Friday, August 31, 2012

The Modified Cover Reveal & Giveaway!




What would you sacrifice to save the one’s you love? To save the one who holds your heart? To save the world?

Kenley Grayson is all too familiar with these questions.

After Earth is thrust into its first intergalactic war with an unknown race called the Bringers, our military forces begin to suffer heavy losses. Desperate for a solution, the Allied Federation issues a worldwide draft for every able seventeen-year-old to enlist. As Kenley turns seventeen, she finds herself thrown into the very war that took her older brother’s life.
This year’s draft is a little different than in the past though. A new program, known as the Magnus Project, has been introduced, and only the best and brightest qualify. Kenley is amongst a select few whom are chosen to join this elite group of soldiers, and as a part of this project, undergoes a modification procedure that leaves her and her peers endowed with powers beyond their wildest dreams.
As Earth continues in its struggle against the Bringers, Kenley is transported to a high-tech training facility, the Magnus Academy, to prepare for the major battle that lies ahead. It’s here that she meets the California heartthrob, and son of a legendary war hero, Landon Shaw. As unexpected feelings toward Landon begin to develop, Kenley wonders if this is the right time or place for romance to bloom, especially when those feelings start to interfere with her training.
With the weight of the world on her shoulders, Kenley is constantly reminded of how important she and the rest of the Magnus cadets are to the fate of humanity. She is one of the Modified, Earth’s last line of defense against utter destruction.

The Modified releases this Fall!

Like the cover for The Modified? Well then head over to Nathan Szerdy’s website and peruse his amazing collection of works. We guarantee that you won’t be disappointed!

The mom and son author duo, C.A. Kunz, thoroughly enjoys writing about things that go bump in the night and futuristic action-packed romances while drinking massive amounts of English breakfast tea and Starbucks coffee. To find out more about this duo and their books visit their blog, or find them on Facebook and Twitter!          


















Don't forget to enter the great giveaway!

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Review: Ever Fire


Title - Ever Fire 
Author - Alexia Purdy
Series or Standalone - Book 2 in A Dark Faerie Tale Series
Genre -Young Adult Fantasy
Published July 9th 2012
Rating 4 out of 5

Synopsis 

The Serenity of the Land of Faerie is threatened as the Unseelie Queen Aveta rages war against the three remaining Seelie Realms of Faerie. As Shade's powers grow, she finds she is running out of time to keep the war from spilling into the human world. Winter is growing in strength as the evil Queen's horrifying legions scar the land in their frigid wake. No one is safe. Shade becomes enemy number one for the Unseelie legions. Questioning her true role of power, Shade discovers the cost of winning may come at a much higher price than she ever imagined.

Review

I received this book in return for a honest review as part of the R2R for the Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Fanatics! group on goodreads. This is the continuation of Shades story from the first book Ever Shade. So just a recap from book one Shade has a chance meeting with a Teleen Faery who leads her off to the Seelie Faerie Court where she learns that she is a halfling part faery and part human. However it isn't as it appears and in a attempt on her life she accepts a blood bond from the brother. Shade is sent to find the Santiran Fountain that's water will tip the scales in the Seelie's favor. It's not a easy quest for Shade but she does it meeting many faery some good and some not. 



In book two the UnSeelie Queen Aveta is ramping up her powers intent on gaining Shade to control her water magic. Not to far in Shades bodyguard and my favorite guy Dylan is sent home at request of his queen he returns to her court. So through most of the book Shade is alone which isn't to bad because she has Soap aka Rylan to protect her from the threat of the UnSeelie Queen's Lieutenants. In this book Shade learns that her mother Jade is a fire witch as are her siblings, she also learns that her mother has all her memories back. She also briefly get's the meet her grandmother on her father's side before she passes away. 


This book was really good, not as good as the first but still really good. I like the characters I really love the whole Shade and Dylan thing it wasn't love at first sight but it's grown into something beautiful. This book is mostly about Shade learning to control her powers, learning who she is and more about the threat from the UnSeelie Queen. The book flows along smoothly well written just like the other I read it in a few hours this morning because I couldn't put it down I just have to know what's going to happen next. So I can't wait to get my hands on the next book I wish I had it now. I enjoy that we get to watch Shade grow into the powerful being that she's going to be, and I enjoy all the different beings too. It's a great book I just wanted more action but that's just me. 

Throwback Thursday!


Throwback Thursday August 30th 2012

Throwback Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never to fond of Books.

It's the nature of book blogging to focus mainly on new releases, but there are thousands of great books out there that haven't seen the "New Releases" shelf in years. We hope to be able to bring attention to some older titles that may or not be at the top of the current bestseller list, but still deserve a spot in your To-Be-Read pile.

You don't have to be a book blogger to participate! You can put up a Throwback Thursday post on your non-bookish blog; or if you don't have a blog at all you can use the comments to tell us about a book your remember fondly.

The Accidental Werewolf by Dakota Cassidy
Fantasy Paranormal
Published February 5th 2008
Book one in the Accidental Friends
Goodreads
Synopsis
When Marty Andrews gets bitten by a mangy mutt while walking her teacup poodle, her blond hair darkens, the hair on her legs starts growing at an alarming rate, and her mood swings put her dream job as a sales rep for Bobbie-Sue Cosmetics in serious jeopardy.

Then a drool-worthy man shows up at her door claiming that he accidentally bit Marty. And since he's a werewolf, she is now, too. Thinking Keegan Flaherty is clearly insane, Marty refuses to believe a word until a kidnapping makes her realize there's more at stake than just her highlights. And she must put her out-of-control life in the hands of the man who makes her blood run wild in more ways than one...

Review
I loved this book but it has werewolves so how could I not love it. Marty is a great character she's obsessed with the Bobbie-Sue Cosmetics Company and climbing to the top. However life is never that simple and is accidentally bitten by a werewolf. Realizing he had bitten Marty Keegan searches her out to explain what is happening too her. Of course she thinks he's insane who wouldn't when a handsome man claims to be a werewolf and that you are one too. It's a fast paced cute love story with the supernatural background. I really like that the characters for future books are written into this as Marty's friends and fellow Bobby-Sue Cosmetics girls. I read this series when only this one was available so a long while ago, and was instantly in love with the series. I've been reading the series as they come available but I have been slacking I've been adding them to the collection but not reading them with the new having just come out in June it looks like it's time to start reading them over. 

Current Books in the Series



What's your Throwback Today?

From The Review Pile!


From the Review Pile is a meme hosted by Stepping Out of the Page every Thursday.
The aim of this meme is to showcase books that you've received for review (or if you don't receive review books, any book that you own and really want to read/review) but haven't yet got around to reading, in order to give the book some extra publicity.

I know that a lot of you have a huge pile of books that you want to read/review, but it understandably takes a while to get around to reading them all - here you can give a book (or two!) some of the publicity that it deserves, even if you haven't read it yet!

I stumbled across this one this evening and thought it was a great idea and would love to it to my regular line up. So the real question was which book did I want to give a little extra publicity too. 

It's so hard to pick just one, but I've always had that problem when it comes to books. However I can always find a book or two that could use a little extra publicity.
This week I picked the first in a series I want to try I just haven't had a chance to pull it off the shelf. So many books never enough time. 

Boys that Bite by Mari Mancusi
Young Adult Vampires
Published April 4th 2006 
Book 1 in the Blood Coven Vampire Series 

Synopsis

Two sisters—as different as the sun and the rain. For one, getting into the Blood Coven is to die for. But for the other, getting out could be lethal...

When Sunny McDonald gets dragged to Club Fang by her twin sister Rayne, she doesn't expect to find anything besides a bunch of Goth kids playing at being vampires. But when some guy mistakes Sunny for her dark-side-loving sister and bites her on the neck, she finds out that his fangs are real—and deadly. 

Now, Sunny has less than a week to figure out how to reverse the bite, or else she's going to end up as the perpetually undead. And not only will she be a vampire, she'll also be bonded to Magnus—the bloodsucker who bit her—forever. And forever is a really long time...

What do you have on your Review Pile?

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Review: Incarnation


Title - Incarnation
Author - Emma Cornwall
Series or Standalone - Standalone for now
Genre - Sci Fi Paranormal
Expected Publication - September 18th 2012
Rating 4 out of 5 

Synopsis

In the steampunk world of Victorian London, a beautiful vampire seeks out the author of Dracula–to set the record straight . . . If one is to believe Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire tale, Lucy Weston is Dracula’s most wanton creation, a sexual creature of the night who preys on innocent boys. But the real-life Lucy is nothing like her fictional counterpart—and she demands to know why the Victorian author deliberately lied. With Stoker’s reluctant help, she’s determined to track down the very fiend who transformed her—from the sensual underworld where humans vie to become vampires, to a hidden cell beneath a temple to madness, and finally into the glittering Crystal Palace where death reigns supreme.


Haunted by fragmentary memories of her lost life and love, Lucy must battle her thirst for blood as she struggles to stop a catastrophic war that will doom vampires and humans alike. Ultimately, she must make a choice that illuminates for her—and for us—what it means to be human.



Review - 


I received this book from the publisher Simon & Schusters via Edelweiss in return for an honest review. Lucy Weston has been changed into a vampire, and left after her incarnation on her own. Something that is unheard of among the vampires to not have a mentor to guide the vampire is unusual.  Lucy comes across a copy of Bram Strokers Dracula a story about her very similar circumstance and instantly she sets out to find him looking for answers. Upon learning about her creator, Lucy learns that there is more to the story then just vampires. Her vampire story is intertwined with the Arthurian legend, and other things that go bump in the night.

Lucy is in her twenties when she's changed into a vampire but unlike other vampires she's hasn't lost her human side, creating a half-ling. She struggles with drinking human blood because her human side sees it as wrong, while her vampire side craves it. Lucy has a lot to deal with after being turned into a vampire at least she's not doing it alone; she's befriended a human who is a descendant from a long line of hunters.

I found the story exciting it pulled me in right from the start keeping me interested all along the way. I had to stay up super late to finish because I just had to know how it was going to end.  I enjoyed all the twists, and turns throughout the book, a lot of unexpected delights. I found the characters well written, you just have to love Lucy she's a strong character, who does what she has to get by. I found the story flows smoothly along in perfect harmony so that you don't feel overwhelmed. I haven't read Dracula yet but I kind of wish that I had because I feel it would have added to the experience that was already enjoyable. The Steampunk aspect was very minimal but I like the different aspects it provided to the story.


Waiting on Wednesday!




Waiting on Wednesday August 29nd 2012


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. In my case not so patiently waiting for the new releases, which I lack.


I've recently become a Dystopia addict so of course I can't wait for this one it sounds amazing.

Dualed by Elsie Chapman
Young Adult Dystopia
Expected Publication February 26th 2013
Goodreads

Synopsis 

Would you live through the ultimate test of survival?

The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.

Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.

Elsie Chapman’s suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better.



What book are you waiting on?

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Teaser Tuesday #1


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~Grab your current read
~Open to a random page
~Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on the page
~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! ( make sure that what you share doesn't give away to much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
~Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

Today I'm finishing up 

Incarnation by Emma Cornwall
Teaser taken from 31% ebook format

My Teaser

"I'm from New Orleans originally. Did I tell you that? We have the most delicious coffee there. It's flavored with chicory, very beneficial to vampires. If I had my way, all humans would be fed on it to improve the quality of their blood."

This one made me giggle because I was drinking coffee when I read it. but atlas no chicory in my coffee guess my blood isn't as good.

What is your teaser for today?






Monday, August 27, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?



Welcome to It's Monday! is a weekly event hosted by Sheila at Bookjourney to share with others what you've read the past week and are planning to read the next.



Last week I didn't do as well as I wanted to but that's what happens it seems when the hubby is in town after being gone for a few weeks.

So this last week I read:
The Dragon's Eye by Corey Guerra Review 
Evolution by Kelly Carrero Review
vN by Madeline Ashby Review



Currently Reading

Incarnation by Emma Cornwall Goodreads 
I hope to finish today

Then I want to read the rest of the week.



Ever Dark by Alexia Purdy Goodreads
Taste by Kate Evangelista Goodreads
The Color of Greed by Jack Thompson Goodreads
Claws and Effect by Amanda Arista Goodreads
Nine Lives of an Urban Panther by Amanda Arista Goodreads


What are you reading this week?

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Stacking The Shelves #12



Stacking the Shelves is a new meme by Tyngas Reviews that let's bloggers share their new books and swag, whether they are physical or virtual. I'll include books I've been sent, emailed, purchased, won and for review.

This week has been another great week for books. I received some awesome review books as well as picked up some books I've been wanting to read for a while.

For Review

From Netgalley


Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate & Michael Grant
Expected Publication October 2nd 2012 Young Adult Sci fi Dystopia Goodreads
Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

Mark of the Witch by Maggie Shayne Expected Publication September 18th 2012 Paranormal Witches Goodreads
Thank you Harlequin Teen





Something Red by Douglas Nicholas Expected Publication September 18th 2012 Fantasy Goodreads
Thank you Simon & Schuster Inc.

Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones Expected Publication October 2nd 2012 Young Adult Fantasy Goodreads Thank you St. Martin's Press





I also received from Edelweiss


Nine lives of an Urban Panther by Amanda Arista Publication August 21st 2012 Urban Fantasy Goodreads Thank you Harper Collins & Avon Books

I received from Authors this week 

Taste by Kate Evangelista Publication April 30th 2012 Young Adult Paranormal Goodreads Thank you Kate






The Color of Greed by Jack Thompson Published July 24th 2012 Mystery Goodreads Thank you Jack

Purchased Books
all ebooks this week

Claws and Effect by Amanda Arista Published December 27th 2011 Urban Fantasy Goodreads






Six Moon Summer by S.M. Reine Publication April 29th 2011 Young Adult Paranormal Goodreads

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich Publication September 14th 2010 Mystery Goodreads

Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich Published June 19th 2012 Mystery Goodreads




Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon Published February 18th 2002 Paranormal Romance Goodreads

The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook Published November 29th 2005 Young Adult Fantasy Goodreads

 Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke Published June 7th 2011 Young Adult Fantasy Goodreads





What did you get this week?

Friday, August 24, 2012

Review: The Dragon's Eye

Title - The Dragon's Eye
Author - Corey Guerra
Series or Standalone - Standalone
Genre - Young Adult Fantasy
Publication November 10th 2011 
Rating 5 out of 5 

Synopsis

Dive into the ancient world of Fael-wen; a land where humans, dragons, elves and other creatures roam. Meet Makayla, a druid in training who is plagued by dreams about a treasure from long ago. As she struggles to balance her training and the dreams, she'll find that there is more to her than she ever knew. Along the way Makayla's dedication and loyalty will be tested and she will find help where she least expects it. In the end Makayla will discover that in order to succeed, she will first have to believe in herself.

Review 

I received this book from the author Corey Guerra in return for a honest review.  The book is about Makayla who is training to be a druid also known in the book as a Giadi.  She has spent the last two years being trained by Alis a fellow druid. Makayla is plagued by dreams that are growing clearer and more violent the more she has them. They are all leading her to the dragon eye but don't know what that would mean. Her father has done extensive research teaching Makayla everything he could about the dragon eye. Which is a magical stone that can control all the dragons of the world but only one human can control its power. 

A nearby temple is attacked and Alis is told to bring Makayla to the council for further instruction. Along the way the pair is attacked all but one of their royal guards Almar are slain but they are saved by Kay and Corrin two thieves running from the law. With the aid of the two men Almar is able to get the girls safely away, and on the road to the council. As the journey continues it starts to wear on Makayla because she's unaware why the council is requesting to see her. 

I don't want to give too much away so that's all you get. This book pulls you in right from the start full of in depth story line that keeps you wanting more. I really like the little band of characters they each have their own unique story and they fit well together. The whole book is set in a unique fascinating world of magic, dragons, elves and more the fills the imagination.  I felt that the characters are well, and developed well so that I had a great idea who they are.  I enjoyed the book, it was a little overwhelming from the start but once I got into I really enjoyed the book. I liked the world and would be interested in reading more books along the same lines. 




Thursday, August 23, 2012

From The Review Pile!



From the Review Pile is a meme hosted by Stepping Out of the Page every Thursday.
The aim of this meme is to showcase books that you've received for review (or if you don't receive review books, any book that you own and really want to read/review) but haven't yet got around to reading, in order to give the book some extra publicity.

I know that a lot of you have a huge pile of books that you want to read/review, but it understandably takes a while to get around to reading them all - here you can give a book (or two!) some of the publicity that it deserves, even if you haven't read it yet!

I stumbled across this one this evening and thought it was a great idea and would love to it to my regular line up. So this week will be my first From the Review Pile, so the real question was which book did I want to give a little extra publicity too. 

It's so hard to pick just one, but I've always had that problem when it comes to books. However I can always find a book or two that could use a little extra publicity.



A while back my sister and I had a zombie phase we both grabbed this one when it was free and I hate to say it that it's been in my "kindle Freebie" TBR list for a while now. I love the cover, just have had so many other books I haven't had a chance to read it yet. I keep saying I'm going to so maybe for Halloween

Solstice: A Novel of the Zombie Apacolyps 
by Donna Burgess
Published May 7th 2012
Goodreads & Amazon
Synopsis

On the eve of winter Solstice, a massive flash envelopes the Earth and then there is nothing. The sun no longer shines and civilization is plunged into unending darkness. Those exposed to the mysterious flash have changed—they have become bloodthirsty, cunning, and determined to devour anyone who is not infected. They are Ragers.

In Sweden, a group of uneasy travelers hears a broken broadcast. There is hope. Something called Sanctuary waits, but it is thousands of miles away, somewhere on the shores of the British Isles.

Meanwhile, in a London supermarket, a high school English teacher from the States finds himself stranded along with a handful of students on a senior trip. Outside, hoards of hungry Ragers await, ready to tear them limb from limb. Their only hope is to find Sanctuary.

Solstice is a tale of hope, terror, survival, and finding love at the end of the World.

What do you have on your Review Pile?

Throwback Thursday! August 23rd




Throwback Thursday August 23rd 2012


Throwback Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never to fond of Books.

It's the nature of book blogging to focus mainly on new releases, but there are thousands of great books out there that haven't seen the "New Releases" shelf in years. We hope to be able to bring attention to some older titles that may or not be at the top of the current bestseller list, but still deserve a spot in your To-Be-Read pile.

You don't have to be a book blogger to participate! You can put up a Throwback Thursday post on your non-bookish blog; or if you don't have a blog at all you can use the comments to tell us about a book your remember fondly.

When I was a kid into teenage years I was horse crazy and I was reading all kinds of horse books. My mom suprised me one night after she got home with the first few books. I was hooked read them all as a kid.

The Saddle Club by Bonnie Brant 
Publication April 1 1988
Goodreads & Amazon 

Synopsis


Carole Hanson and Stevie Lake have been best friends ever since they met at Pine Hollow Stables. So when Lisa Atwood joins their riding group, the girls aren't sure she's got what it takes. Lisa may be the smartest student in the classroom, but she's got a lot to learn when it comes to horses. . . .


Review


My horse addiction started at a early age I doubt I was older than two like me my little girl also has the same horse crazy addiction. Over the course of a year or two my parents had purchased all of the series for me to read. However the innocent horse phase didn't last by 11 I was into stuff that when bump in the night. However when I was into the Saddle Club I enjoyed reading about Lisa, Stevie, and Carol. They have lots of fun horse adventures that kept me entertained. 


What's your Throwback for the week?

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Review: Evolution



Title - Evolution
Author - Kelly Carrero
Series or Standalone - Evolution #1
Genre - Young Adult Fantasy
Publication - April 29th 2012
Rating 5 out of 5

Synopsis


Seventeen year old Jade Sommers life tuned upside down the moment she saw the inch long cut across her face, heal right before her eyes.



Jade thought she was going insane, but her boyfriend Aiden Scott knew better. He knew what she was. And like him, she was born this way.

Now if finding out that people like her shouldn’t exist was bad enough, Jades best friend is kidnapped by the psycho who’s terrorised her dreams. With the help of Aiden, she has to figure out how to saver her, before it’s too late.

But what Jade doesn’t know, is not everything is what it seems. She is merely a puppet in a sadistic game to find out what she is truly capable of – and the game has only just begun.

Review 


I received this book in return for an honest review from the author Kelly Carrero. Jade life was normal until the night she's in a car wreck that for anyone else could have been fatal but all she has is a scratch on her forehead that heals before her eyes. Jade knows that something is up but isn't sure exactly what is going on than at school a chemical fire catches her dress on fire but her skin is not burned. Aiden takes her to his house to tell her what's really going on. He attempts to wait for his parents but decides to tell her because she's stressed.

They explain to her that unlike most humans she's special she has the full ability of her whole brain vs the 1/8 that everyone else uses. This allows her to hear Aidens thoughts in her mind as well as get visions but this is just the start. As if dealing with super human abilities isn't enough Jade's best friend Chelsea is kidnapped and she has a vision of it happening. Aiden uses his advanced abilities to teach Jade to use hers as well as to help in the search for Chelsea. As the pair search for leads for Chelsea's kidnapper Jade continues to have haunting visions. She can sense that people are keeping things from her including her mother.

I love the cover for the book it's so inviting. I was instantly drawn in and unable to put the book down had to finish in in one afternoon. I enjoyed reading about Jade as she learns to use her abilities and has to grow up so quickly. Thankfully she's got a awesome leading man to take care of her, who wouldn't want a Aiden. I feel that the characters are very well developed you feel like your connecting with them, and I love that in a book. My only complaint is it's a only around 140 pages I want like 200 more, but for the first book it has me wanting the next one. A very entertaining read that is full of action spiced with a little romance a truly enjoyable story. 


Waiting on Wednesday!



Waiting on Wednesday August 22nd 2012


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. In my case not so patiently waiting for the new releases, which I lack.

This book sounds awesome. Plus it's from Disney so it has to be great.

Dark Star By Bethany Frenette
Expected Publication October 23rd 2012
Young Adult Fantasy
Goodreads

Synopsis

Audrey Whitticomb has nothing to fear. Her mother is the superhero Morning Star, the most deadly crime-fighter in the Twin Cities, so it’s hard for Audrey not to feel safe. That is, until she’s lured into the sweet night air by something human and not human—something with talons and teeth, and a wide, scarlet smile.

Now Audrey knows the truth: her mom doesn’t fight crime at night. She fights Harrowers—livid, merciless beings who were trapped Beneath eons ago. Yet some have managed to escape. And they want Audrey dead, just because of who she is: one of the Kin.

To survive, Audrey will need to sharpen the powers she has always had. When she gets close to someone, dark corners of the person’s memories become her own, and she sometimes even glimpses the future. If Audrey could only get close to Patrick Tigue, a powerful Harrower masquerading as human, she could use her Knowing to discover the Harrowers’ next move. But Leon, her mother’s bossy, infuriatingly attractive sidekick, has other ideas. Lately, he won’t let Audrey out of his sight.

When an unthinkable betrayal puts Minneapolis in terrible danger, Audrey discovers a wild, untamed power within herself. It may be the key to saving her herself, her family, and her city. Or it may be the force that destroys everything—and everyone—she loves.


What are you waiting on?

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Review: vN


Title - vN
Author - Madeline Ashby
Standalone or Series - The Machine Dynasty #1
Genre - Sci Fi
Publication July 31st 2012
Rating 4 out of 5


Synopsis

Amy Peterson is a von Neumann machine, a self-replicating humanoid robot.

For the past five years, she has been grown slowly as part of a mixed organic/synthetic family. She knows very little about her android mother’s past, so when her grandmother arrives and attacks her mother, little Amy wastes no time: she eats her alive.

Now she carries her malfunctioning granny as a partition on her memory drive, and she’s learning impossible things about her clade’s history – like the fact that the failsafe that stops all robots from harming humans has failed… Which means that everyone wants a piece of her, some to use her as a weapon, others to destroy her.


Review

I received this book in return for a honest review from Netgalley from the publisher Angry Robot. The book is the story of Amy a vN short for von Neumann the creator of her clade (generation) of android. Amy lives with her father a human and her mother a vN just like her. Most vN are full grown within a year based on how they eat however Amy’s parents decided to let her grow like a human girl, so she’s starved in essence so she doesn’t grow quickly. Amy knows very little about her mother’s past, because it’s not something her mother wants to talk about. At her kindergarten graduation everything changed, her grandmother kills a little boy and attacks her mother. Amy attacks her grandmother in hopes of saving her mother she bites her, which causes the starving Amy to eat all of her grandmother, leaving her with her grandmother inside her.

After eating her grandmother she arrested, when she wakes up she learns that she’s no longer five but fully grown and very confused. She’s rescued by Javier a fellow vN together the pair escapes into the forest on a journey to find Rory in hopes that she can help Amy. Amy isn’t a typical vN her failsafe has failed, causing her to be able to harm people so all kinds of bounty hunters including police are searching for her as well as her escaped friend. The pair is directed by another vN to look for Rory who will help her. Along the way Javier has his 13th offspring who he calls Junior, which is a new experience for Amy. Amy is unlike other vN’s because she has emotions, not just a plug in she laughs, cries and loves.  

I enjoyed the book, I always had a fondness to sci fi my mother had a passion for sci fi movies and books. The book reminds me a lot of Bladerunner which is a movie I have fond memories of. I loved Amy she’s so innocent even though she is plagued by her evil grandmother who can take control of her body when she needs too. It's a great fast paced book that is full of action but still has some emotional aspects as well. I found the storyline entertaining it drew me in right from the start, and I had a hard time putting it down. I had to know what would happen next in Amy and Javier adventure. I can’t wait for the next book. If you like android sci fi books I highly recommend it.