The Dark Unwinding Tour - A Guest Post by Sharon Cameron

Welcome to day 3 of The Dark Unwinding blog tour!  I'm so glad to take part in this tour, for The Dark Unwinding is a wonderful book and Sharon Cameron is such a gracious author.  She has been great to work with, as evidenced by her guest post today.  When asked to write about her favorite real-life mystery, she really came through with an enlightening post that speaks to the heart of The Dark Unwinding.  I hope you all have as much fun reading it as I did!

Burning Curiosity

by Sharon Cameron

I adore hidden things and the unknown. Hence my younger self’s obsession with Nancy Drew and my older self’s fascination with just about anything shrouded by time. The past conceals so much that is still true, and yet we don’t know what that truth is. The curiosity burns! Tollund Man (see image here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/ tolland-man.html) is 2,000 year old body that is slightly gross but super fascinating, and the wondering about who he was and why he died will probably kill me someday. I have the same unfortunate problem with a missing chest of Jacobite gold and the inhabitants of Roanoke.

But a mystery perhaps less epic, and yet just as curiosity burning to me, was: what was up with the Fifth Duke of Portland? The Duke inherited an ancient house and vast lands in Nottinghamshire in the mid-1800s, and not only did he employ a small town’s worth of men, keeping them at work with extravagant building projects, but he had a railway in his basement, for the purpose of delivering roast chickens, day or night, and he communicated with servants only by letterbox. He had walls built around his bed, and a special carriage made so that no one could see when he was in it (taking the precaution to often run the carriage back and forth when he wasn’t in it, so no one could be sure). All the rooms in his sprawling mansion were painted pink, and he had miles of underground, gaslit tunnels dug, so he walk the grounds of his estate alone and unseen.

My first reaction? Well, that’s a little crazy! But then I thought about how time can hide the truth. The man was definitely squandering his fortune, but is there a better use for money than to provide twenty years of employment to hundreds families that might have otherwise died in a workhouse? And how often does anyone just up and tell a Duke that he isn’t behaving normally? And what is normal, anyway? What if he wasn’t crazy, but just shy, or disfigured, or suffering from an anxiety disorder? The curiosity burns!

So instead of letting my curiosity possibly kill me this time, I allowed the idea of the Duke’s bizarre estate and to become the inspiration for Stranwyne Keep in The Dark Unwinding, creating a child-like inventor as its reclusive owner. In my story, Uncle Tulman uses grandiose building projects as a way to express himself. The tunnels, pink walls, ritualistic habits, and machines of clockwork are his means of control, a method of understanding a world that is utterly confusing to him. Maybe the Fifth Duke of Portland, in his own way, was doing much the same.

About the Author

Photo by Rusty Russel (2011)

Sharon Cameron was awarded the 2009 Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for her debut novel, The Dark Unwinding. When not writing Sharon can be found thumbing dusty tomes, shooting her longbow, or indulging in her lifelong search for secret passages.

Find Sharon on:

Her website:  sharoncameronbooks.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharon-Cameron/218828031528005

Twitter: @CameronSharonE

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11733187-the-dark-unwinding

About the Book

The Dark Unwinding begins when seventeen year old Katharine Tulman is sent to her uncle’s remote and bizarre estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, she finds a child-like, genius inventor with his own set of rules, employing a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London. Katharine is torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving her uncle’s peculiar world that she has come to care for deeply, a choice made even more complicated by a gray-eyed apprentice, and the strange visions and nightmares that have her secretly fearing for her own sanity.


Check Out the Tour!

August 26 Hannah @ The Book Vortex 

Guest Post- Introduction 

August 27 Marielle @ Book Thoughts by Marielle 

Interview with Sharon 

August 28 Marla @ Starting the Next Chapter 

Guest Post: Favorite Real Life Mystery 

August 29 Amy @ Denim Jacket Librarian 

List: 10 Pieces of Advice 

August 30 Lauren @ The Housework Can Wait 

Interview with Sharon 

August 31 Tirzah @ The Compulsive Reader 

Character Interview: Mary 

September 1: RELEASE DAY! 

September 2 Alli @ Magnet 4 Books’ Reviews 

Guest Post 

September 3 Emily @ The Ninja Librarian 

Interview with Sharon 

September 4 Christina @ A Reader of Fictions 

Character Interview: TBA 

September 5 Jessica @ Wastepaper Prose 

Guest Post 

September 6 Sara @ Through the Looking Glass 

Interview with Sharon 

September 7 Katie @ Katie’s Book Blog 

Character Interview: Lane 

September 8 Jessica K @ The Cozy Reader 

Guest Post: A Discussion on the Novel’s Setting 

September 9 Linda @ Mission to Read 

Interview with Sharon

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TN Author Event Alert! - Sharon Cameron

What are you doing on Monday evening?  If you're near the Nashville area, how about a launch party?  The official launch for Sharon Cameron's The Dark Unwinding will take place tomorrow, Monday, August 27th, from 6:30 PM to 8 PM at Parnassus Books.  Come on out to meet Sharon and snag an early copy of The Dark Unwinding!  Nashville author events are a blast, so make sure you're there!

Who: Sharon Cameron

What: The Dark Unwinding Launch Party

When: August 27, 2012 from 6:30-8 PM

Where: Parnassus Books

3900 Hillsboro Pike

Nashville, TN

Why: Because this book is awesome!

Authors Are Rockstars Tour - Julie Kagawa

I'm late, I'm late, to a very important date!  After 3 days of a malfunctioning internet signal, I am here to tell you all about why Julie Kagawa is a rockstar.  Last year right after I started this blog, I began trying different YA books after a long absence.  I was looking for something different that would kick-start my imagination and keep me well entertained.  One of the very first books I tried was The Iron King and, needless to say, I was a goner.  I finished the first book late at night and immediately went right out to buy the next 2.  The Iron Fey had stolen me away (I promise, I'll refrain from spouting some W.B. Yeats right now a la "The Stolen Child") and there was no turning back.  I had the pleasure of meeting Julie last August at the Ash2Nash author tour, where I was tracked down in the store after tweeting that I had spotted her.  That was such an unforgettable moment, and having the chance to hear about the writing of the series in the author's words was great.  I also found that we have a few things in common, which is an awesome thing to discover about a favored author.  She continues to be amongst my top 5 favorite YA authors and shares a spot at the top of the list.

As a part of today's festivities, the awesomely funny Meghan, Ash, Puck, and Grimalkin dropped by to talk about why Julie is a rockstar, what she has them up to these days, and more.  I hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as I did conducting it!

Marla: Hey, guys, gal, and cat. Welcome to Starting the Next Chapter! It's great having you here.

First off, as you already know, this is the Authors Are Rockstars Tour, so tell me, what makes Julie a rockstar in your eyes?

Meghan: Well, I know that she loves her fans and she loves what she does; that's kind of rockstar-ish, right?

Ash: I'm afraid I don't know enough about rockstars to properly answer this question.

Puck: She has freaky hair.

Grimalkin: *Yawn*

Marla: Meghan, how is life in the Iron realm treating you these days? What's it like being queen?

Meghan: Busy. Lots of responsibilities, being the Iron Queen, especially when dealing with the other courts. But, I love it. I finally feel this is where I'm supposed to be, what I'm meant to be doing. And, of course, Ash is with me, too. That's the best part.

Marla: Ash, how are you finding the Iron realm? What have you been up to?

Ash: I'm rather enjoying it, actually. It's a lot different than Tir Na Nog, and its queen is much easier to get along with. Usually. *Dodges wad of paper hurled by Meghan* As for what I've been doing, I usually work with Glitch in training the guards, keep up with the castle's security defenses, and serve as a personal bodyguard to The Iron Queen.

Puck: Yeah, I bet you guard that body well, ice-boy.  

Ash: Shut up, Puck.

Marla: So, Puck. Have you been on any good capers lately? Have you been behaving yourself? (I know, I know, we probably ALL know the answer to that already. *wink* )

Puck: What? Moi? Capers? Look at this face, how could you suggest such a thing? I am the picture of innocence and childlike virtue.

Ash: Right. And Titania's bedchamber erupted with frogs by itself.

Meghan: And the Summerpods crawled into the wine at last Elysium on their own.

Ash: And Ororobos the dragon went on a rampage through the wyldwood because he misplaced his entire hoard himself.

Puck: What can I say? Life is strange sometimes.

Marla: Grimalkin, my next question is for you. Be honest: do you miss going on adventures with these three? I'll bet life is pretty quiet now.

Grim: Hummmm, what was that, human? I was taking a nap. Miss these three? Miss the chaos, the noise, the constant bailing them out of trouble? What do you think? *Goes back to sleep*

Marla: Meghan, what do you think of your little brother being featured in his own series?

Meghan: I don't know if I like it, honestly. I know how dangerous this world is, and all I wanted for Ethan was to have his own life, away from all the craziness. But, if Faery comes for him, at least I'll be there to help him through it.

Marla: I know all of you must be busy, so I have one last question for all of you.
If you were to write a book, what would it be called and what would it be
about?

Meghan: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Nevernever." Self-
explanatory. Wished I had something like that when I first came here.

Ash: I don't do a lot of writing, but if I had to, I'd compose some sort
of hunting journal for all the creatures in the wyldwood; strengths,
weaknesses, how to kill them, something like that.

Puck: I'd write a story about four humans who get lost in the forest, a
jealous faery king, a love potion, a queen who falls in love with a donkey,
and a brilliant but charming prankster who gets caught up in all of it. And
I'd call it..."Robin Goodfellow's Day Out." Catchy, eh?

Thank you all so much for stopping by today. Safe travels to you on your way back to the Nevernever!

If you want to check out the other blogs and authors on the tour, you can find the entire list HERE.  Thank you so much for stopping by, and feel free to leave your own thoughts on why Julie Kagawa is a rockstar.  It will get you an entry to win one of her books (sorry, US & Canada only per the publisher's request)!

The Giveaway

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Cover Reveal - Wings of Tavea

Having recently finished Wings of Arian, I was looking forward to finding out about the next book.  That time has come.  The cover for the second installment, Wings of Tavea, has been released just today!  Check it out below...

coming November 2012

Kiora is rapidly learning that evil and lies come in shades of black and white and swirling greys, but nothing could have prepared her for the shock of leaving Meros. Kiora and her protector Emane step through the pass into a world they never knew existed but were always meant to save, only to find it far worse than they could have ever imagined. Good has been forced into hiding for its own survival, while the rest of the land bows to the Shadow, a force that pushes any remaining thoughts of Dralazar from Kiora’s mind. This land is full of new creatures, each more dangerous than the last. Her visions have taken on a deadly twist, and magic, or what comes of it, was never so real. And then there is Alcander: a Tavean, their guide, and an entirely different kind of trouble.

About the Author

Devri Walls lives in Kuna Idaho with her husband and two kids. She has worked as a music teacher and currently, a preschool teacher. She majored in theater and her love of a story still drives her today. Thankfully, she has finally found an outlet for all the voices in her head. Her first novel, Wings of Arian, is available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and Apple. The second book in the Solus trilogy, Wings of Tavea is scheduled for release Nov 2012. Find her on Twitter, Facebook, her blog; www.writingmyfuture.com and Goodreads.

Where I've Been & What's Going On

So, you may or may not have noticed that my presence around here hasn't been as frequent as usual.  Life has been a little more difficult as of late, so I have had to let some things slide for a little while.  Unfortunately, those things were blogging and marathon reading sessions.  If you are wondering what is going on, I'll sum it up:

• School - I had 2 exams within 7 days that required studying, studying, and MORE studying.  It was worth it, though.  I pass with an A+.
• Health - I have a couple of recurring health issues that like to rear their ugly heads just to make my life difficult.  It certainly hasn't made school any easier and is what I have to thank for the drop-off in blogging.
• Overall Exhaustion - Between keeping up with classes and a 3 year old, I'm bushed!  I've spent the past week taking lots of naps just because I can.
• A Death in the Family - This is the most recent event that left me absolutely reeling.  My uncle, who played a huge role in my early childhood, lost his fight with cancer on Tuesday.  He was a sweet man and had a quirky sense of humor.  He and my aunt babysat me while my parents were at work, so I can't remember a time that they weren't around.  The diagnosis was very recent, so I wasn't expecting that we would lose him a month afterward.  Tomorrow, I will be back in my hometown to go to his funeral. 

Needless to say, I will be absent for a little while longer.  I'm not going to be closing the blog or anything like that.  Just consider this a mini hiatus while I attend to important life matters.  I'm looking forward to returning to my usual routine.  I hope you all will still be here to read and comment.

Review - Glitch

by Heather Anastasiu
publisher: St. Martin's Press
date of publication: August 7, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 371
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads:

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

I'm not even sure where to start with this review.  Glitch left me a confused, frustrated mess as I did my best to finish the entire book.  I did so, but upon finishing I realized that very few things struck me as enjoyable.  Some of the quirks and occurrences gave me much pause and I debated whether or not I wanted to continue.  So much was uncomfortable to read and I couldn't help but wonder why such a thing would be included, especially since the main character never really realized the severity of the situation.  She didn't seem to learn from it, so why?  I still don't know the answer to that question, but perhaps someone with different insight than me can share their opinion with me.

I was not at all impressed with the main character, Zoe.  She just rubbed me the wrong way from the beginning.  If she's not freaking out about the spores found above ground, she's allowing herself to be treated like a possession by her wannabe boyfriend, Max.  He practically marked his "territory" and acted like a huge horse's behind.  I know Zoe is inexperienced in real human emotion, but you would think such behavior would frighten even the most naive girl.  As if that wasn't enough, she didn't seem to take anything away from the experience.  What was the point of including a verbally abusive, possessive ahole if she isn't going to realize the situation and impart a warning.  She just goes along with Max's constant bursts of anger.  It all left me with a sour taste in my mouth.  Adrien was the only character with even a shred of common sense, but one character just isn't enough to carry the whole plot, especially when that character is a supporting one.

I had several more questions in regard to the logistics of the plot.  For instance, the citizens of the Community are supposed to be continually wired in to an internet-like network that keeps them complacent.  This whole thing starts because Zoe is becoming more and more prone to disconnecting and acting "anomalous."  What I wonder is just how does she manage to fly under the radar when she gives herself away in many ways throughout the story?  It just didn't seem very consistent with the idea behind the plot.  The only piece that truly evoked interest in me were the powers that began to manifest when Zoe glitched more and more.  That part was actually kind of fun and lead to the one moment that I actually liked her.

Overall, I just wasn't a fan of Glitch.  It just didn't manage to suspend disbelief, which is a fatal flaw in any book.  If you don't often get hung up on small details, you may enjoy this book provided you don't mind the character's personality and behaviors.  As for myself, I wasn't very enthusiastic about it and don't yet know if I will continue with the series.  If the second book continues in the same vein as the last 2 or 3 chapters, I would consider it, but I just can't deal with a repeat experience.

Buy Glitch at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Throne of Glass

by Sarah J. Maas
publisher: Bloomsbury USA
date of publication: August 7, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 416
source: Netgalley

From Goodreads:

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 kings 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.

There are some books that just grab hold of your attention and won't let go.  There are others that rekindle diminished interest in particular subjects or genres.  There are also books that cause you to lose sleep because you just can't stop thinking about how great it was.  As I came to learn, Throne of Glass is all 3.  Every single bit of hype this book has received is very much well-earned and I am so glad to have read it, even if I did stay up all night reading and finished it within a 10 hour period (those pesky meals cut into reading time, after all).

Celaena Sardothien is one of the most amazing female characters I have had the pleasure of being introduced to.  From the very beginning, you can see that she is fierce, sarcastic, and fearless, all of which are great qualities in an assassin.  It's obvious that she has a strong will as evidenced by her strong will and resilience.  To have survived the things she has is proof positive that she is a force to be reckoned with.  The leading males in the story, Prince Dorian and Captain Westfall, each have their strengths and weaknesses that make them fascinating to learn about.  Where Dorian appears to be conceited and abrasive on the outside, inside he is a sad young man with little to no say in his future.  Captain Westfall, on the other hand, is enigmatic, churlish, and difficult to figure out.  Once you do, though, it's hard to dismiss him, which is a nice quality to see in a character.  When they take you by surprise when you least expect it, it's an awesome thing.

This story is truly an epic one.  It could last for several installments and I would be happy to read every single one.  The action and events seen within are nothing short of gripping.  The threats Celaena encounters and the way she deals with them are captivating.  I say captivating because I really was reluctant to put the book down at all due to the driving need to see what would happen next.  The settings range from horrific (the mine), to spectacular (the palace), to spooky (the passages).  They really set each scene with vivid descriptions and thorough attention to detail.  Each is explained so well that picturing each one is wonderfully easy.  This is storytelling at its best.

There are some spectacular books coming out this summer, and I can vouch that Throne of Glass is one of the best.  If you are a fan of fantasy stories and kick-ass heroines, you can't do better.  With fascinating characters, awesome backdrops, just the right amount of tension, and a fantastic plot, Throne of Glass ensures you will have a great reading experience.  Get yourself to your local bookstore quickly.  Throne of Glass is a must-read that would be well-placed at the very top of your TBR pile.

Buy Throne of Glass at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Girl of Nightmares

by Kendare Blake
publisher: Tor Teen
date of publication: August 7, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 332
source: from the publisher for review

From Goodreads:

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on. 

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live--not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

Last year, Anna Dressed in Blood completely rocked my world.  Being a huge fan of ghost stories, I was looking forward to an eerie story with lots of action.  Did it ever deliver!  As I prepared to read Girl of Nightmares, I was nervous as I always am with sequels to beloved books.  Would it have the same level of spookiness, the same punch as Anna Dressed in Blood?  There was really only one way to find out, so I immersed myself into the world of Thunder Bay once more.  What I found was nothing short of amazing.  Girl of Nightmares delivered in every way and was a fantastic follow-up for Anna Dressed in Blood.  It is now left up to me to write a review free of spoilers and excessive gushing.  I'll do my best, though, because every single one of you seriously need to read this series!

We find Cas with much the same personality but a lot more forlorn.  He is visited nightly by visions of Anna undergoing horrible tortures due to his inability to determine whether or not he is losing his mind in addition to his inability to do anything to help.  As he determinedly searches for a way to pull Anna out of Hell, he shows the true extent of his resolve.  He's all the better for it as it adds even more to his character and gives him further depth.  Anna is truly heart-breaking this time around.  She is trapped in a bleak and brutal place without any hope of escaping the torment she is going through.  She cemented my opinion of her and she continues to be my favorite ghostly character ever.  She is so unique in that one moment she can bring you to tears and the next she can scare you as well as any movie monster can.  You've got to give her credit where credit is due.

I thought the premise for Anna Dressed in Blood was compelling, frightening, and thrilling.  Little did I know that Girl of Nightmares was about to turn up the level on all of the above, and then some.  From start to finish I was sucked in and did not want to put it down.  This story line is tear-jerking, spine-tingling, and breath-taking.  The settings are nothing short of spooky and provide the perfect backdrop for the events that take place.  I dare you to read the factory scene and tell me you weren't even a little freaked out.  Once again, Ms. Blake's writing wins the day with great characters, eerie settings, and a gripping plot.

To say that I loved Girl of Nightmares would be a vast understatement.  This has become one of my top 5 favorite series and I very much doubt that any other ghost series can ever top it for me.  If you haven't read either book, take my advice and do so.  If you've read Anna already, go get Girl of Nightmares now!  These books should be read frequently and are perfect for a chilly fall evening read.

Buy Girl of Nightmares at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Owl's Eye View #4 - Meet Kendare Blake!

It's that time again!  Today is the first Monday in August, so it's time to learn more about another awesome author.  This month Kendare Blake was gracious enough to accept the role of featured author.  Just in case you aren't familiar, she is the author of 2011's Anna Dressed in Blood (an amazing book that I adore) and Girl of Nightmares, the second book in the series which comes out TOMORROW!  Stand by later today for my review of Girl of Nightmares.  It's another fabulous book that shouldn't be missed.  Please welcome...

Kendare Blake

Marla: Hi, Kendare! Welcome to Owl's Eye View. Thank you so much for being here today.  Firsst question: How would you describe yourself in 3 words? 

Kendare: Hm. Thoughtful. Not like in, considerate (though I try to be) but like, I have a lot of thoughts. Animal-loving. It's a word, right? And...Hungry.

Marla: What inspired you to write and how long have you been writing? 

Kendare: I'm inspired to write by the things I read. The things I read now, and those I read as a kid, growing up. I've been writing since about the seventh grade. First novel, about a boy and his horse. I think I've gotten a little better at it now.

Marla: How would you describe Girl of Nightmares to someone via a tweet? 

Kendare: Cas Lowood has to find out what happened to Anna Korlov. Getting the answers might kill him.

Marla: I'm always interested in the stories behind characters. Where did Anna come from inspiration-wise? 

Kendare: Anna came from her name. Anna Dressed in Blood. I knew the ghost before I knew the girl. The girl I found in Thunder Bay, in a small, Finnish cemetery. Well, that's when I really started to learn who she was.

Marla: What book have you most recently read and loved? 

Kendare: We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson. I don't know how I went so long without reading it.

Marla: Do you have a favorite character to write about? 

Kendare: Yes. Right now it's Athena, from the ANTIGODDESS series (out next summer!). But in the Anna universe, I think I enjoyed the salty characters best. Morfran, and Thomas. 

Marla: One more question, just for fun: You find yourself in a spooky house that you're pretty sure is haunted.  What do you do?

Kendare: Run like the damned blazes. Or, I guess it depends on the ghost. Can it actually hurt me? Because if not, then....parcheesi. 

This or That!

Coffee or Tea? Tea. Truly. English Breakfast Tea with milk is incredible stuff.

Spring or Fall? Fall. That sensation of things ending always makes me want to take a road trip or run away or something.

Snow or Rain? Rain. but I have to say that, living near Seattle.

Day or Night? Hm. Used to be night. But now it's day. I like the outdoor activities.

Vanilla or Chocolate? Chocolate. What a silly question :)

Dog or Cat? Cats and dogs, living together, mass hysteria! (Thanks, Peter Venkman.)

Go to the movies or Watch the DVD? Depends on the movie. Big blockbuster like The Avengers? Theater. Small indie like Melancholia? Home with DVD and bottle of wine.

Thank you for having me by Starting the Next Chapter! So cool to be the featured author for August. I hope you like Girl of Nightmares :)

About Kendare

Kendare Blake is an import from South Korea who was raised in the United States by caucasian parents. You know, that old chestnut. She received a Bachelor's degree in Business from Ithaca College and a Master's degree in Writing from Middlesex University in London. She brakes for animals, the largest of which was a deer, which sadly didn't make it, and the smallest of which was a mouse, which did, but it took forever. Amongst her likes are Greek Mythology, rare red meat and veganism. She also enjoys girls who can think with the boys like Ayn Rand, and boys who scare the morality into people, like Bret Easton Ellis.

Visit the author's site: Kendare Blake
Add Kendare on Facebook
Follow Kendare on Twitter
Become a fan on Goodreads

About Girl of Nightmares

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on.
His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live--not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.
Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.
Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

Add Girl of Nightmares on

Review - Revived

by Cat Patrick
publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
format: hardcover
pages: 336
source: from the publisher for review
score: 3.5 out of 5

From Goodreads:

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency's true goals, she realizes she's at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

Right away you know that Revived is going to be quite interesting.  The first chapter opens with Daisy in the midst of dying.  This isn't the end of Daisy, however.  We soon find out that Daisy is different than the majority of kids: she can be brought back from the dead and be a living, breathing girl all over again.  Since she can't exactly show back up around town when so many saw her die, she and her guardians make another move that will wind up changing Daisy's life in many ways.  What ensues is a story full of mystery, intrigue, espionage, love, and heartbreak.  

Daisy has been on the move for so long that she has become a bit of a loner.  I felt for her as it struck me as a lonely existence.  In spite of this, however, she seems amazingly well-adjusted and has a great voice as a character.  Her dialog is so engaging that the pages fly by quite easily.  Her burgeoning friendship with vivacious Audrey and her budding romance with Audrey's brother, Matt, round out the most frequently seen characters.  I enjoyed all 3 of them, though I felt that Daisy shared her secrets with Matt too soon, making her perhaps a bit too naive.  Over all, though, it's a nice cast of characters that make for a smooth read.

The aspect of the book that I was the least sold on was the background.  It is lacking in further information on the who, how, what, and why involved in the making of Revive.  While you're reading it doesn't register so much, but once you put the book down there are so many questions left without answers.  Also, the threat didn't really strike me as especially urgent.  I think it's partly due to the delivery and partly the lack of information on the culprit once they are apprehended.  Knowing a motive would have been great, too.  

In spite of its flaws, Revived proved to be a fun read for a rainy Saturday afternoon.  With great character interactions and its premise, Revived is worth checking out.  I'm glad that I finally had the time to read it.  I will warn you, however, that if you are prone to becoming very emotional you will need tissues on hand.  A particular part of the book hit me pretty hard due to a past event in my life, so it's something to keep in mind.  If you're looking for a book that's a little bit sci-fi, a little bit romance, you may want to give Revived a chance.

  

Buy Revived at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This finished copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher.  No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review: Alice in Zombieland

by Gena Showalter
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: September 25, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 404
source: Around the World ARC Tours
score: 4 out of 5

From Goodreads:

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….


I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

When I first heard about Alice in Zombieland, I was expecting a tale mixing the peculiarities of Alice in Wonderland with the dessicated or oozing horror that is the usual zombie.  What I found, however, was something a bit different.  Rather than the usual flesh-eating zombies, Gena Showalter has created an unseen world in which zombies take on a different form and role.  The result is a story filled with danger, tragedy, friendship, and romance.  The trip from start to finish is a wild one, so get ready for some action.

I am a bit conflicted about the characters found in Alice in Zombieland.  Alice, for example, has survived a horrible tragedy and sets out to make a difference so that it doesn't happen again.  However, her tendency to moon after Cole was a little too much for me at times, and his frequent attempts to push her away by being a grade A jerk got old really fast.  I really was not impressed with that aspect.  When she gets down to the business of zombie slaying, however, she begins to shine.  That and her interactions with her best friend, Kat, were my favorite aspects about her.  Cole, on the other hand, is your typical bad boy with a more intimidating effect upon the high school's students.  I wasn't entirely sold on him until he started to become a little bit less of a hard ass.  Even now, I'm feeling lukewarm about his character.  I do have to admit, though, that Alice and Cole have some interesting chemistry.  I'll just say that you can expect some steamy kissing scenes and leave it at that.

Some of the sites featured throughout the story have a definite feeling of foreboding.  They made for excellent backdrops for zombie attacks and creepy nocturnal jaunts.  The battles are fierce and the casualties gruesome.  That coupled with the warrior-like group dedicated to eradicating the zombies make for some really action-packed sequences that kept me riveted.  The writing was easy to keep up with, although I will say that the ARC had a slight issue with continuity.  To say exactly what might be a bit of a spoiler, but it was noticeable.  I don't know if it will remain in the finished copy or not, but it is something of note.  Otherwise, the pace of the story was great and it made for a pretty quick read.

Overall, I enjoyed Alice in Zombieland and would definitely like to keep up with the series.  Even though the zombies weren't what I expected, the novelty was enough to keep me interested.  It is my hope that a bit more about their origins and the founding of the slayers will be revealed as the series continues.  I would love to know more about the world Gena Showalter has created.  If you enjoy a little steam with your romance and zombie invasions, you should check out Alice in Zombieland.

Buy Alice in Zombieland at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge via Around the World ARC Tours. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.