Allegiance Tournament - Why Hytanica is the Place to Be

Greetings, dear readers.  I hope you are all ready for an extra special treat today.  It is my pleasure to take part in the blog tour for Cayla Kluver's Allegiance by telling you why Hytanica trumps Cokyri and deserves your vote.  I invite you all to sit down, view the evidence put forth by myself and all of the other tour participants, and come to your own conclusions.  If you choose, you will be in the running to win the amazingly awesome grand prize at the end of the tour!

 
So, What's So Great About Hytanica?

• What a view!  Hytanica: a vibrant city surrounded by lush forests and rolling countryside.  Whether you enjoy serene walks or horseback riding, Hytanica is the place for you.  How can you deny the beauty of such a place? 
• You won't go hungry!  Why on earth would you wish to live in a desert that doesn't easily support the growth of food crops when you can live in such an idyllic setting that is able to provide ample sustenance to its citizens?   Hytanica doesn't have to raid neighboring kingdoms for resources!
• Fashionistas welcome!  Hytanica is THE place to be if you enjoy things such as fashion.  You have to admit, there are some gorgeous dresses worn in both Legacy and Allegiance.   The guys do pretty well, too, judging by Steldor's wardrobe.
• Party on!  Parties and balls are in pretty regular occurrence at the palace and at various manors dotted throughout the countryside.  From tea parties to balls, Hytanica offers many opportunities to have fun and socialize.
• It's raining men!  Two words: eye candy!  Yes, ladies, there are some fine, strapping young men to be found in Hytanica.  The best part?  You don't have to worry about some evil overlord coming along to terrorize you at a given moment (unless, of course, he invades your city).  Just be prepared to keep them in line.  ;-)

Series Information

Book 1: Legacy (July 2011)
Book 2: Allegiance (March 2012)
Book 3: Sacrifice (November 2012)  

About Allegiance:
Goodreads / Amazon / B&N / IndieBound

AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD QUEEN IN LOVE WITH THE ENEMY AS THEIR COUNTRIES PASS THE POINT OF NO RETURN…

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn’t truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica—until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn….

About Cayla Kluver

Cayla Kluver was born on October 2, 1992, in Wisconsin. She has cats, dogs and horses, and watches more crime shows than is probably healthy. Her office is filled with twinkly lights, candles and fun colors. She loves Robert Louis Stevenson and the Beatles, and you can follow her on Twitter @CaylaKL, as well as join her fan page on Facebook.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads 







Contest Info

Allegiance is on tour with daily giveaways of Allegiance and a Grand Prize giveaway of a Kindle Touch skinned in the sumptuous Allegiance cover art.

To win the Grand Prize of the Kindle Touch you will be able enter at the end of the Tour by guessing which Champion won The Tournament! Be sure to check out all the tour stops!

  

Monday, February 20th - YA Bibliophile
Wednesday, February 22nd - For Those About To Read
Friday,February 24th - Books With Bite

Monday, February 27th - Harlequin Blog
Tuesday, February 28th (Book Birthday!!) - Hippies Beauty & Books
Wednesday,February 29th - Starting The Next Chapter 
Friday,March 2nd - A Cupcake and A Latte

Monday,March 5th - Electrifying Reviews
Wednesday,March 7th - Kindle Fever
Friday,March 9th - Unabridged Andrea

Daily entries for the copy of Allegiance are managed through the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open US/Canada. See full contest rules here. 

  

Waiting on Wednesday - February 29, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the link above will take you straight to her post and widget.

There have been so many fantastic cover reveals in the past week that I wasn't quite sure as to what I wanted to pick for my Waiting on Wednesday post this week.  I decided that this week calls for a 3 part WoW, just so I can fit in as many fantastic books as I possibly can.

Pick number 1 is the follow-up to one of my favorite 2012 debuts.  Lucky for me, its release date has been announced as October 9, 2012, so I won't have a year-long wait on my hands.

The Unfailing Light by Robin Bridges
Coming October 9, 2012 from Random House Children's Books

From Goodreads:

Having had no choice but to use her power has a necromancer to save Russia from dark forces, Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, now wants to forget that she ever used her special powers. She's about to set off to pursue her lifelong dream of attending medical school when she discovers that Russia's arch nemesis--who she thought she'd destroyed--is still alive. So on imperial orders, Katerina remains at her old finishing school. She'll be safe there, because the empress has cast a potent spell to protect it against the vampires and revenants who are bent on toppling the tsar and using Katerina for their own gains. But to Katerina's horror, the spell unleashes a vengeful ghost within the school, a ghost more dangerous than any creature trying to get in.

Why I'm waiting on it: I simply adored The Gathering Storm and am beyond ready to see what other adventures Katerina has in store.

 
My second pick is the third book in a series, the last two of which I devoured voraciously.  With a release date of October 2, my October to-read list grows even further.

Promised by Caragh M. O'Brien
Coming October 2, 2012 from Roaring Brook Press

From Goodreads:

Gaia Stone has challenged the ruthless regime of the Enclave, she's crossed a terrible wasteland to live in Sylum and even adapted to their strange new ways. But now she faces her biggest challenge ever: leading the people of Sylum back to the Enclave in the hopes that they can find a way to peacefully co-exist. The Enclave has grown even more cruel in the time they've been away, and now Gaia has the added burden of feeling responsible for the safety of the former residents of Sylum as well as her own. Gaia's always been strong-minded, but is she willing to pay the price of being a leader? And what if what's at stake is her and Leon's future?

Why I'm waiting on it: I read both Birthmarked and Prized within a 48 hour period.  These books are one of my most favorite dystopian series and I can't wait to read more.

  
My third and final pick is a 2012 debut.  Not only does the plot sound awesome, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

Defiance by C.J. Redwine
Coming August 28, 2012 from Balzer+Bray

From Goodreads:

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Why I'm waiting on it: That plot description has me completely sold.  I can't wait to get my hands on this book.  It already has a home on my "books I would dance a jig for" list.
  

Review - Allegiance

by Cayla Kluver
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: February 28, 2012
format: eGalley
pages: 490
source: Netgalley
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Only I saw Narian for who he truly was: a young man with courage and an independent mind, and made to pay for what was outside his control. He couldn't help his past any more than he could help the way those intense, deep-blue eyes pierced me and held me captive.

An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return...

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn't truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica-until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn...

What I Thought

When sitting down to read Allegiance, I did so with the knowledge of how wonderful the previous book, Legacy, had been.  Little did I know, I was in for a treat.  Not only is Allegiance a likewise wonderful book, I am happy to say that it is even better!  Cayla Kluver's historically-inspired fantasy world was about to push the bounds of everything I thought I knew of the atmosphere in which this series takes place.  This novel, detailing the conflict of duty vs. love and good vs. evil, provides a smooth plot progression that makes it so very easy to sink into the story, thus allowing hours to pass by before coming up for air.  This well-written, descriptive novel is everything a fan of fantasy fiction could want.

Alera, Steldor, Narian, and Hytanica all come into their own within the pages of Allegiance.  Alera begins to leave behind childhood and develops an inner strength that will get her through many struggles and allow her to become a ruler that even the patriarchal, misogynistic society of Hytanica will respect; Steldor, the reprehensible, egotistical young man whom Alera now finds herself shackled to by the bonds of duty reveals some surprising character traits; and Narian finds himself trying to balance allegiance by way of love and allegiance by way of coercion.  These characters, as well as others scattered throughout the story, have developed so much past what they were in Legacy.  Each has newly found strengths and weaknesses that make them such well-rounded characters.  I couldn't help but question with whom my sympathies lay the most.  I was absolutely blown away by the time the last chapter was complete that I immediately wanted the next book to read.  It was just that phenomenal.

If you, yourself, enjoyed Legacy, don't hesitate.  You will want to read Allegiance as soon as possible.  If you haven't yet begun to read this series, I must urge you to do so.  Cayla Kluver's books will not leave you wanting.  With its smooth plot progression and propensity for detail, Allegiance will leave you stunned and craving more.  Fans of both historical fiction and fantasy can find enjoyment in this series due to its historically-inspired world-building and the presence of a mysterious Cokyrian magic.  I can not wait to house this entire series on my shelves.

Obligatory legal statement: This eGalley 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 - The Nightmare Garden

by Caitlin Kittredge
publisher: Delacorte BFYR
date of publication: February 14, 2012
format: eGalley
pages: 436
source: Netgalley
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Everything Aoife thought she knew about the world was a lie. There is no Necrovirus. And Aoife isn't going to succumb to madness because of a latent strain—she will lose her faculties because she is allergic to iron. Aoife isn't human. She is a changeling—half human and half from the land of Thorn. And time is running out for her.

When Aoife destroyed the Lovecraft engine she released the monsters from the Thorn Lands into the Iron Lands and now she must find a way to seal the gates and reverse the destruction she's ravaged on the world that's about to poison her.

What I Thought 

Having only recently finished The Iron Thorn, I had the benefit of having every detail about the world and storyline in regard to this series fresh in my memory.  Setting out to read the next leg of Aoife's journey toward setting wrongs to right turned out to be even more enjoyable in this, the second novel in The Iron Codex series.  Gone are the pieces of the story's puzzle that didn't manage to grab my full attention in The Iron Thorn.  Instead, The Nightmare Garden is comprised of a fantastic blend of action, adventure, magic, and intrigue, as well as a touch of tragedy.  All of these components made for a wonderfully riveting read that left me wishing I had given up my nail-biting habit, as I didn't quite know what to do with myself at times.  The further development of the world Caitlin Kittredge has created left me reeling from the sheer intricacies of it.

Aoife grows as a character by leaps and bounds in The Nightmare Garden.  She sheds her school girl persona even further until she is left with a steel backbone and much more courage than she had previously possessed.  Being Aoife, however, she is still in possession of an astounding amount of stubbornness, so much stubbornness, in fact, that I was often left unsure as to whether I admired her or was frustrated by her.  In any case, she made for the perfect heroine for this novel, as the storyline had so many twists and caveats as to require a strong character.  Thanks to a combination of wonderfully wrought characters, riveting storyline, and an intriguing and menacing world, readers are sure to find themselves pulled into this action-packed, vivid, and emotional story.

I very much enjoyed the growth that I found within The Nightmare Garden.  That it was able to cast away all of my doubts and ensnare me speaks well of the nature of this ever-growing series.  Caitlin Kittredge's amazing world of iron, gears, and monsters is one which you won't soon forget.  This is a series that I want to fall into and follow until the very end.  With its intensity and spectacular world-building, The Nightmare Garden is a book you won't soon forget.

Obligatory legal statement: This eGalley 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. 

In My Mailbox - February 26, 2012

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme from The Story Siren where you can share your new acquisitions. They can come from anywhere: through the mail, via the library, purchased from a store, or downloaded as ebooks. It's up to you!

It has been a great week for books.  I got some awesome review titles, as well as some books that I've been dying to have at both my local used book store and Kroger, of all places.  I'm really excited to read all of these, just as I am excited for the week I have coming up here at Starting the Next Chapter.  There are some fun posts coming your way, so I hope you will stay tuned!

For Review

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

coming June 5, 2012 from Henry Holt & Co. BYR

Huge thanks go out to Macmillan for this awesome surprise!

The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3) by Kimberly Derting

coming April 17, 2012 from HarperTeen

Thanks to Southern Book Blogger ARC tours!

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

coming May 8, 2012 from St. Martin's Griffin

Thanks to St. Martin's & Netgalley!

The Raft by S.A. Bodeen

coming August 21, 2012 from Feiwel & Friends

Thanks to Macmillan & Netgalley!

Bought

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Evernight by Claudia Gray (free for the Nook)

Fever by Lauren DeStefano (Nook book)

Flawless by Lara Chapman (ebook)

Cover Alert 2

There were three more awesome cover reveals today.  Hasn't it just been a great week for cover reveals?  This time, the reveals were for Ten by Gretchen McNeil, Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, and Glass Heart by Amy Garvey.  First up is Ten...

Ten by Gretchen McNeil (coming September 18, 2012 from Balzer+Bray)

Gretchen McNeil has a way with thrillers, as evidenced by her debut, Possess.  Though Ten won't be a paranormal thriller/horror novel, I can't wait to read it.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (coming June 5, 2012 from Henry Holt BYR)

I was surprised to get an ARC of this book in the mail this week from Macmillan and am thrilled to get the chance to read it.  Now that I can see what the final cover looks like, I am even more excited!  You have got to read this plot description. 

Glass Heart by Amy Garvey (coming October 2012 from HarperTeen)

There is just something about this cover that I really like.  I haven't read Cold Kiss as of yet, but I do have it and am really looking forward to it.  I plan to read it as soon as I possibly can.  I just have to whittle down my review list first.

TN Author Event Alert!

Good news, Tennessee Hex Hall fans!  Rachel Hawkins announced her upcoming tour schedule for Spell Bound on her blog this morning.  There just so happens to be a stop at Nashville's new indie bookstore, Parnassus Books!

If you were able to see Rachel on the Ash2Nash Tour or another event, you'll know what a treat you are in for.  If you've never met her, trust me, you need to go to this signing!

The event will take place on Wednesday, March 28, 2012.  I haven't been able to locate the time of the event, so keep your eyes on the Parnassus website for more information.  Also, don't forget that Spell Bound will hit stores on March 13th!  I hope to see you all there!

Cover Alert!

There have been some fantastic cover reveals today.  Three upcoming titles all had their covers revealed on various blogs and I couldn't have been more excited.  Think of it as a 1-2-3 punch of awesome, as there is a 2012 debut, a 2nd in series, and a 3rd in series to behold.  Be sure to click on the titles to add these books to your Goodreads shelves and read the descriptions. 

Defiance by C.J. Redwine (coming August 28, 2012 from Balzer+Bray)

Isn't this cover gorgeous!?  The plot description sounds just as amazing as the cover looks.  I'm looking forward to this 2012 debut.

The Unfailing Light (Katerina Trilogy #2) by Robin Bridges (coming October 9, 2012 from Random House Children's Books)

As if the cover wasn't enough, to find out that the sequel to The Gathering Storm comes out this year is the best news I've heard all day!  I had thought I would be waiting until next year.

Promised by Caragh M. O'Brien (coming October 2, 2012 from Roaring Book Press)

I am so in love with this series that I nearly forgot to breathe when I saw Caragh O'Brien's blog post feed on Goodreads.  This cover goes beautifully with the other two in the series and I am sure that the book itself will be as amazing as its predecessors.

STNC is 1 Year Old Today!

Today is Starting the Next Chapter's biggest milestone yet.  A year ago today, I began an, at first, unassuming blog that would eventually turn into the blog you see before you today.  To say thanks to all of my readers, I'm going to give two of you a present!  For the next month, readers will have the opportunity to enter to win 1 of 2 prizes:

• a book from The Book Depository (up to $12 USD value) - open internationally!
• a prize pack featuring 2 ARCs (Cinder by Marissa Meyer & Illuminate by Aimee Agresti) - open to US entrants only

To enter, fill out one or both of the Rafflecopter forms below.  Good luck!




<center><a href="http://www.startingthenextchapter.com/2012/02/stnc-is-1-year-old-today.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Starting the Next Chapter" src="http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m551/MarlaSTNC/1yearblogoversary.jpg" width="50%" height="50%"/></a></center>

Waiting on Wednesday - February 22, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the link above will take you straight to her post and widget.

Wow!  I hadn't realized it, but I haven't done one of these since mid-DECEMBER.  I know I've been pretty busy since then, but wow, that's a long time to refrain from participating in one of my favorite memes.

My top pick this week is a June release from Balzer+Bray.  Ever since I first heard that this book is inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion (one of my very favorite Austen novels), I knew I had to read it.  The fact that it is a post-apocalyptic novel with a dystopian bent further cemented my need to read this book.  In fact, it is currently on my "books I would dance a jig for" shelf at Goodreads.  The sooner I read it, the happier I will be.  What book do I refer to?  The book in question is For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund, to be released on June 12th.  

From Goodreads:

Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Eighteen-year-old Luddite Elliot North has always known her place in this caste system. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. But now the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress and threatening Luddite control; Elliot’s estate is floundering; and she’s forced to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliott wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she abandoned him.

But Elliot soon discovers her childhood friend carries a secret—-one that could change the society in which they live…or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she has lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

Review - Article 5

by Kristen Simmons
publisher: Tor Teen
date of publication: January 31, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 364
source: from the publisher for review
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

What I Thought

Little did I know that Article 5 was about to treat me to one of the most disturbing dystopian reading experiences I have ever had.  What was so disturbing, you may ask?  The sheer plausibility of the plot was enough to give me chills from the very start.  Even more intriguing is the variety of locations in which the story takes place.  When you add great characters to that mix you have a recipe for an amazing read that will suck you in and consume every bit of your attention.  I, for one, can attest to just how engrossing Article 5 is and am definitely happy to share my opinions on this fantastic novel.

The totalitarian regime that governs what remains of the United States in this book absolutely frightening.  Everything from the murky nature of their agenda to the ways in which they have corrupted religion was disturbing enough that I found myself cringing on more than one occasion while I followed Ember's plight.  Her flight through the south as she tries to outrun the "Moral Militia" is both harrowing and well-described.  Ember herself is such a dynamic character that exhibits such a full range of emotions that she comes off very well as a main character.  Both her flaws and her strengths allow for a great amount of character development throughout the story.  She interacted so well with her surroundings that I felt as though I was seeing everything through her eyes.  As far as surroundings go, I was very surprised to find that much of the last half of the book takes place in Knoxville, TN, a city that I grew up a mere 1 1/2 hours from and even lived in for a while.  Seeing a place with which I am so familiar depicted in such a thrilling and well-written novel was a nice bonus that made seeing the story in my mind's eye all the more easy to do.

Kristen Simmons has written a fabulous novel and has most definitely piqued my interest.  I will be following this series for however long it lasts and can not wait to read the next installment.  Fans of dystopian fiction should pick this one up ASAP.  Article 5 has so much to offer for those looking for a danger-filled, thrilling, and emotional read.  This is a series to watch out for.

Obligatory legal statement: This finished copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. Many thanks to Tor Teen for the opportunity of reviewing this book.  

In My Mailbox - February 19, 2012

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme from The Story Siren where you can share your new acquisitions. They can come from anywhere: through the mail, via the library, purchased from a store, or downloaded as ebooks. It's up to you!

I am out of town this weekend, so this IMM post was prepared ahead of schedule.  I will be hanging out with the extended family as we celebrate what would have been my grandmother's 87th birthday (Sunday, in fact).  In the meantime, I hope you all have had a fabulous weekend and I can't wait to see what you all got in your respective mailboxes.

For Review

After the Snow by S.D. Crockett

(Thanks to Macmillan for this ARC!)

The Returning by Christine Hinwood

The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long

(Thanks to Penguin Young Readers Group & Netgalley!)

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

(Thanks to Random House & Netgalley!)

Dark Frost (Mythos Academy #3) by Jennifer Estep
(Thanks to Kensington & Netgalley!)

Ebooks

Emma by Jane Austen

(HarperTeen ebook edition only $0.99 for Nook!)

Vamplayers by Rusty Fischer

(FREE for Nook!)

Author Event Alert!

Photo from the author's website.

If you are a Tennessee blogger and/or reader or live near the east TN border, do I have news for you!  Kristen Simmons, author of Article 5 (released January 31, 2012 from Tor Teen), will be appearing at Union Ave. Books in Knoxville, TN on March 7, 2012 at 6 PM EST.  If you have already read Article 5, you may recall that part of the book takes place in Knoxville.  Having grown up an hour and a half from Knoxville and even living there for a short time, I was pleasantly surprised to find such a familiar place featured in a book I was enjoying so very much.

Are you going to be there?  Be sure to leave a comment and let me know!

Correction: For some reason, I entered the wrong date.  Kristen Simmons will be appearing on March 7th, not the 6th.  That'll teach me to write posts after a migraine.  In any case, the date has now been corrected.

Image & description from Goodreads.

About the Book:

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.