions rise, competing ideals threaten the mission to uncover the cause of IANN, the disease that killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others with powers the government will kill to keep contained. With the fate of a generation in their hands, there is no room for error. One wrong move could be the spark that sets the world on fire.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SERIES HERE.

Also, make sure to search for any of the symbols below. Tons of prizes are being given away around the blogosphere throughout September and October leading up to the release of IN THE AFTERLIGHT. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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 worked in publishing and lives in a charming apartment overflowing with books.

Visit Alexandra online at www.alexandrabracken.com

Follow Alexandra on Twitter & Instagram

Like Alexandra on Facebook

Follow Alexandra on Tumblr

Visit Hyperion Teens at the Official Site & on Twitter

Prizing & samples courtesy of Disney-Hyperion

Giveaway open to US addresses only

Must be 13 or older to enter

Good Choice Reading/Disney Hyperion is not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged mail.

Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or else a new winner will be chosen. 

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Review: Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne

MIDNIGHT THIEF
by Livia Blackburne
Hardcover, 368 pages
Expected publication: July 8th 2014 by Disney-Hyperion

Add to GoodReads

Amazon † B&N † iBooks

Growing up on Forge’s streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And when that’s not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs.

But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. She knows how to get by on her own, and she’s not sure she wants to play by his rules. But he’s persistent—and darkly attractive—and Kyra can’t quite resist his pull.

Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. After his best friend is brutally murdered by Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease.

When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival—and vengeance—might be to join forces. And as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point, they learn a startling secret about Kyra’s past that threatens to reshape both their lives.

I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this book. I saw the cover and thought why not? After reading the first couple of chapters I decided to read the synopsis. (I have this tendency to skip the synopsis and just dive into the story. I find that I enjoy books a lot better this way. Synopsis can be misleading sometimes.) Midnight Thief moved at a fast pace and delivered surprise after surprise with every page I turned. There is even a nice twist at the near end of the book that I did not see coming. It sort of came out of nowhere, but yet fit the story so well. It also made a lot of sense why Kyra is so good at what she does.

I also did not expect a romance to really bloom between any of the characters. There was so much mystery and suspense that I was too concerned with whether or not Kyra would survive her missions. Kyra was such a great heroine and so well written. She has to be one of my favorite female characters out of all the books I've read so far in 2014. She was super interesting and very likable. I actually liked all the characters in the story. I don’t have one complaint about any of them. This story was amazing and I think it’s suitable for readers of all ages.

There is a prequel to the story called Poison Dance, and it’s currently free on Amazon. I will be diving into that one soon.

I am a new fan of Livia Blackburne and I cannot wait to read her next book. I have no complaints about the Midnight Thief. I enjoyed it tons!

Review: Dark Metropolis by Jaclyn Dolamore

Dark Metropolis
by Jaclyn Dolamore
Expected publication:
June 17th 2014
by Disney-Hyperion

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Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.

Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder's mother is cursed with a spell that's driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules.

Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city's secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.

Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they're not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.

Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don't always seem to stay that way.