Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted on Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

So my Pick this week is;

BINDING THE SHADOWS (Arcadia Bell #3) by Jenn Bennett

Renegade mage and bartender Arcadia Bell has had a rough year, but now the door to her already unstable world is unhinging. When a citywide crime wave erupts, Cady's demon-friendly tiki bar is robbed by Earthbounds wielding surreal demonic abilities that just flat-out shouldn't exist. With the help of her devilishly delicious boyfriend, Lon Butler, Cady sets out to find the people who wronged her—but her targets aren't the only ones experiencing unnatural metamorphoses. Can Cady track down the monsters responsible before the monster inside her destroys everything—and everyone—she loves? If she survives this adventure, one thing is certain: it's last call for life as she knows it.



Releases on the 28 May, 2013 by Pocket.

I loved the first two books, Kindling the Moon and Summoning the Night (read my review here) and cannot wait for this one.

What books are you impatiently eagerly waiting for?

River Road - Virtual Book Tour

Hello Escapists!

I have been lucky enough to be part of the book tour of Suzanna Johnson'snew book River Road, the second book in the Sentinels of New Orleans. Hmmm lets start you off with the cover and the book blurb to remind us all what it is about.

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

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

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



Excited yet? I know I am. I had a chance to interview Drusilla for this blog tour and here's how it went.

Drusilla Jaco, the wizard heroine from the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series, took a break from chasing down pretes (preternaturals) who’ve crossed the borders from the Beyond into modern New Orleans to chat about life and love as a wizard, and what it’s like to be one of the very few female wizards to hold the job of sentinel.

What’s the hardest part of your job as sentinel?

Well, since Hurricane Katrina tore down the borders between New Orleans and the Beyond, all the rules have changed. Before, if a prete like a vampire or a member of the historical undead came across into the city, I could just pack their happy asses back to the Beyond. Now, they’re negotiating treaties with the wizards and as long as they can mainstream with humans and don’t kill anybody, I have to do things like compromise and negotiate. (Sighs.) I hate that.

Do you feel like a trail-blazer? You’re one of only a very few female wizards to ever hold the job of sentinel.

Not really. I mean, most days I’m just trying to stay alive—or out of the wizards’ Elders’ doghouse. They seem to feel I’m a little, shall we say, entrepreneurial in my methods. Which is patently ridiculous, of course.

What are you most afraid of?

Losing someone else that I care about. The years since Katrina have been rough, and it has been hard for me to trust anyone and learn to care about someone again. Oh, and elves. I’m afraid of elves. And zombies.

Have you ever met an elf or a zombie?

I met an elf recently and he scared the crap out of me. One minute he’s this nice, middle-aged, suburban-looking dude, and the next his mind is burrowing into mine like a ground squirrel hiding an acorn. I haven’t met a zombie. I don’t want to. Although my partner Alex gave me a grenade just in case one shows up at my house. He swears grenades are the best things to use against zombies. I bet an elf wouldn’t fare well with a grenade either.

You know that the elven staff you found after the hurricane, the one you call Charlie, is attracting the elves’ attention, don’t you?
Uh, you think? I know I should quit using Charlie but that staff gives my physical magic a big boost—it’s like being a nerdy ritual-magic wizard and a kickass physical-magic wizard at the same time. The best of both worlds. As long as the elves don’t bother me, I won’t bother them.

How kickass can you be if you can’t aim the staff? I mean, so far you’ve burned part of your coffee table, zapped your ceiling fan into oblivion, and…let’s see…oh yeah, you set fire to the Louisiana wetlands. You shoot like a girl.

I could try it on you. Bet I wouldn’t miss.

Okay, changing the subject. Jean Lafitte.

Is that a question?

What’s between you and the undead French pirate?

We’re friends. Well, not exactly….We’re colleagues in…well, no. I have no idea what we are.

You went on a dinner date with him.

Yes, and it turned out so well. (Rolls eyes.)

Will there be more dates?

(Sighs.) I’d like to say no, but somehow my common sense seems to fly out the window when the pirate walks in the door. I mean, you’ve seen the pirate, right? And heard that sexy accent?

Who’s your least favorite person?

I like everyone. Hey—what’s that look for? Oh, okay. I’m currently very unhappy with Adrian Hoffman, the speaker of the Elders. He’s an insufferable jerk and… don’t get me started. I’m also keeping an eye on my new neighbor Quince Randolph. He’s dating my best friend Eugenie, but there’s something totally off about that guy and I can’t figure it out.

Is he human?

Let’s just say he bears watching.

Watching him won’t be too unpleasant—he’s hot, isn’t he? Tall, blond, built like a swimmer?

He can be hot and still be a jerk who’s up to something.

A quick word-association game before we go. I’ll say a word and you say the first thing that comes to mind:

Alex: Chocolate

Jake: Honey

Jean: Cobalt

You realize you’re describing their eye color, right?

And?

Fine. New Orleans: Home

Jazz: Louis Armstrong. I talked to the undead Louis last week.

Elves: Sneaky bastards

Loup-Garou: (long pause) Guilt.

Love: (longer pause) Gotta go. There’s a goblin wandering the Quarter and those guys just can’t mainstream. Later, gator!

Okay, that was fun. I love doing interviews and this interview was ...interesting. Let's keep it at that. 

I hope had as much fun as I had doing it.

River Road released on 22nd of November, 2012.

Rachel Caine in the UK

It's good news for fans of Rachel Caine. As part of promoting the new Morganville book, Fall of Night, Rachel is coming to the UK is is visiting a host of cities. Below is the dates she is visiting these cities.

FRIDAY 10 MAY                                          

CARDIFF

BRISTOL - Waterstones

SATURDAY 11 MAY

SOUTHAMPTON - Waterstones.

BOURNEMOUTH - Waterstones

SUNDAY 12 MAY

EXETER -WH Smith

MONDAY 13 MAY

LIVERPOOL - Waterstones

TUESDAY 14 MAY

LONDON - Foyles

WEDNESDAY 15 MAY

LEEDS - Waterstones

THURSDAY 16 MAY

BROMLEY - Waterstones

FRIDAY 17 MAY

MARKET HARBOROUGH

LEICESTER - Waterstones

NOTTINGHAM - Waterstones

SATURDAY 18 MAY

DARLINGTON - WH Smith

TEESIDE - WH Smith

SUNDAY 19 MAY

LONDON - Waterstones

MONDAY 20 MAY

HULL - Waterstones

YORK - Waterstones

 This only a rough schedule but you can find out more by clicking on the link here.


Fall of Night released on the 2nd of May by Allison and Busby. Grab your copy now.

ARC Review: The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa

The struggle to remain human or turn into a Monster to survive goes on.

Title: The Eternity Cure
 Series : Blood of Eden
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Mira INK, 
UK Releases: 3rd May 2013 
My ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Allison Sekemoto is back. After the non stop action in The Immortal Rules , and the thrilling way it ended we are again pushed into the weird exciting world of Allie and New Covington. Allison is looking for Kanin, her vampire sire, who has been kidnapped by the psycho vamp. She can't help the urge to help her master so she goes on the hunt looking to save him.

 That's pretty much the girt of it. I don't want to give too much away, or it may spoil the book for you. The Eternity Cure had Kagawa's signature style of excellent world building which is all consuming to say the least. I loved the Fae world she had created in The Iron Fey series and Kagawa does it again by creating the desolate and hopeless world of Allie. While I'm reading, I can clearly imagine New Covington and the other cities falling and crumbling to pieces with the vampire lording over the humans. This was why partly I was riveted to the book as I could smell the stank air and feel eyes watching you as you follow Allie on her quest.

“Only death will take me away from you, vampire girl," he whispered. "And even then, I'll watch over you from wherever I end up.”

 As mentioned before, old characters make appearances and yes ladies, Zeke is there too. Ahhh...you can stop holding your breath now. In fact, Jackal makes an appearance as well. I was well pleased as to how Kagawa managed to make him likeable. I am just saying. I know he came across as a douche bag last time and , yes he is still one but his character has been given dimensions which, I'm sorry to say, Zeke lacks. I liked him more is The Immortal Rules as we were just getting to know him but I wish there was something bad about it. Yup, I love me some bad boy. Ahem *clears throat*. We see some progress between Kanin and Allie and the father-daughter relationship moves forward too.

“There are no good choices, Allison," Kanin offered in a quiet voice. "There are only those you can live with, and those you can work to change.”

 Did I say I love Allie? I think she is the right balance of teenage hormones and raging monster tendencies. I like how she is never easy on herself and has never forgotten how she was a street rat. She may not be one but love her struggle to try and preserve some of her humanity as she keeps losing more and more of herself.

“You will always be a monster - there is no turning back from it. But what kind of monster you become is entirely up to you.”

After pondering for I while, I came to realise that the rumours I had heard had some truth about it that, The Blood of Eden had some similarities to The Vampire Knight. For those who don't know, it's a manga(comic book in Japan) which has been very popular amongst teens. I have read a few chapters until I lost the story. So yes, we have some similarities to Zeke and Zero and the name Kanin also comes from the manga but I have to say the story seems a fry cry from the girly manga.

 The Eternity Cure was hard core, dystopian world which was ruthless and cruel. The Eternity Cure ticked all the boxes and Kagawa had got herself a hit series again. There was action, the mystery was there and of course the sense of adventures was there too. Of course it ends with a bit of a cliff hanger but I would like it to cal the premise to the beginning of the next book. If you love dystopian but can't seem to get enough vampires The Eternity Cure is for you. No sparkly vampires, The Eternity Cure boost of angry, blood sucking, dangerous, neck ripping vampires. My kinda book.

“I don't believe in fate," he said carefully, "but... I do believe everything happens for a reason. That there is some plan, some meaning to this darkness we live in.”

 ARC copy provided by MIira INK, UK

  Releases on 3rd May, 2013

Zenn Blog-a-palooza Tour and Giveaway (INT)

Hello my fellow escapists,

Today, on the blog we have the wonderful Christian Schoon dropping by and talking about his exciting new book, Zenn Scarlett. I’m sure you have heard about it if you have not (which I find hard to believe) then keep reading.

Firstly, feast your eyes on the lush cover and read the blurb below.

Zenn Scarlett is a bright, determined, occasionally a-little-too-smart-for-her-own-good 17-year-old girl training hard to become an exoveterinarian. That means she’s specializing in the treatment of exotic alien life forms, mostly large and generally dangerous. Her novice year of training at the Ciscan Cloister Exovet Clinic on Mars will find her working with alien patients from whalehounds the size of a hay barn to a baby Kiran Sunkiller, a colossal floating creature that will grow up to carry a whole sky-city on its back. But after a series of inexplicable animal escapes from the school and other near-disasters, the Cloister is in real danger of being shut down by a group of alien-hating officials. If that happens, Zenn knows only too well the grim fate awaiting the creatures she loves. Now, she must unravel the baffling events plaguing her school, before someone is hurt or killed, before everything she cares about is ripped away from her and her family forever. To solve this mystery – and live to tell about it – Zenn will have to put her new exovet skills to work in ways she never imagined, and in the process learn just how powerful compassion and empathy can be.

I was sold when I laid my eyes on this beauty.

Read on to know what Christian has to say about Zenn.

THE UNEXPLORED TERRITORY

The heroine of my book is a bit of an outsider. Let me rephrase: Zenn Scarlett grew up as the only kid in a science-based cloister that provides medical treatment for huge, often potentially deadly alien animals. Oh, and the kids she might otherwise have associated with? The ones in the nearby town? They all think she’s totally weird because she hangs around these alien life forms, which they refer to as “monsters.” So, outsider is putting it mildly. 

Also not exactly helpful in the social contact department: the Ciscan Cloister Exovet Clinic and training school is housed in a sprawling compound surrounded by a thick, high mud-brick wall. Did I mention we’re on Mars here? Yes. The deep end of the spectacular canyon system known as the Valle Marinaris. The mud-brick wall was originally built, hundreds of years ago, to ensure that in case an animal escaped its cage or enclosure, they would still be contained within the walls. But now, as the struggling Earther colonies on Mars teeter on the verge of total collapse, the walls serve a different purpose than keeping the animals in: they keep the roving outlaw bands out. 

And all of this makes it hard for Zenn-the-outcast to understand when one towner boy, her age, kind of good-looking, kind of self-absorbed and cocky, suddenly takes in interest in her. Zenn has rules about making friends outside the cloister, though. You see, the people she’s loved most in her life have either left… or been taken from her. So, she’s a little gun-shy when it comes to any sort of emotional attachment. And, being scientifically inclined, she tells herself to always weigh the cost vs the benefit of any new relationship. But Liam Tucker, even though he’s a towner, even though towners as a group hate everything Zenn and the Ciscan Cloister stand for… Liam seems to be different. He seems willing to overlook Zenn’s outsider status, and her association with alien “monsters.” He seems genuinely interested in reaching out, finding common ground. 

For Zenn, Liam’s attentions are both confusing and distracting. But as Zenn throws herself into pursuing her dream of becoming an exovet, she also finds herself coping with a mind-boggling array of challenges and issues, personal and academic, from the slightly annoying to the totally life-threatening. And she simply cannot afford to be either confused or distracted. Of course, Zenn knew her novice year of training would be tough. She knew she had a massive amount to learn about a whole universe of astonishing life forms. But she never imagined that learning about the unexplored territory of her own heart would be toughest subject of all.

CHRISTIAN SCHOON BIO

Born in the American Midwest, Christian started his writing career in earnest as an in-house writer at the Walt Disney Company in Burbank, California. He then became a freelance writer working for various film, home video and animation studios in Los Angeles. After moving from LA to a farmstead in Iowa several years ago, he continues to freelance and also now helps re-hab wildlife and foster abused/neglected horses.  He acquired his amateur-vet knowledge, and much of his inspiration for the Zenn Scarlett series of novels, as he learned about - and received an education from - these remarkable animals.

Find Christian on Twitter and his Blog.

Are you thrumming with excitement yet?

 Do you want to lay your hands on this?

Zenn comes out on the 2nd of May, 2013 by Strange Chemistry.

 Order now on Amazon catch it on GoodReads.

Or else, you can take your chances and take part in the giveaway below to win a copy of Zenn Scarlett. The best thing of all is Strange Chemistry are kindly giveing the book away internationally. So this giveaway is International. Yippee!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Lover

UNHINGED (Splintered #2) by A.G Howard

This cover is so creepy. Might I say creepier than the first book Splintered. In fact I love it more than the first book with so many shades of blue and someone who looks like the mad hatter straight from Alice in Wonderland. Check out the blurb below.


Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole. She was crowned Queen of the Red Court and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the boy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly appealing Morpheus. Now all she has to do is graduate high school.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland – where she (partly) belongs.

Could she leave Jeb and her parents behind again, for the sake of a man she knows has manipulated her before? Will her mother and Jeb trust her to do what’s right? Readers will swoon over the satisfying return to Howard’s bold, sensual reimagining of Carroll’s classic

UP FROM THE GRAVE (Night Huntress #7) by Jeaniene Frost

The Night Huntress Series is one of my favourite UF series.The last book did slightly disappointed me me I have already put my fate into Frost and I'm sure this one would rock my world just as the first few books in this series did or well....how Bones rocked every UK reader's world in chapter 32. Need I say more?