Friday, June 28, 2013

Review: Jumper by Jeff LaFerney

A huge thank you to Jeff for providing me with a copy of his novel in return for my fair and honest review :)

Jumper by Jeff LaFerney


Dani's Rating: 5 stars 

Format: e-book (PDF)
Pages: 280
Publisher: Tower Publications
Publication Date: April 25, 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
After spending three years in jail and others completely alone, twenty-four-year-old Cole Flint discovers an amazing ability—he can time-travel and teleport. He’s a jumper. So what should the motorcycle-riding, cage-fighting tough guy do? He should protect an innocent eighteen-year-old girl who happens to be in possession of the Staff of Moses. Following the direction of a trio of angels who are determined to shake things up in the Middle East, Cole pairs up with Hannah Carpenter and her pet grizzly while he also tries to change his past and learn the mystery of his birth. Curiously, the King of Jordan knows all about Hannah, and he’s determined to gain possession of the staff. He’ll do anything to possess its power, but is it possible that he’s no more than a pawn, manipulated in time along with Cole and Hannah? Jumper is a mysterious roller coaster of action and a time-traveling adventure that will keep readers guessing right to the very last page.


Dani's review:

Jumper is a well-written, action-filled novel with a healthy portion of biblical history that kept me on the edge of my seat as I anxiously turned the pages. At first, I was skeptical about Jumper. I figured it would be just another typical time travel story, but God was I wrong. 

From the first page, I was enraptured with the world of Jumper. It takes place in the modern day, but with fabricated names for various world leaders. For example, the president of the U.S. is called President Stonewood. 

Jumper kept my mind whirling as I tried to fathom what had just happened. It kept me guessing the entire time. Jumper has everything a teenager or YA loving adult could want in a YA novel:
a fantastic plot, heartwarming characters (including a pet grizzly bear named Teddy), angels, demons, exciting fight scenes, and a unique explanation for the concept of time. Jeff LaFerney's approach to explaining the concept of time fascinated me. Especially because in most time travel novels I've read, the characters going forward and back in time is explained by "magic" or a far-fetched idea. Jeff describes it as "There are no multiple timelines. Time cannot split with people living in parallel universes. The current timeline will be completed and re-established..."

There is really nothing I disliked about Jumper. The foreshadowing was well-done, not too predictable and not too subtle. Everything in the plot connected together like missing puzzle pieces and made sense.  I loved reading about Hannah and Cole transforming into more confident and happy people as they went through each ordeal. I had my doubts, but Jumper has proved to be the best novel I've read so far this summer. Jumper is a must-read for anyone looking for a great story that will leave you thinking about it long after you read it! I'm looking forward to sequels :D

Keep checking A Walk on Words for an interview with Jeff coming soon!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Interview & Giveaway: Catalyst by Marc Johnson

Catalyst
Hey everyone! How's your summer been? More time for tanning...and reading too of course! Today we have for you an interview with Marc Johnson, author of Catalyst (Passage of Hellsfire #1). We also have a giveaway!!! 1 paperback copy and 1 ebook copy of Catalyst are up for grabs! Click HERE for Dani's review of Catalyst.

Our Interview with Marc Johnson:

1. What are your favorite novels?

Some of my favorite novels are: Matilida, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Lit Life, The Time Traveler’s Wife, and Before I Die.


2. How long did it take you to write Catalyst?

Not long at all. I remember when I first completed one summer while I was a teenager. However, I must mention that editing it into something readable and hopefully enjoyable, took many, many years.

3. What inspired you to begin your "The Passage of Hellsfire" series?

I get most of my ideas from the dreams I have. I’m able to remember my dreams. The one for The Passage of Hellsfire is the one dream that has plagued me the most throughout the years. While I’ve been able to put aside the other dreams, this one has a burning need to get out.

4. Are any of your characters based on real people?

Yes. I mix and match from the people I’ve known over the years. However, I also change things on what might have happened instead of what actually took place. I would say most of the characters are based on parts of myself or how I feel. It’s a good thing I constantly have conversations with myself.

5. Why did you choose the name "Hellsfire" for your main character?

Some people don’t like the name, and I don’t blame them. But what I tried to do is the reverse of what I’ve seen. Mostly wizards have a normal name then get their wizard’s name. I decided to do the reverse of that. ‘Hellsfire’ is his name. It’s who he is and what he embodies. It’ll be explained in more detail throughout the series. Also, I thought it sounded cool for a wizard.


6. How did you discover your love of writing?

I just love stories. Writing may not be the easiest but it is the most accessible out of those forms as all you really need is a pen and a pad. When I was a kid, I jotted down a few of the stories I had, and while they were bad, I enjoyed doing it. What’s great about writing is you’re not hindered by anything except your imagination.


Thanks Marc for participating in this interview with us!

Giveaway Time! 
Contest Rules:
  • You must be at least 13 years of age to enter
  • The winner(s) will be chosen by random.org
  • Illegal entries will be deleted from the winner selection
  • Follow the instructions given on the Rafflecopter options
  • The winner will be contacted through email, and has 48 hours to confirm before another winner is chosen.
  • Please Note: The giveaway for the PRINT version of Catalyst is open US only. The EBOOK version giveaway however is open INT. They are separate giveaways, one winner each (two winners total).
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
About Marc Johnson:

Marc Johnson lives and writes in the Bay Area. He has been reading his entire life and writing for almost as long. Until magazines went away, he used to freelance on the side, mainly covering all sorts of gaming. However, his first love has always been writing fiction. He loves stories in all its forms—movies, television, video games, comics, etc. He will always write fiction because it’s the only way to get all of the crazy ideas out of his head, and the cheapest too.

He has a lot of interests ranging from archery, poker, basketball, video games, and Star Trek. He loves stories in all its forms, be it movies, TV, comics. Some of his favorite books are Matilda, It, Lit Life, The Time Traveler's Wife, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Marc Johnson has written the young adult, fantasy book, Catalyst. It's the first book in his six book series, The Passage of Hellsfire. He plans to release them once a year, before he dies.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Excerpt: Keeping Her by Cora Cormack

Keeping Her (Losing It, #1.5)Hey everyone! Today we have a special preview package of Keeping Her by Cora Cormack for you. This is a novella of her Losing It series, or just Losing It #1.5. It continues the story of Bliss and Garrick's future I wholeheartedly recommend reading Losing It! I absolutely loved that book! Keeping Her will be coming out on August 13th, 2013, so keep an eye out for it! Faking It (Losing It #2) just came out this June as well. The cover to Finding It will revealed sometime next week, so keep watch for that too!

Keeping Her Goodreads Synopsis:

Garrick Taylor and Bliss Edwards managed to find their happily-ever-after despite a rather . . . ahem . . . complicated start. By comparison, meeting the parents should be an absolute breeze, right?

But from the moment the pair lands in London, new snags just keep cropping up: a disapproving mother-in-law-to-be, more than one (mostly) minor mishap, and the realization that perhaps they aren't quite as ready for their future as they thought.

As it turns out, the only thing harder than finding love is keeping it.

Alright, I know you are waiting for this. Here is the excerpt link:


If you have trouble viewing the excerpt on Avon's website, it is also uploaded as a Scribd file (preview posted below--and note that it is the same excerpt):



Cora and Jay Crownover will be participating in a Goodreads chat on June 26th. Cora will also be hosting a FAKING IT (Losing It #2) book club on her Facebook page on June 27th from 3-4 p.m. EDT where you can live chat with Cora about the book and ask her all your burning questions.


Thursday, June 20, 2013

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 404
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication Date: August 7, 2012

Dani's rating: 5 stars
Steph's rating: 5 stars
Overall rating: 5 stars


Goodreads Synopsis:
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another.

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.


Dani's Review:
Throne of Glass is one of those rare novels that leaves you thinking about it long after you finished reading it. My thoughts were jumbled as I pondered what I had just read. I was led on the exuberant thrill ride of an 18-year-old girl's fight to gain her freedom. Romance, humor, and suspense were incorporated into the complex plot along with great imagery to create the full package. But overall, I think the character development is what makes Throne of Glass great.

Celaena Sardothien is an assassin. You're probably imagining a ruthless, ugly killer equivalent in morale to a rat. However, Celaena is the exact opposite. She had no choice in becoming an assassin, (not that she dislikes her job), she is drop dead gorgeous, and she has a high sense of honor.  She is the best and most infamous criminal in the land of Adarlan--hence her alias "Adarlan's Assassin. Unfortunately, even the best get caught. She was captured and sent to a death camp, until the handsome Captain of the Guards, Chaol, brings her to the Crown Prince Dorian. The prince offers her a deal that will change her life forever if she accepts.

I loved the way Sarah J. Maas delved deep into each character's feelings, especially Celaena's. She drops subtle hints about her past throughout the novel until the reader longs to know more about Celaena. How did she become an assassin? What happened to her family?

At the same time, Celaena faces awkward moments, tension, and romance with Chaol, her trainer in the competiton and the Captain of the Guards, and Dorian, the "stuffed shirt" prince. The parts with Celaena and these two are hilarious! I loved their banter and arguments....and of course their budding romance. I can't wait to read the sequel "Crown of Midnight" to find out what happens to this love triangle.

There is also a subplot. Remember what I said about the complex plot? Celaena is given orders by the spirit of the dead warrior queen Elena to do her bidding. Strange symbols keep popping up wherever she goes. A foreign princess arrives who may not be as innocent as she seems.

Throne of Glass is a high fantasy novel that I think almost everyone, even non-fantasy readers, will enjoy. It's not confusing at all and the fantasy concepts aren't over the top weird. It's simply the story of a girl growing up and trying to obtain what everyone at the heart wants: freedom.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Frigid by Jennifer L. Armentrout (J. Lynn) Pre-Order Promo and Chapter Reveal!

Today is an exciting day - we have FOUR HUGE SURPRISES for you! Jennifer L. Armentrout's (writing as J. Lynn) FRIGID is set to release on e-book at the end of July. If you're anything like us, you're probably on pins and needles and just cannot wait to get your hands on a copy of this book. 
 
FRIGID has already been given the honor of being named a Romantic Times Top Pick and we're super excited for you to be able to read it as well!
Well, there's good news! Are you ready for those four awesome surprises? Here we go!
1. Due to all the excitement surrounding FRIGID, we have decided to run a special e-book pre-order promotion. We have worked out a deal with the distributor to release FRIGID a full two weeks early -- on JULY 15th!!! -- if we meet our e-book pre-order goal. EEEEP! That's right, if you are like the rest of us and want to be able to read FRIGID in its entirety before its original release date, all you have to do is PRE-ORDER THE E-BOOK NOW! What are you waiting for? GO! Pre-order it!
Pre-Order Links: Barnes & Noble / Amazon

2. Need something to hold you over until FRIGID releases? Well, starting right now, you can read the first three chapters of FRIGID for free! Just read below!

Frigid Sneak Peek</ p>


3. Can’t get enough of the hot FRIGID cover? Want to see some behind the scenes photos that are sure to make you swoon? You’re in luck! Below you can watch a slideshow of all the behind the scenes photos from the photo shoot! Go on and watch it. We’ll wait, because there is still one more great surprise!

4. And last but not least, if you live near Philadelphia, PA, you're in for a very special treat -- Jennifer will be in Philly in November signing not only FRIGID but also the last book in her immensely popular COVENANT series, SENTINEL! But that's not all, Adam, the super hot cover model from FRIGID will be there as well! So, yes, you'll get to meet Jennifer and Adam! Plus, there will be other great prizes that you seriously won't want to miss out on (dinner with the author and model, perhaps?)! Stay tuned for more details to come!

We hope you're as excited as we are! So now....Go pre-order FRIGID! Go read those chapters! Go watch that slideshow! And Enjoy!

Friday, June 14, 2013

Review: Scapemaker by Steve V. Cypert

Scapemaker (Scapemaker #1)Scapemaker by Steve V. Cypert
Dani's Rating: 3.5 stars
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars

Format: e-book (PDF)
Pages: 519
Publisher: Independently published by author
Publication Date: November 19, 2012


Goodreads Synopsis:
Matthew is the son of Mr. Nicholas Namely, a local high school teacher. But unbeknownst to Matthew, his father is a dreamscaper whose classroom is connected to the dream-world. From his classroom, his students enter the halls of Scapemaker, a dream-world high school for young dreamscapers.

Following a couple of heartfelt tragic events, Matthew is compelled to investigate the unbelievable mysteries surrounding those events and is propelled into a whole new world. Matthew and his mother, Mae, are soon coerced into moving across the country for his father's strange medical needs. While attending his new school, Matthew comes to know the secrets that Daedree, an annoying girl from his former high school, has locked away. Matthew also meets Amber, a beautiful enigmatic girl who leads him to Mr. Xoner's classroom. While there, he learns the art of dreamscaping (which has been in the Namely bloodline for thousands of years).

Matthew will come to know of Nox Celare, otherwise known as The Sandman, who is after a special element called Magineum. Neck deep in skinwalkers, sandsleepers, zombies, soul feeders, ghosts, dream-world criminals known as “night terrors” and more, Matthew learns he is in over his head. Matthew must not only solve the mysteries surrounding those tragic events, but he will also have to protect the Magineum with his life and find a way to be with the one girl of his dreams. Filled with secrecy, mystery and a forbidden tangle of young love, this new life will lead Matthew to unbelievable characters with the most extraordinary abilities he could never have imagined.

Scapemaker will keep you grounded in the real world while at the same time make the fantastical world around it that much more possible and enduring. This tale of young adult paranormal fantasy will keep you guessing and wanting more.

Dani's Review:
Thanks so much to Steve Cypert for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my fair and honest review.

For me, Scapemaker was an okay read. It is a long fantasy book that I think would be better if the slow parts were condensed. The beginning was slow and it annoyed me that it took so long for the main character, Matthew Namely, to find out what was going on.

Matthew came home from school one day to find bad news awaiting him: the death of his best friend Dobian Brown and his father in a coma. He struggled with his grief and began to see paranormal events unfolding around him. A mysterious girl kept popping up in the strangest places. He saw a weird wolf-thing. He encountered a kid who seemed to have 2 people inside of him. Finally, when he is introduced to the "dream-world" he starts to understand what is going on with his world.

Scapemaker begins to become much more interesting and enjoyable at this point. I liked learning about Steve Cypert's various fantasy concepts such as mer-water, night- terrors, and skinwalkers. They were all very creative ideas, but at some parts of the novel it was confusing and overwhelming. There are many minor characters who provide comic relief and banter to fill the slow parts of Scapemaker. I felt that Steve's writing fluctuated from good to bad throughout this novel. Sometimes he used cliche expressions like "Matthew screamed like a girl", but sometimes he made great use of imagery and really transported the reader into the scene of the novel. The fight scenes were particularly good because it introduced suspense, which in my opinion wasn't a large component of Scapemaker.

The second half of Scapemaker when Matthew is trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Doby and his father was fun to read. He was in dangerous situations, faced formidable foes, and experienced a teensy bit of romance with a girl named Amber. But romance lovers, don't get your hopes up. There is barely any romance in this fantasy novel.

There are some typos in Scapemaker, but hey, it was independently published by Mr. Cypert! Indie authors have a harder time than authors affiliated with a large publishing company at editing their novels.

I think Scapemaker will only be enjoyed and loved by readers who can continue reading through slow parts. It is not a fast-paced novel so some impatient readers may stop reading in the beginning.  But if you are a patient reader, you will love Scapemaker! The innovative creatures and concepts will fascinate you and you will be captivated by the plot.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Review: Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

ObsessionObsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Steph's Rating: 4.5 stars
Dani's Rating: 4 stars
Overall Rating: 4.25 stars

Format: ebook
Publisher: Entangled Covet LLC
Publication Date: May 31th, 2013
Pages: 370 

*New Adult Book--NOT a YA book review*

Goodreads Synopsis:

He’s arrogant, domineering, and... To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something... unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life… or is it Hunter?

Steph's Review:
I am dying for Origin (Lux 4). But you know what? Obsession has successfully kept me alive and then some, and I am happy to say that it is making the wait for more Daemon and Katy just a little more bearable. This is an absolute must-read for Lux fans! (But older teens and adults only! It's New Adult, not YA!)

Serena didn't believe her best friend Mel when she told her that her boyfriend and son of a senator turn into a blazing figure of light. But after the devastating and life-changing tragedy of Mel's death at the hands of something that could not be human, Serena has no choice but to start believing. Her witnessing of a Luxen man incinerating Mel for seeing the Luxen form of the senator's son makes her a target for the Daedalus group, but the Department of Defense has ever so kindly given her protection--through the hands of an Arum that is. She's on the run now: without a real home, job, or life. But if Serena wants to survive, she has to stay off the radar. And somewhat compliant to Hunter.

Hunter didn't want to take on the job of protecting Serena, not that he has a choice now that he's become a lapdog of the D.O.D. in return for some semblance of stability. But after meeting Serena and that feisty attitude of hers...he starts to question the rules he's set for his own life. And he wonders if it really is possible for an Arum to love a human. The stability he wanted is knocked right out of balance with the introduction of this human woman into his life.

Obsession is a spin off of the Lux series, from the standpoint of the Arum. I think Jen did a wonderful job of creating the same Lux world from a completely different view point: an Arum. The big, bad enemies of the Luxen who have been considered nothing more than monsters and murderers up until now. No one could possibly be an Arum fan after reading Obsidian to Opal (especially Opal), but after Obsession, I definitely can say that I don't hate the Arum at all as a whole: they are really just like the Luxen. The Arum have lost their home planet and their families as well, and I just empathize with them a lot more now. Sure, they aren't fluffy blobs of light, just the opposite in fact, but how could you possibly label them love/hate when really at heart they are exactly the same? The Arum lost to the Luxen in their planetary war and have been oppressed by the "superior race", and I can't bring myself to blame them anymore because I'd feel pretty bitter if I were on the losing side too. From reading Obsidian and on, we didn't like the Arum since they were killing the Luxen, but the Luxen have been killing the Arum too and aren't completely faultless. I don't despise the Arum anymore, but I can't say I am head over heels in love with Luxen anymore either (Except Daemon. He's perfect).

The romance in this is blistering. This is not exactly my idea of "New Adult", more like just "Adult". There is so much sexual tension throughout this entire book, meaning a whole lot of awkward :), and a whole lot of fun ;). Serena was basically Team Arum after a Luxen killed her best friend, and she couldn't help but feel drawn to Hunter's tormented heart and luminous eyes (and muscly body, don't forget that. And please, who wouldn't be?). Hunter pretty much detested Serena and her little attitude, but couldn't help finding it endearing after a while as well. While Hunter puts on the tough guy display pretty much everywhere he goes, he has a sweet side hiding in a little corner of himself that comes out every now and then just for Serena without him even realizing it sometimes. Obsession definitely shows that Arum can feel and aren't just cold blocks of stone they are painted out to be in the rest of the series. I love Hunter so ridiculously much, and the story of his past is truly heartbreaking. He ranks somewhere up there with the other "best of Jen's guys". 

I have to give it to Serena. I really love her and that attitude I've been talking about. She's a talk-backer, and has a short temper. Not exactly a nice description in words, but you just have to read the book. But watching her fuse explode were probably the most hilarious parts of the book. She gets so flustered when she's angry, and it's hard not to laugh at sometimes. 

While this book is set apart from Daemon and Katy's plot line, we do have a few cameos from certain much-loved Luxen ;) (Jen already revealed to the public that one of them is Daemon). Daemon's agony made me so sad to read about even though it was just a short instance. The Arum are even feeling bad for him too. I wish there was an Arum sequel after this, because I want to know more about how Serena and Hunter are going to spend their lives after defying rules and living in hiding. Unfortunately it's just a standalone (for now--*crosses fingers*), so I will have to do with my imagination. Can't wait for the end of August to roll around with Origin in tow; Obsession has done nothing but reinforce my love for the Lux world!

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Review: Destiny's Flower by Linda Harley

Destiny's Flower (Saldiora Book 1)Destiny's Flower (Saldiora #1) by Linda Harley
Steph's Rating: 4.5 stars
Overall Rating: 4.5 stars

Format: ebook
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
Publication Date: September 1st, 2012
Pages: 312

Goodreads Synopsis:
Doctor Lynn Davis is kidnapped by handsome Lord Kyle von Talion and taken to a far off planet, Saldiora. As she finds herself in this unfamiliar culture, she must learn to fight with a sword, ride a talking horse, and endure the politics of a royal court if she is to survive. Kyle has his hands full keeping Lynn from making cultural blunders and ensuring her safety. The Juntu's are plotting to take over Saldiora and consider Lynn to be a threat to their success. Will Lynn live long enough to fulfill her destiny and save the kingdom of Saldiora?

Steph's Review:

When I was about to start reading this book, I really had no clue or notion on how I'd react to it at all. It was part modern-day Earth infused together with a medieval structured galactic empire. Well, I am happy to say that I LOVED this book through and through. From the moment Lynn was dragged away from the only place she knew, I was hooked.

Lynn Davis is your everyday doctor and college professor. She planned her normal life on the normal Earth, and was never expecting to be kidnapped right in front of her class full of witnesses. Who would? But these aren't normal kidnappers, and they hardly think of themselves as kidnappers as well. Kyle von Talion, Lord of the House Talion, has swiped her from earth and shipped her off to Saldiora--part of a planetary empire in space. Lynn has no way of contacting home, and zero chance of escape. Staying on this ship is dangerous enough, but getting off means certain death. If only there were signal in space, right? Kyle reveals to Lynn that she has been chosen as one of the ten "beauties" of Saldiora, who will compete for the chance to be the King's wife and the Queen of Saldiora. There isn't a choice for her. Lynn can't go back to Earth, and the only way to make any sort of living for herself in a completely foreign culture is to enter the competition floor.

Destiny's Flower is like a mix between The Selection and Star Wars to me. I loved both of the two plots in this book. Lynn is such a feisty and intelligent woman (she's a doc, remember?) and I loved reading from her point of view. Linda Harley has such wonderful pacing, and she shows the reader her world slowly, but steadily as Lynn herself is learning about the culture as well. Seemingly medieval, Saldiora is actually highly evolved and technological--all hidden behind a facade of courts, kings, and ladies. Lynn is so adaptable in this book, and it was interesting to see her handle completely odd situations. As a beauty, she can only do ridiculous things like wearing white dresses and observing an hour of silence each day at dusk to contemplate her current life. She feels like an oncoming whirlwind about to blow throughout the Saldiora scene, and I can feel her growing importance in what is coming in the next books.

Enemies in disguise to Lynn are the Juntus, a corrupted family seeking power and wealth, and of course, the throne. Knowing that Lynn has a secret heritage firmly attached to Saldiora before even she does, Brigieta von Juntu is deployed by her family to "take care of Lynn" and kick her out of the competition. I hated Brigieta and her family in an indescribable way, and while I was reading all I wanted to do was punt each and every one of them a few times on the head. Despite my hatred, I had to pity Brigieta a little though, because she never understood what true familial love is.

Kyle con Talion. Yum. At first, I did not like this boy at all. He kidnapped Lynn, dumped on her that basically the life she knew was over, and said "oh by the way, I'm supposed to protect you in this competition." But he and Lynn were undeniably attracted to each other more and more as they spent time together. He is such a sweet and protective character, and an all around good guy. This is causing awkward situations with the competition though, since Lynn is supposed to be pining for the King. I can't wait to see more development in their relationship in books to come as well.

This book is full of action and suspense! The character development is great as well, and the narrator really shows that you can just be yourself no matter where or what situation you are in. Not many people have heard about this yet, but I think it is absolutely wonderful. I definitely recommend this to all Sci-Fi and Fantasy lovers! You will be seeing odd things in this book like horses talking...but that just makes it all the better ;). Ever since I finished this, I've been scrounging for more info on Book 2, but unfortunately I have dug up nothing so far. I can't wait for the next installment, despite not knowing when it will be out. Can't wait!
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