The Thorn and the Sinking Stone by C.J. Dushinski

The Thorn and the Sinking Stone

by C.J. Dushinski 

Release Date: March 2015

Entangled Teen

313 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Warring families. Forbidden love. And danger they can’t escape...

Daggers. Roses. Cowboys. Boat Men. Survivors of Earth's Last War, four “families” vie to rule the dreary streets of Rain City through violence and blood. Valencia Hara, Princess of the wealthy Black Roses, is raised in warrior ways with sharpened steel. But she is no ordinary Rose. She is Cursed—tainted with the ability to see seconds into the future...

To avenge his father's death, Sebastian Leold, of the rival gang Two Daggers, must face off against the Black Princess, he with his dagger, she with her katana sword. Yet a secret from a shared past leaves him unable to kill beautiful Valencia; nor can she kill him. For they once knew each other beyond their blood feud...and they have more secrets in common than they know.

But in a world filled with vengeance and violence, there can be no room for love...

The Thorn and the Sinking Stone – 5 Sources of Inspiration

Along the way the story of the Thorn and the Sinking St

one changed quite a bit from one draft to

the next, inspired by one source or another. Here are

the top five sources of inspiration that

helped me craft the Thorn and the Sinking Stone to what

it is today:

1)

Romeo & Juliet:

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has alr

eady read the

story. The Thorn and the Sinking Stone was heavily inspi

red by Shakespeare’s Romeo

and Juliet. Two warring families, young, forbidden love... the ge

neral plot is true to the

play. I’ve always loved Romeo and Juliet, like a lot of

people, and I wondered what the

story would be like told in a similar place several hundre

ds of years later, given similar

circumstance and a whole new set of rules. And since B

az Lurhman is one of my

favourite movie directors, of course I was inspired by hi

s modern twist on the classic tale.

Something about his version with guns and fast cars with a

dark setting really inspired the

Buy links:

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About the Author

While attempting to navigate life as a responsible human being, CJ graduated from university with a B.Comm and worked her way along as marketer, copywriter, and graphic designer to earn a paycheck while pursing her passion for creating fantastical stories set in dark and wondrous corners of the world.  Born amongst the wheat fields and open skies of the Canadian prairies, CJ’s imagination has always run wild, taking her on adventures across the world from modeling in Seoul, South Korea to backpacking through Europe and surfing (poorly) in Hawaii.

After wandering through ancient cities and civilizations, learning from diverse cultures, and surrounding herself in new experiences, CJ was inspired and began work on her debut Young Adult novel THE THORN AND THE SINKING STONE, to be published by Entangled Publishing 2014/15. CJ currently resides in Calgary, Alberta Canada – home of the Canadian Rockies – and keeps one hand on her passport and pen at all times, ready to pick up, see the world, and weave her experiences into stories. 

CJ is represented by Marlene Stringer of the Stringer Literary Agency LLC.

Author Links:

   

GIVEAWAY:

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Stay tuned because a giveaway is coming out today!

Waiting on Wednesday #1

Hey Guys, sorry I haven't been updating for a while. But that's past now and today I am introducing my new blog day. Every Wednesday I will be telling you which book I am most looking forward to soon.

So in today's issue I will be talking about...(drums please)

THE INFINITE SEA by Rick Yancey 

This is the second book in "The 5th Wave" series. 

"How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity. 

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race. 

Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate."

I read "The 5th Wave a while back and I loved it. It was a very good concept and was very realistic. I just loved Cassie. The book keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. I wanted the next book back then and now I am so pumped to read it now. I actually pre-ordered my hardcover copy today from Wordery. You can pre-order yours now from AMAZON or BOOKDEPOSITORY.

You can expect my review of "The Infinite Sea" by the end of this month... provided the book arrives by then. 

Are excited for this or any other book? Make sure to let me know in the comment section down below!

Rebellion by J.D. Netto

Hello fellow readers, today I am back with a review of “Rebellion” by J.D. Netto – the sequel to “The Whispers of The Fallen”. I simply feel like I cannot put all my feels in this review because that is one of the best books I have read by now. Everything I liked about “The Whispers of The Fallen” is here.

Okay, this time I will begin with the writing. It got better than in the previous book. The descriptions continue to be short but descriptive and easily imaginable and there are no unneeded words. The style is still formal which I was still finding weird and actually asked the author why that is. He was really kind and told me it’s like this because the characters don’t need to rush and they live in another world. Some of the names I found hard to pronounce but I figured them out. The world-building is just startling. You can visualize everything you read without any difficulties.

The story folds even more. The plot becomes even more complicated. You do get some answers about questions asked in the first book but you are left with many questions like “Who is this?” or “How is this possible?” and many others. Also there are so MANY twists and turns that would just blow your mind. You are kept on the edge of your seat by the end of the book. Speaking of which, I am very, very angry. Why did both of these books and on such high notes and cliffhangers? I actually asked J.D. Netto and his answer was that he couldn’t help it. Anyways, we are left waiting for the next installment called #TGOS, yep, we still have just the initials and no actual name.

                                     

The characters are developing by the page. They are just so well thought-out and presented that I cannot even describe in words. They go through so many things that I don’t know how they didn’t lose it. If I were in one of their places I would have gone cray-cray long time ago… I envy them for their strength.

I can hardly say anything about this book that I haven’t already mentioned in the review of the first book. “Rebellion” is taken to a whole new level of epicness. There are so many twists and turns that lead to the astounding finale with a cliffhanger that will leave you yearning for the continuation of the series.

Also stay tuned because I will be interviewing J.D. Netto on August 3rd at 7 p.m. EST. More details will be up soon.

Also if you want to learn things about the new books first you can subscribe to info@jdnetto.com by sending an e-mail.

                                                           My rating:                                           5 out of 5 stars

Bout Of Books 11.0 - Re-create a Book Cover

How is Bout Of Books going for you guys? For me, I have enjoyed every second of it so far. The challenges are fun to do and now I am going to participate in another one. It is called "Recreate A Book Cover" and is hosted by Spines And Covers.

For this challenge I decided to recreate the cover of the book I just finished a.k.a. "The Whispers Of The Fallen".

So here is the original cover:

And here is my re-creation:

I tried to do it and this is what came out of it. Unfortunately my little cousin spilled some water over it. Apart from that I think I might have done something(I can't draw, I just can't).


What do you guys think of my re-creation? Have you done one too? Make sure to let me know in the comment section down below by commenting and posting a link.

And also don't forget to subscribe to my blog. :)

Bout Of Books 11.0 - Day 4 Update

HELLO FELLOWS, how are you? I am super happy.

I finally found time to read the last few chapters of "The Whispers Of The Fallen" and it is INCREDIBLE. The book ended on a massive cliffhanger. It was so fast-paced and action-packed.

I am also excited for its sequel - Rebellion. I heard it is even better. Can't wait to read it.

Also stay tuned for my review of "The Whispers Of The Fallen" which will be up today.

How is Bout Of Book's read-a-thon going for you? Are you enjoying it? Make sure to let me know down in the comment section. For me it is awesome, I have fun making the challenges and reading the books.

Bout Of Books 11.0 - Like This, Try This CHALLENGE

Hey, folks, I want to apologize for not participating yesterday's challenge.

I am now doing the "Like This, Try This" challenge.

Pretty much all you need to do is to promote a book/movie/tv show by another book/movie/tv show.

If you liked The Mortal Instruments

Then you should definitely read The Whispers Of The Fallen

I am not sure how right I am comparing the two but I think they have quite a few things in common.

What do you think? What are your suggestions for this Challenge? Make sure to tell me in the comment section down below.

Here is the original link: http://www.writingmyownfairytale.com/2014/08/21/like-this-try-this-bout-of-books-challenge/

Bout Of Books 11.0 - Day 3 Update

Hello, how is Bout Of Books going for you? It is going great for me. Well as much as that's possible with my German course.

I did reach my goal for day three and I hope on Day 4 I will be able to read at least 7 chapters(8 or 9 left).

By the way, 'The Whispers Of The Fallen' is so good. WAYY better than I expected it to be.

Have you reached your goals? Are you having fun? Make sure to let me know in the comment section down below. :)

Bout Of Books Challenge - Book Spine Poetry CHALLENGE

Okay so for this challenge there are a few steps: 

1.Pick 3 or more books
2.Use the words in the titles
3.To make up something for every book you get ONE word.

Here is mine:

LUX BEGINS,
LUX CONSEQUENCES,
THE
WHITE HOT KISS,
CREATES
A
CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE,
WHICH PUTS
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
BUT
DON'T LOOK BACK
FOUR,
BECAUSE THE
REBOOT
IS
REBELLING.

I know it makes no sense whatsoever but it just sounds cool... maybe.
What is your poetry? Make sure to put a link in the comments down below and don't forget to READ.

Link to the original challenge:
http://littlepocketbooks.blogspot.com/2014/08/bout-of-books-challenge-book-spine.html

Bout Of Books 11.0 - One True Pairing Challenge

Okay, so for this challenge all need to do is chose a One True Pairing couple from a book. I don't know if it will come out as a surprise but it is HAZEL AND AUGUSTUS FROM THE FAULT IN OUT STARS

I love this couple because their story is so beautiful and at the same time tragic. It might be sad but it is still extremely beautiful to me. If you have not read The Fault In Our Stars it is about two kids that fall in love within the numbered days they have left. This book is so amazing and has so many good quotes. If you pick up this book, well, you won't put it down until you are heartbroken by it. As characters they are just so strong and they don't stop living, only because they are sick. As a quote from the movie says "Life doesn't have to be perfect for love to be extraordinary. I won't go into much detail because I will give out the entire book... If you have not read the book, go and buy it. You won't regret it!

Harrow by Amanda Troyer + GIVEAWAY

So, the author contacted me and asked me if I would like to review her book. I agreed because I haven't read much thriller this year and I have no regrets whatsoever.

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Brenna doesn’t believe her vivid imagination
can hurt her, until she wakes up in a church, covered in blood.
Blood that isn’t hers.

She thinks her life can't get much worse, but when she finally
finds a way to escape her abusive home, her imagination turns
to nightmarish hallucinations.

Niven likes staying inside the abandoned church, hiding from his
violent father. The two bond through art and misery, but Brenna
knows good things in her life don’t last long.

Her delusions take a horrific turn when she thinks she sees two men
gruesomely murdered by a monster in the church basement, but in
the end, she’s the one with blood on her hands.

Review:

The book starts off introducing Breena, the girl with the vivid imagination and her troublemaking sister Mabel. Brenna wants to live on her own because of her family. She doesn't like it. You get sucked in by her and start sympathizing her. Just you are put through whatever she is.  Later on she meets this boy at the abandoned church she ends up in - Niven, who plays a big role in the plot later on. All of the characters were developed.

I wish I could say something about the plot but I would giveaway too much. I will just mention that there are a lot of totally unexpected twists and turns.

The writing was really good food a new author. However, at certain places I was irritated by the monologue and the descriptions. I am not saying they were bad or anything but just that it was little overdone. 90% percent of the time the descriptions are incredibly easy-imaginable. It was overall fast-paced just little slow in the beginning.

"Harrow" was a gripping read, which will keep you tensioned until the very end, shock you with the twists and turns. In addition, it will make you double check if you've locked your door. The writing is really good and grabs you from the beginning. 

The book comes out on August 27th.

This is a debut novel which may have a sequel.

GIVEAWAY:

I am giving away 3 eBook copies of "Harrow" and

10 signed bookmarks.

This giveaway is international. If a winner doesn't reply to the email sent to him in 48 hours, another one will be chosen.

Complete this Rafflecopter contest and win:

Winners:
Rebeca - a signed bookmark of HARROW and an e-book copy
Veronica - a signed bookmark of HARROW and an e-book copy
Alyssa - a signed bookmark of HARROW and an e-book copy
Kelly - a signed bookmark of HARROW
Sami - a signed bookmark of HARROW
Lori - a signed bookmark of HARROW
Maria - a signed bookmark of HARROW

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amanda hasn’t always been a reader, but she’s always been a daydreamer.  Once her sister started giving her young adult books, she realized books fuel her daydreams and has since become an avid reader and a writer as well.  You can connect with her online here: 

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Preorder links:

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                                                         My rating 
                                  4.5 out of 5 stars

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: LUX #4

Title: Origin

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: Entangled TEEN

Year of publication: 2013

Summary:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything. 

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? 

And will they even be together?

Review:

CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS 

Okay, so I when I finished reading Opal and my immediate reaction was like "That is not possible. This is not normal. A book cannot end like that..." and then I remembered that I have "Origin" next so I picked it up in that exact moment.

The book picks up almost exactly after the third one. The first thing you notice is that under the chapter number there is a name Katy or Daemon. This time around the book is from dual perspective. I had some reservation because I am not a fan of that kind of writing but I feel like that is about to change. Not once I got confused who was thinking. It is so easy to follow and I didn't get lost at all. I just love Jennifer's writing. I think I already mentioned that but, hey, it is. I can't really say anything else about it except it gets better and better. 

The first half of this book was little slow but I understand why that is. It was the only way to see what's going on inside Daedalus. I am just going to say it is a little different than what I thought it would be. When Daemon went in Deadalus it got more complicated. There had happened some things that made Kat feel depressed, sad and stuff but most importantly, she's changed. While the characters are down there they learn some things that complicate everything. They learn what the Origin is and just until the end of the book you are just kept on the edge of your seat. 

As I mentioned Katy has changed. She stopped thinking only about Daemon and has just developed more since the last book.She starts thinking about the consequences of her choices. Same goes for Daemon. 

This is the best book in the series so far and I can only imagine how epic and bittersweet will Opposition be. I never know what's coming next with Armentrout's books and by the end of this novel you will be blown away by the twists and turns and left craving for more.

The book comes out in Bulgaria on November 5th by Egmont Bulgaria.

                                        My rating:

                                   4.5 out of 5 stars

Tell me what you think about the book and review in the comment

 section and stay tuned for a giveaway soon.

Vampire Academy is getting a sequel... sort of. (Updated)

Update 1: The IndieGoGo Campaign is going to be launched at 9:00 AM PT. 9 hours to go... Make sure to get back here for a link. :)

Update 2: Here you go guys, help the film out:

Vampire Academy: Frostbite campaign

Update 3: Good news, vampires, we are going strong
Almost 19 000$ were collected for 35-6 minutes. Keep up with the good work!

Update 4: We got $57 000 in like 5-6 hours. That's amazing. Keep supporting.
Here's a message from the producers:

Hey there, vampire fellows, I know everyone has been wondering whether we would get a sequel. The word I out and we now it's official.

The producers said that they already have a scriptwriter and are willing to make the second movie. There is a catch, though. We, the fans need to help them. The creators have launched a campaign on IndieGoGo and are making you for help. They said in their statement they needed 1.5 mil. dollars.


“We decided to move forward with ‘Frostbite’ because of the fans, and we want to give them the purest book to film adaptation possible. We have a script by Piers Ashworth [screenwriter of "St. Trinian's"] that does just that. We want to give them exactly what they expect.” 

You would think that a film studio has money and doesn't really need these but look at what the producers said:

“Our financiers were willing to move forward ONLY if we could show them the fans would support us,” Nayar said. “It’s not an exaggeration to say that we would not be here without them.”

It looks like the makers really do want to make a second installment. If the goal of 1.5 mil. is achieved, the pre-production should begin later this year and filming should start in early 2015 and the film is expected to hit theaters at the end of that year.

The campaign launches tomorrow, August 6th. I will update when there is a link available. 

What do you think? Will the campaign reach it's goal? Be sure to let me know what you think in the comment section down below. :) 

Source: MTV

Vampire Academy: Frostbite

Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Onyx
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux #2
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Published on: August 14th, 2012

Summary:

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems. Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

Review:

When I finished "Obsidian" I couldn't believe that it ended. It is a good thing I had the Lux: Beginnings edition with me so I started reading "Onyx" immediately afterwards. 

The book picks up right where we left off at the end of  "Obsidian". Things had changed and Daemon had decided to prove to Katy that his feelings are real and aren't just a side effect of their extra-terrestrial bond. He starts giving her presents and just adore her in front of everyone. And then Blake comes in the picture.

He looks like the normal, new boy in the town. Katy becomes his friend quickly and Daemon gets jealous. Fortunately there is no love triangle but Blake keeps secrets which might cause some problems for the "couple". 

I am not going to lie - at times Katy annoyed the hell out of me. I could understand why she felt wary and constantly rejected Daemon but, come on. I also love Katy because she's a book blogger like I am. Considering you have read "Obsidian" you'd know that Katy is a tough girl and doesn't sit around waiting to be saved. No, instead, she runs into trouble without thinking. Also I didn't expect Katy and Daemon to have so many issues to handle with. It just made the book emotionally deeper. This is where Jennifer L. Armentrout's writing shines.

She is really able to make you feel compassion or hate for someone. Also, her ability to make relate to the characters is just fascinating. By the end of the novel I wanted to punch and hug a certain character at the same time. The plot twists at the end are just MIND-BLOWING. 

One character that I missed was Dee. It's not like she wasn't in the novel but we saw more of her in "Obsidian" than here. I just miss the friendship between her and Kat. 

"Onyx" managed to recapture the awesomeness of the first book and multiplied it by 10. At some points I felt the story dragged a little but that was just a two or three times in the entire book. It was an amazing sequel and didn't let down my expectations. This is why Jennufer L. Armentrout is one my most favourite authors. If you are a fan of "Obsidian", then definitely read this book and the rest of the series. 

And last but not least I want to mention that I read both - the Bulgarian and the English version of this book. The translation was perfect. I want to thank Egmont Bulgaria so much for translating the series.

Update: Stay tuned for the Bulgarian review on August 15th 

                                                                   

                                 My rating:

                             4.5 out of 5 stars

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