Archive for category YA Fiction
REVIEW & GIVEAWAY..SMORGASBORD by Jagjiwan Sohal
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Reviews, YA Fiction on July 11, 2014
Title: Smorgasbord
Author: Jagjiwan Sohal
Genre: Middle-Grade/Young Adult Comedy Horror
Length: 170 pages
Release Date: March 2014
ISBN-13: 978-0615971919
Imprint: Mythos Press
SYNOPSIS:
When Anna Lopez’s zombie attack video goes viral, no one could believe that the high school cheerleader had taken a bite out of the undead monster – and liked it! Now nothing will ever be the same for supernatural beings…because humans have discovered they taste freakin’ DELICIOUS!
And when a zombie boy gets in the crosshairs of a gang of hungry-human hunters, Julie, a young vampire loner, jumps in for the rescue. But now Julie’s got more than she bargained because taking care of a rambunctious undead creature who only knows one word (“brains”) is NOT easy. And when Julie and her zombie pal stumble upon on a crazed soccer mom, they find themselves on the run from a trigger-happy family who want nothing more than to grill them up for a neighborhood barbecue bash!
Ceecee’s son: a rising 7th grader’s review
My thoughts:
I’ve always liked fantasy books, and they haven’t always been as action-packed as this was. This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. What I liked the most was the concept. It was both great and funny that Julie and brains were trying to not get eaten by the humans, same goes with the other monsters. I am going to tell my friends about this book!
CeeCee’s Review
Reading & Discussing this creatively adventurous novel with my sub-teen was a blast!
There are several characters that make this book amazingly unique, but our main focus is on Julie, a teen vampire, and a zombie- child whose only vocabulary is “brains”. While these two run for their lives, they’re lucky enough to encounter more paranormal creatures with the same problem: they’re the newest culinary fad. Unfortunately, there’s a psychotic woman leading a group of hunters that makes ted nugent look like mr. rogers. Throw in a zombie rancher, his spokeswoman, and a reporter scorned, and you have one heck of an adventure!
For the record, I’m not a zombie fan, but I truly enjoyed this book! This author is brilliant! I highly recommend picking this one up!
As a parent, I must warn that there is some descriptive violence involved here. Although my son & I had a wonderful time reading this, I wouldn’t recommend this novel for children below the 6th grade.
we’re GIVing away 10 copies!
AUTHOR INFORMATION & LINKS
Born and raised near Toronto, Canada, Jagjiwan Sohal works in the Canadian film and TV industry as an up-and-coming screenwriter and producer. His short stories have been published by The Horror Zine, Scribal Tales and Hello Horror. Smorgasbord is his first novel.
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Blog Tour Stop & Review! CRANE Legends Saga Book 1 by Stacey Rourke
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, Reviews, YA Fiction on June 20, 2014
The Horseman is unending,
his presence shan’t lessen.
If you break the curse,
you become the legend.
Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had no choice but to cover up the deadly truth behind Ichabod Crane’s disappearance. Centuries later, a Crane returns to Sleepy Hollow awakening macabre secrets once believed to be buried deep.
What if the monster that spawned the legend lived within you?
Now, Ireland Crane, reeling from a break-up and seeking a fresh start, must rely on the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle to discover the key to channeling the darkness swirling within her. Bodies are piling high and Ireland is the only one that can save Sleepy Hollow by embracing her own damning curse.
But is anyone truly safe when the Horseman rides?
REVIEW
This was a very unusual twist on Irving’s classic tale, but I found it extraordinary!
The narration alternates between the present heroine, Ireland, and her ancestor, Ichabod Crane. This brilliant maneuver allows you to follow both characters as their stories unfold which builds anticipation and intensifies the mystery. I was completely engulfed in this exciting thriller as the pages seemed to race across my kindle! There are several supporting characters that make a complex addition to this story, and a few that add comedic relief when needed.
With the perfect balance of gore, romance, comedy, and mystery, I found this novel to be an excellent YA read!
About Stacy Rourke
There is nothing worse than being put on the spot and asked to talk about yourself. For me it brings back that inevitable moment in a new school when the teacher would ask me to stand up, introduce myself and tell the class something about myself. I was always worried I would blurt out something stupid that I would get teased for. Something like, “My name’s Stacey and I like pickles!” Then for the rest of the school year I’d be known as the Pickle Girl and let’s be honest, no one wants that. So to avoid such a faux pas I will simply say that I love to write. It allows me to get my crazy out just enough that I can function as a normal member of society.
TOUR STOP & GIVEAWAY…THE MERLIN CHRONICLES by DANIEL DIEHL
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, YA Fiction on June 12, 2014
BOOK ONE
SYNOPSIS:
Merlin the Magician only exists in myth and legend – at least that’s what archaeology student Jason Carpenter thought until he discovered the mysterious orb that had housed history’s greatest wizard for 1,600 years.
Forced into an uneasy alliance, Jason and Merlin are sucked into a web of deceit, intrigue and murder that sends them on a chaotic race to outwit, and out run, Merlin’s ancient nemesis, the evil sorceress Morgana le Fay, her gang of drug smugglers and a 500 year-old Chinese necromancer. Tis a race against time to complete their quest before an army of dragons are unleashed on a vulnerable and unsuspecting 21st century world.
BOOK Two
SYNOPSIS:
After being accidentally thrown into the modern world of the 21st century, the wizard, Merlin teamed up with archaeology student, Jason Carpenter to aid him in his battle against the evil sorcerous, Morgana le Fay.
In this second book of The Merlin Chronicles, Merlin braves the mysterious depths of Morgana’s underground lair in search of the alien device with which she communicates with the Dragon Lords.
Meanwhile, Jason is forced to battle his way across war-torn Central Africa in search of a legendary gem that holds the key to closing the dragon gate forever. When Merlin is captured by Morgana’s thugs, Jason and Beverley, must risk their lives and the future of mankind in a desperate effort to save their friend.
GIVEAWAY
AUTHOR INFORMATION & LINKS
Daniel Diehl has been an author, writer and investigative historian for thirty-five years. For nearly twenty years Diehl has been involved in writing for publication and documentary television production. Mr. Diehl’s work has won awards from the Houston (Texas) Film Festival, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (US) and the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Arts Foundation. Working alone and as a part of the multi-award winning team of Daniel Diehl and Mark Donnelly, Diehl has produced work in two main categories; trade publication and television documentary scripts. His canon of work includes twenty non-fiction books (which have been translated into ten foreign languages), one previous work of fiction and scripts for more than one hundred and seventy hours of documentary television primarily for A&E Network, The History Channel, History International, Biography Channel and Discovery Network.
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RELEASE DAY! SURRENDER THE SKY by MERADETH HOUSTON
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, YA Fiction on May 2, 2014
“I wish I didn’t know. I wish my heart hadn’t been seared black in my chest. I wish everything were different.” – Surrender the Sky
Surrender the Sky by Meradeth Houston
Gabby lives by two unbreakable rules: don’t expose her kind, the Sary, and don’t fall in love—too bad some rules are made to be broken.
When Gabby’s most difficult charge accidentally shoots her in front of a class full of students, the event exposes her carefully hidden identity. She shifts from looking like a normal teen to her secret Sary form, revealing her wings and the existence of her kind—immortals who try to keep people from committing suicide. Her incident attracts the attention of the next leader of the Sary, Jassen, who offers her an impossible bargain: she can keep her wings if she makes amends with those who know the truth. Things get more complicated when a rebel Sary, intent on exposing them to the world, starts interfering with Gabby’s work. And there’s no denying her attraction to Jassen, who is torn between his duties and his heart. With threats at every turn and her immortality on the line, Gabby has to find a way to save the Sary or surrender the sky forever.
Excerpt
” I knew the day was not going to end well as soon as I saw the gun. It bulged in the outside pocket of his backpack, hidden unless someone looked for it. Of course, I had to be the one looking for it.
Chad kept his head down in class, his pen scratching dark lines of some doodle across his paper. I couldn’t drag my gaze away from him.
He’d brought a gun. Damn it. He was going to follow through with his plan.
I was focusing so hard on the knot of guilt in my stomach and the tangle of plans to stop Chad that Bea had to kick my chair to alert me class had started. Of course, Bea had to be in this class with the homicidal kid who was my responsibility.
I did a quick head count. It was Friday, half-day schedule, last period, with spring break starting next week. Most everyone had ditched already, and only thirteen people remained, including our teacher.
Unfortunately, just enough of the students on Chad’s list stayed for the last class. “
Companion Novel on Sale for Limited Time!
.99 cent sale – Limited Time!
About the Author, Meradeth Houston
I’ve never been a big fan of talking about myself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about me:
>I’m a California girl. This generally means I talk too fast and use “like” a lot.
>I have my doctorate in molecular anthropology. Translation: I sequence dead people’s DNA and spend a whole lot of time in a lab, which I love.
>I’ve been writing since I was 11 years old. It’s my hobby, my passion, and I’m so happy to get to share my work!
>My other passion is teaching. There’s nothing more fun than getting a classroom of college kids fired up about anthropology!
>If I could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because I’m terrified of heights.
Website / Faceboook / Twitter / Goodreads / Tumblr / Google +
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NEW RELEASE! DEAD GIRL WALKING by RUTH SILVER
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, YA Fiction on April 29, 2014
DEAD GIRL WALKING by Ruth Silver
a Young Adult Paranormal Adventure
published by Patchwork Press
Forget everything you know about grim reapers.
About the Author:
Ruth Silver is the best-selling author of ABERRANT, a young adult dystopian adventure series published by Patchwork Press and Lazy Day Publishing. Silver attended Northern Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication in the spring of 2005. While in college, she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, Deuces are Wild, which she self-published in 2004. Her love of writing led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. Silver enjoys reading, photography, traveling and most of all writing. She loves dystopian, paranormal, and fantasy young adult stories. Ruth has been actively writing since she was a teenager. She currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads
REVIEW: AMITY by MICOL OSTOW
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, Reviews, YA Fiction on April 28, 2014
Synopsis:
Connor’s family moves to Amity to escape shady business deals. Ten years later, Gwen’s family moves to Amity for a fresh start after she’s recovered from a psychotic break.
But something is not right about this secluded house. Connor’s nights are plagued with gore-filled dreams of demons and destruction. Dreams he kind of likes. Gwen has lurid visions of corpses that aren’t there and bleeding blisters that disappear in the blink of an eye. She knows Amity is evil and she must get her family out, but who would ever believe her?
Amity isn’t just a house. She is a living force, bent on manipulating her inhabitants to her twisted will. She will use Connor and Gwen to bring about a bloody end as she’s done before. As she’ll do again.
Review:
Growing up, I was a horror film junkie! While Freddie, Jason, and Michael pumped my adrenaline, they never caused me any permanent damage. What scarred me for life was The Exorcist, Chainsaw Massacre, Jaws, and The Amityville series. For in my mind, these were the real horrors that lurked in the shadows. After all, they were loosely based on real stories, right?
Recently, I’ve noticed a fad in which authors are rewriting stories to fit the young adult group, and why not? I think it’s a brilliant idea that gives our teens a bigger variety of literature to choose from.
This novel in particular has interlaced two stories, a decade apart, into a chilling tale!
I applaud this author, as she has done a great job of writing a novel that terrifies, thrills, and disgusts! The brilliance of her work is in the details, as her creativity and story background was above and beyond what I expected. There are a few twists added, making this version of the horror classic a more unique and interesting tale than the previous stories. The narrative is bounced expertly between two teens, whose lives have been abruptly changed by the house and other entities involved. I must add that although Ostow leads you down a twisted path, the most heinous of acts are left to the reader’s imagination. As expected, there are some bloody scenes, a few mentions of abuse, and some vivid descriptions of a demented mind in action. There were several times when nothing seemed real, but everything was horrifying. I loved it!
I highly recommend this to mature young adults, high school being the youngest, and adults who love the paranormal, thrillers, and horrors!
About The Author:
Micol Ostow is half Puerto Rican, half Jewish, half reader, half writer, and, when under deadline, often half asleep. Micol was working as an editor of young adult fiction when she began to write her own books; since then, she has published over 40 works for readers of all ages. Her novel, Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa, was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, and her graphic novel hybrid, So Punk Rock: And Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother, was chosen as a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens.
Micol received her MFA in Writing For Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2009, and currently teaches a popular young adult writing workshop through Media Bistro. She lives in NYC with her Emmy-award winning filmmaker husband, Noah Harlan, their daughter, and a persnickety French Bulldog named Bridget Jones. When not lurking online, Micol can most frequently be found reading, running, or drinking way too much coffee. You can also visit her online, blogging with the readergirlz divas over at the National Book Award-winning literacy project, http://www.readergirlz.com.
Links:
RELEASE DAY BLITZ & GIVEAWAY! ORENDA by RUTH SILVER
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Reviews, YA Fiction on April 27, 2014
ORENDA by Ruth Silver
a Young Adult Fantasy Adventure series
published by Patchwork Press
Join forces with a parallel universe.
Dark forces, magical creatures, and the world Lil thought she knew collide when a dream transports her to the strange world of Orenda. Stunned and terrified, Lil comes face to face with her doppelganger, Willow, who possesses the ability to travel between the two worlds. Everything Lil knows logically says that Orenda can’t exist, but a small clue may be proof that it was more than an ordinary dream. With the threat of her younger sister in danger, Lil crosses dimensions but it may cost her even more than she bargained for.
A sword wielding girl, the eternal suit, and a parallel universe come together in this action-packed Young Adult fantasy adventure that will keep readers of all ages turning the pages. Orenda is the first novel in the Orenda series.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Signed Copy
Excerpt:
Lil stood firm, sword-in-hand, staring at the beast as it flew directly at her. “How do I kill it?” She raised the sword above her head with two hands.
Hudson glanced at her. “With what we taught you. The dragon is no different than a man.”
“It has wings and is flying at me. I’d say it’s different!”
REVIEW
This is an excellent YA fantasy with a little twist of Greek Mythology squeezed in!
The characters are wonderfully written, and quite the cast! Although this is just the introduction, you get to know important facts about each person, or creature, involved. There’s a hint of romance, and a great deal of heartbreak involved. These kids seemed somewhat naive, but brave, and I was impressed with the compassion they showed each other. Lil and Bray were exposed to different sides of Orenda during their stay, with Bray’s being the worst, but Willow and her gang helped them every step of the way.
The background on Orenda is a little hazy, but the author gives enough to satisfy for now. I expect the gaps will be filled throughout the series, but I have to admit that I’m completely satisfied with this book. The writing style is intelligent, easy to follow, and fast paced. Each twist was unexpected and brilliantly placed, which made the story more addictive!
After dealing with a demon sorceress, the darkest version of Tinkerbell I’ve ever heard of, and a few mental bombshells, I am anxiously awaiting the author’s next move!
GIVEAWAY
About the Author:
Ruth Silver is the best-selling author of ABERRANT, a young adult dystopian adventure series published by Patchwork Press and Lazy Day Publishing, in 2013. Silver attended Northern Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication in the spring of 2005. While in college, she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, Deuces are Wild, which she self-published in 2004. Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the professor required, because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories. Her love of writing led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. Silver enjoys reading, photography, traveling and most of all writing. She loves dystopian and fantasy young adult stories. Ruth has been actively writing since she was a teenager. Upcoming works include Royal Reaper, a young adult series about grim reapers, due for release June 3rd, 2014. She currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads
I KNOW LUCY RELEASE DAY BLITZ!
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, YA Fiction on April 20, 2014
Lucy Tate is on the run. After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, she’s spent five years in hiding — taking on different personas and faking her way through life. The authorities can’t be trusted, so she remains in the shadows, always one beat ahead of the man who is forever hunting her. That is, until she meets Zach Schultz, a senior at Monte Vista High and the one guy she can’t bear to leave. Suddenly her natural instincts to lie, steal, and run are overshadowed by something else…the desire to stay. It’s her one shot at a normal life.
Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to learn more about her, he tries to get close, but is thrown into a world of lies and confusion. The only thing that becomes apparent is that discovering the truth may get him killed.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Author Blog / Book Blog / Pinterest
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Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan… not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. “Best. Year. Ever!!” She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books. Recently she signed with Evatopia Press and her first Evatopia book is coming out in February 2014 – True Colors, The Masks Series #1. She is very excited to be trying out new things this year while continuing to publish under her own name as well. She has six books planned for 2014 and is excited about writing each and every one of them.
“I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love.”
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RELEASE DAY BLITZ! RUNAWAY by S.M. KNOWLES
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, YA Fiction on April 4, 2014
At seventeen years old, Courtney Apuzzo is fed up. With a dead mom and an alcoholic father that beats her every chance he gets, Courtney decides that enough is enough. Packing up only what she needs, Courtney leaves home without telling a soul and heads off to find her new life.
Life on her own is not exactly as she thought it would be. With nowhere to stay, Courtney finds herself sleeping on an old stoop in an abandoned apartment alleyway. A chance meeting with a new group of friends seems like a great beginning to her second chance at a real life. But everything is not as it seems.
Tricked into a life she never wanted and fears, Courtney needs to run away, again. She needs to find a way out of this new and dangerous life. With the help from a man she barely knows, will Courtney find her way out? Or will she find herself on the run from a dangerous past, and a hopeless future? Faced with a choice that will change her life forever.
About the Author
While growing up, S.M. would travel the roads around her house while imagining she was somewhere else. Her imagination would take her everywhere, making the long hot summer days seem shorter throughout her fantasies.
At the age of twelve, she decided to write her first book. Filled mostly with dialog, she filled up one-hundred pages, front and back. After taking the book downstairs to show her mom, and persuading her to buy her more paper, she excitedly ran back to her room. As she barreled through the door, S.M. tripped over items left on her floor, and her papers came raining down in her room. Discouraged, she stood there in tears, picking up her papers and throwing them in the trash. Her work had no organization, no numbers on her pages, just a child fulfilling a joy that she would put down and not pick up again.
When she became older, she joined the military for something different. In that time, she was able to explore many places and even met her husband in Iraq. After coming home, she started her family in Arizona and went back to school, earning a Master’s degree in Adult Education and Training.
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REVIEW: SHADOWS DANGERS(Book One of the Last Hope Series) by Cyndi Mezni
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Reviews, YA Fiction on March 31, 2014
Blurb:
Losing a loved one is never easy. Although Deliah learned to live without her parents when fate took them from her as a young girl, history repeats itself and causes her to face even greater challenges when Tess, the woman who raised her and was like a second mother to her, passes away. But even worse than dealing with her loss is the coinciding arrival of inexplicable nightmares that haunt Deliah’s nights.
She becomes consumed with images she didn’t understand and a recurrent dream about her parents’ car accident. Oddly, this dream details different versions from what she had always been told about the accident.
But when a new family, The Wates, arrive in town and begin to pay close attention to her, even stranger events follow. Now, Deliah must not only face her nightmares, but the possibility that a world she never suspected exists. And this world may cost her everything.
REVIEW:
Mezni has created a world unlike any other!
To say that this novel is unique would be an understatement. The author has blended several genres into a mystical tale that’s both creative and enchanting. My mind raced for an explanation as the author revealed only the necessities, which caused my anticipation to skyrocket! Deliah’s an endearing character, with a heart of gold, and Garreth is an enigma in which I enjoyed learning about.
There may be a few controversial responses about certain areas of this novel, but paying attention to the detailed narrative may clear up most of them. I don’t know whether the author is going to give another POV in the next installment, but she’s done a wonderful job of introducing Deliah. You get to know this heroine’s every thought, response, and feeling. Admittedly, there were a few times that I had to remind myself of her age, due to her lack of judgment. The story line is different and quite enjoyable, and the creative factor is incredible. There were questions left unanswered, but I was given enough to satisfy my curiosity, for now. I’m intrigued and I’ll definitely follow this series.
ABOUT THIS LITERARY CHEF:
Cindy Mezni is a young Swiss writer. She discovered her passion – became obsession – for writing by chance, during a winter afternoon where she had fun by rewriting the story of a popular book because the sequence of events were not to her liking.
Consequently, she began to publish fictions and fanfictions on Internet for almost two years to share her stories and submit them to criticism to improve her writing. After receiving encouragement and compliments from the jury of a writing competition at her school, Cindy finally took the path of publishing with The Last Hope series then the Nëphyr trilogy and Poisoned Iris trilogy – and many other books in the future, she hopes.
Since the said winter afternoon, not a day goes by without her fingers touching her computer’s keyboard to write new fantasy or sci-fi adventures…
The publishing journey of Cindy Mezni in a few words: In May 2011, her first book, Shadow’s Dangers (The Last Hope, Book One) was published by a small French publishing house. Since, Ex Tenebris (Nëphyr, Book One) has been published by the French publishing house, J’ai Lu, in April 2013. The book two, Chaos, will be released in 2014. The books one (second edition) and two of The Last Hope series will be self-published in July 2013 in French. In Fall 2013, the book one in the Last Hope series will be published in the US by Evatopia Press and the first books of Poisoned Iris and Nëphyr will also be released in the following months by Evatopia Press.
https://www.facebook.com/cindymeznibooks
https://twitter.com/CindyGMezni
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