Cover Reveal: The Marian by Taylor Hohulin

The Marian will be released on the 19th of September 2014.

Fifteen year old Ethan Denby doesn't know how he got on the Marian. He just woke up one day inside the body of its captain.

The Marian is unlike any ship Ethan has ever seen. It crawls on long, metal legs over dunes of salt in search of water, despite laws granting exclusive harvesting rights to a corrupt organization known as HydroSystems Worldwide.

HydroSystems is closing in, tensions are mounting aboard the Marian, and on top of all that, Ethan is beginning to think the dreams he's been having aren't completely harmless. If he doesn't get home soon, Ethan could die inside someone else’s body in this wasteland of a world. The only way back seems to be through a place known simply as the Cloud, but how can he convince the crew to take him there when it means confronting a dangerous cult and venturing into a place where the very fabric of reality has worn thin?

My Opinion:

I love the cover of The Marian by Taylor Hohulin! It depicts the dystopian / steampunk theme in the blurb perfectly, whilst still being simple and modern. It also doesn't give much of the story away either, as the mysterious person on the cover may or may not be the main character, Ethan.

If I saw The Marian on the shelf in my local bookstore, it would definitely catch my eye and make me want to read it!

Like the sound of The Marian? Become a fan of Taylor Hohulin on Goodreads!

Get Even by Gretchen McNeil Pre-Order Giveaway!

 

Gretchen McNeil, author of 3:59, Ten & Possess, is hosting a giveaway!

Her new book Get Even, the first book in the Don't Get Mad series, will be released on the 16th of September - followed nine months after by the second book in the Don't Get Mad series, Get Dirty, in June 2015!

For the chance to win a signed, special edition booklet of the first two chapters of Get Dirty, some Get Even bonus material and a signed Don't Get Mad bookplate, check out Gretchen McNeil's post about her giveaway, and pre-order Get Even!

Available at Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk.

Through My Letterbox! 05/08/14

Through My Letterbox is a meme that myself and my mum (from JeanzBookReadNReview) created to showcase the books that we receive and review on our sites. Our meme was inspired by In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren & Letterbox Love hosted by Narratively Speaking.

What came Through My Letterbox over the last few weeks!

 Over the last few weeks, myself and my mum received In The Age Of Love And Chocolate by Gabrielle Zevin, Eternal Dawn by Rebecca Maizel, Rain by Virginia Bergin and Killing You Softly by Lucy Carver, for review from Macmillan!

In The Age Of Love And Chocolate is the third book in the Birthright series, Eternal Dawn is the third book in the Vampire Queen series, and Killing You Softly is the second book in the St Jude's Academy series. My review of the first book in the St Jude's Academy series, Young, Gifted And Dead is here.

We also joined Read It Swap It recently, and received Prodigy by Marie Lu, Dead Romantic by C.J. Skuse, Outpost by Adam Baker, Kitty And The Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn, The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd, Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson &Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, via swaps over the past few weeks!

Myself and my mum won a Savage Drift by Emmy Laybourne, the third book in the Monument 14 series, and The Archived by Victoria Schwab in a giveaway that Natalie Cleary at Book Lover's Life was hosting!

Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins by Liz Kessler came through our letterbox, from Orion, a couple of weeks ago too! I really like the cover of Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins, it's different whilst still being relevant and eye catching. I am definitely looking forward to reading this book, as I read Liz Kessler's Emily Windsnap series and loved them!

An ARC of Angus Watson's Age Of Iron came through our letterbox a couple of days ago from Orbit! We are excited to read this book as we have heard that it is similar to Game Of Thrones, which we have been wanting to read or watch!

And finally, the latest addition to our bookshelf is Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando! Which we received for review from Hodder & Stoughton!

What books came through your letterbox this week?

Check out what we're reading and receiving on Instagram, by following us here, via #ThroughMyLetterbox & #ThroughOurLetterbox !

Promotion: The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

The Lipstick Laws
By Amy Holder

At Penford High School, Brittany Taylor is the queen bee. 

She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone’s life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her. 

For April Bowers, Brittany is the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don’t know she exists. One lunch spent at Brittany’s table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity. But Brittany’s friendship comes with a high price tag, and April decides it’s not worth the cost. 

Available at Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk.

Heir Of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

ISBN:  9781408839126
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 530

Heir Of Fire is the third book in the Throne Of Glass series.

Queen or traitor? Only she can decide.

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy. 

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

I absolutely loved reading Heir Of Fire by Sarah J. Maas, which I received for review from Bloomsbury via Netgalley! Although Heir Of Fire is written from quite a few different perspectives, it flows really well. I especially enjoyed reading the chapters from Manon Blackbeak's perspective! 
In this book, we are introduced to a lot of new, fascinating creatures, my favourites have to be the Wyverns and the faeries. Even though they were only mentioned in passing, I liked the faeries as they helped to showcase Celaena's journey and her future as well. I liked reading about the Wyverns not only because they added more depth to the witches' characters, but also because the Wyverns themselves are so different than anything I have ever read about before!
Heir Of Fire focuses more on magic, (and the lack of it in Adarlan), than the previous two books. The reader learns about magic with Celaena, as she learns to control and harness her power. I really enjoyed reading the different types of power and the ways they could each be used. My favourite had to be Celaena's. I loved how her magic reflected both her fiery personality, and her previous fighting style. 
Despite the cover of Heir Of Fire by Sarah J. Maas being inkeeping with the story within, it didn't seem to perfectly depict the main character Celaena throughout, as both Aelin and Celaena, but instead just as Celaena. Overall, I would definitely recommend reading Heir Of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. 

Available at Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk.

Stella by Helen Eve

ISBN: 9781250048172
Publisher: Macmillan
Pages: 368

Being popular is all that matters.

Seventeen year old Stella Hamilton is the star blazing at the heart of Temperley High. Leader of the maliciously exclusive elite, she is envied and lusted after in equal measure. And in the Hamilton tradition, she is in the final stage of a six year campaign to achieve her destiny: love with her equally popular male equivalent, and a triumphant election to Head Girl.

Caitlin Clarke has lived a quietly conformist life in New York City – until, with the collapse of her parents’ marriage, she’s sent across the Atlantic for a strict English boarding school education. As soon as she arrives at Temperley, she learns that the only important rules are the unwritten ones. The upper echelons of her new society are marked not by neat dresses and Kate Middleton hair, but by skinny jeans, cigarettes and scars.  It's a world of the beautiful and the dangerous, and acceptance means staying on the right side of the most beautiful and dangerous of them all.

As Caitlin’s popularity grows, she discovers that not everyone is happy under Stella’s rule – that it might finally be time for a new order among the Stars and the civilians. Fighting the system, however, means Caitlin must tread the same dark path as Stella, where absolute power and absolute destruction are only a breath away . . .

I received an ARC of Stella by Helen Eve for review from Macmillan, which I really enjoyed reading! 
Stella by Helen Eve seemed a bit similar to the films Mean Girls and Wild Child at first, but as the book progressed it began to remind me more and more of Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars. At some points Helen Eve's Stella became quite dark and odd. 
This book is told alternately from two perspectives, Stella's & Caitlin's. Stella, who the book mainly focuses on, is the "Queen Bee"at Temperley High boarding school, whilst Caitlin is the new girl. 
Stella is part of the "Stars" and her current boyfriend (and ex-boyfriend) are part of the "Stripes". The "Stars" and the "Stripes" were a play on the fact that Caitlin is from America and the American flag is sometimes referred to in terms of stars and stripes.

I didn't really have a favourite character, as all of the main characters at one point or another tended to change their minds and loyalties with the weather.
Although, I like the mass market cover of Stella and think that it represents the story within well, I still prefer my ARC cover. The ARC cover of Stella is quite simplistic but it places more emphasis on the byline, "Being popular is all that matters", which appears to be the underlying theme throughout Stella for all the main characters.
Overall, even though I enjoyed reading Stella by Helen Eve and would probably read another book by her, I wouldn't necessarily widely recommend this book. It was a bit of an acquired taste really, however I would recommend it to those who enjoyed reading books like Torn by Cat Clarke and This Is Not Forgiveness by Celia Rees.

Available at Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk.

Promotion: The Prophecy Of Arcadia by M.H. Soars

The Prophecy Of Arcadia
By M.H.Soars

Being a teenager is tough, especially when you have to pretend to be something you’re not, and you’re in love with someone you shouldn’t. 115 years ago, a small planet called Arcadia was invaded by a vicious alien race and nearly destroyed. Cut off from their resources, the Arcadians turned to Earth for help. A group of Arcadian explorers discovered a Prophecy that claimed their salvation lay in the hands of two children from Earth. To ensure their safety, the Arcadian Council sent their most gifted youngsters to Earth to act as protectors. Samantha is one of them.

To succeed in her mission she must learn to control her Arcadian powers and keep her true identity from her best friend, and the girl she swore to protect, Alexia. But Samantha will soon realize that nothing is as it seems. Someone is trying to prevent the Prophecy from taking place and the prophecy boy hasn't been found yet. There is also a new drug circulating at school that is turning students into freakishly strong menaces.

Available at Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk.