Cover Reveal: Destined by Ali Cross

I am thrilled to participate in this cover reveal for the third book in the Destined series by Ali Cross. Cross had asked me to review the first book, Become, and since that book, I've been hooked.  Here is a recap of the books so far:

Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where she must face the evil she despises and the good she always feared.

When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her choice has been made—that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is finding a reason to change—something she’s never had before—a friend.

Buy:

Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iBooks

Where darkness lives, all becomes desolate . . .

It’s been two months since sixteen-year-old Desolation Black chose Earth over Hell and her friend Miri over her eternal love, Michael.

Desi goes through the motions of life: school, training, remaining vigilant against the forces of darkness, but her dreams are full of the choices she wishes she could change. When she’s injured by a strange demon, old temptations arise, and the lines between good and evil blur. Desi discovers those choices aren’t so final after all.

And this time, the power of love—for a friend, for a lover—may not be enough to save her from the darkness that lurks within.

Buy:

Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iBooks

Choosing is a bad idea, because Desi always makes the wrong one, and sometimes there are no do-overs. Certainly not this time, when all has been lost and Desi can’t even save herself, let alone her friends. For Desi, the hardest thing is letting someone help her, to accept their sacrifice on her behalf. But that’s exactly what she’ll have to do in order to save the worlds from Helena’s destruction.

The goddess of Helheimer, long imprisoned by Desi’s father, Loki, is free at last, and she’s bent on reclaiming what once was hers. The nine worlds will be drawn into war, over Hell, over Earth, with innocent humans meaningless collateral. While Michael and the Gardians of Asgard, along with the golden-armored Valkyrie lead the battle for freedom, it’s Desi who holds the destiny of all the worlds in her hands.

Can she set aside her doubts, once and for all, and claim the gifts that are hers to bear? Can she accept the sacrifice that is made for her and Become all that she was created to be?

Her final choice will define not only her future, but the fate of humankind, forever more.

Destined is expected to be published December 2012.  I couldn't find any pre-order links for the book.  If I do, I'll publish them here on the blog.

Guest Post: The Beckoning

Title: The Beckoning
Author: Christoper Savio
ISBN: 9781478301936

Teenage girls don’t fall in love with ghosts, discover their magical powers or save their families from demons, or they?

Forced to leave the few friends she’s ever had and the only life she’s ever known, snarky fifteen-year-old Marissa arrives at Briar Creek, a remote Virginia plantation house, lonely and unhappy. Immediately upon arrival, she learns that her parents have come under the power of the demon that has dwelled there for over a century and that her very life hangs by a thread. With her life in peril, Marissa makes several discoveries that would turn any teenager’s life upside down.

Finding out that the nearby town of Mills Run is inhabited by the souls of her dead relatives who continually try to communicate with her is terrifying. Knowing her parents are under full control of the demon, who unbeknownst to her wants to father a child and rule the world, is even worse. Realizing that she only has Max, her faithful dog for support, Marissa begins to give up all hope.

That’s until she finds the journal of the long dead boy who used to occupy her room. Reading about his life, Marissa begins to fall in love and fantasizes about the seemingly impossible, meeting him. Her impossible dream miraculously comes true when Zachary materializes to save her life and teach her of the powers she never knew she possessed. Allied with her first love, and more powerful than any teenage girl ever dreamed, Marissa gains confidence and believes she can do anything. Together, can this improbable duo save Marissa’s family and the world from the demon before it’s too late?

  Christopher Savio, who is the author of The Beckoning.  This information was obtained from his bio on his webpage.

Many authors will tell you how well read they are and try to impress you with how long they’ve been writing.  “It’s always been a dream of theirs and they’ve always won the 3^rd grade writing contest in Mrs. So and So’s class.” Just who are they trying to impress anyway?  I know for me when I hear them pontificating about it, it’s enough to make me ill and want vomit on their shoes. With that in mind, I’ll leave the self fulfilling sagas to the windbags and just tell you a little bit about the real me.

Spending my life bouncing back and forth between Southern California and New Jersey, I discovered a couple of things.  In Jersey, I discovered I’m dyslexic and in California I discovered that the school system wasn’t equipped to handle a special education student. (At least in the 70’s, but who wants to date themselves.) Therefore, I learned to read with a lot of help from my parents and eventually got good enough to read novels.  With the influence of my father’s interest in horror movies and history, I read two things, Stephen King and history books.  It’s no surprise that many of my stories or the ones I have in my head, but have not put down on word yet, have a  touch of both in them.

Working with the public, including the rental car business, my father’s diner, and later evolving into a teacher of Native American history, criminology, and special education, has allowed me to draw upon experiences that reveal much about human behavior.  My writing reflects many of the different personalities and settings have I’ve come to know first hand. Of course I’ve never come across a demon, witch, the devil himself or a serial killer, but the personalities and people I’ve met are represented within each one of my characters.

On a personal note, I have a family, a house and the white PVC picket fence. I graduated from college and have a dog my kids call Roscoe. (Max from The Beckoning) What’s of more interest to you is that my favorite hobby is writing, the scarier the better. If you love stories that will scare the pants off you that are priced for the 99 per centers like myself, then you have come to the right website.

Please peruse the books that are coming out the summer of 2012, subscribe to my site so you know when these and the ones yet to be born will hit your Kindle. Until then make sure you don’t ignore what you see out of the corner of your eye, it was really there.  LOL

Savio tells YABR where he gets his ideas from. 

               Being a teacher puts me in a unique position as a YA writer.  Teaching allows me, as a writer, to get into the minds of the American teenager.  Because of this, I know how they think and I know their fears.  I am also able to keep a finger on the pulse of what makes them happy.  I know their dreams and I feel that I know what most teenagers really want.  Because of my profession, when my students ask me, “Mr. Savio, where do you get your ideas?” I can safely say  “I get them from you.”  The stories that I tell are not simply the stories of vampires or demons or ghosts.  Those characters are simply vehicles to tell stories of young people growing strong.  My characters find out who they are and experience the sometimes scary path of first loves, insecurity, and acceptance. My stories show young people that although the path of life can be scary at times and that no matter how hard growing up can be, it can be done and it is possible to overcome anything.  That is exactly what The Beckoning is all about.

               When my main character, Marissa, in The Beckoning is forced to move from her friends and home in New Jersey and go to an isolated old antebellum mansion in Virginia, she finds that she is not alone.  At the depths of her sorrow, she finds hope and discovers that she can overcome anything an evil demon can throw her way.  When she is challenged by more evil than anyone should ever have to overcome, she stands tall, grows strong and rises above it.  When Marissa faces her own shyness and falls in love with the ghost who comes back to help, she not only overcomes her own fears, conquers her own shyness, but she also proves that she can withstand anything without the help of anyone or anything.  These are the true themes with in The Beckoning, despite its paranormal nature.  If you give the book a try, I know that you will not be disappointed.

Christopher Savio

This book is one that I am excited to review.  Just from reading the synopsis, it sounds like this book will be a refreshing one that is not mainstream.  I like those kinds of books.

City of Lost Souls

Title:  City of Lost Souls

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publish Date:  8 May 2012

Pages: 544

ISBN:  978-1442416864

Source:  bought

Genre:  YA, demons, angels

Series:  The Mortal Instruments

Other books in series:  City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Heavenly Fire (2014)

Rating: Really liked

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace freed from captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing, so is the boy she hates: her brother Sebastian, who is determined to bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

The Clave's magic cannot locate either boy, but Jace can't stay away from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith's magic has wrought - Jace and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other.

Only a few people believe that Jace can still be saved. Together, Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle bargain with the sinister Seelie Queen, contemplate deals with demons, and turn at last to the merciless, weapon-making Iron Sisters, who might be able to forge a weapon that can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. If the Iron Sisters can't help, their only hope is to challenge Heaven and Hell - a risk that could claim their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary is playing a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing not just her own life, but Jace's soul. She's willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

 

**WARNING:  Spoiler alert if you haven’t read City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass or City of Fallen Angels!**

Are things finally looking up for Clary and Jace?  She thinks so, but then he disappears.  Sebastian, her brother, is also gone and nobody knows where they are.  This bothers Clary to know end.  She loves Jace and wants them to be together.  Jace cannot stay away from Clary.  He drags Sebastian into it and wants her.  He thinks his new life with his “blood brother” is amazing.  He wants Clary to be a part of it.

Jace and Sebastian are bound by blood.  This happened when Clary asked the angel Raziel to save his life.  Lilith explained how this works to Clary when she tried to bring Sebastian back.  Everyone is saying to just kill Sebastian and we will be rid of the problem.  The catch is that you will also kill Jace.   It is up to Clary, her family and friends to determine if you can break the blood bond between the two brothers.   Will Jace survive being with Sebastian?  What will happen with him and Clary?  Will they finally get to be together? 

I LOVE this series.  It has so many twists and turn.  Just when you think that Clary and Jace will be together, something else happens that prevents that from happening.  I also like the way that Clare weaves the other characters into the book.  She not only does this in The Mortal Instruments, I also noticed in her other series as well.  I loved watching the book trailer for this and hearing Sebastian aka Jonathon say “I’m going to burn down the world!”  I’m very excited for City of Heavenly Fire to be released in 2014 and see what happens in this final chapter.

The cover of this book has a picture of Jace and Clary on it.

Here is that trailer featuring Sebastian from Simon and Schuster youtube channel.

City of Fallen Angels

Title:  City of Fallen Angels

Author:  Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publish Date:  05 April 2011

Pages: 424

ISBN:  978-1-4424-0354-3

Source:  bought

Genre:  YA, angels, demons, romance

Series:  The Mortal Instruments

Other books in series:  City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Lost Souls, City of Heavenly Fire (September 2014)

Rating: Really liked

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And--most importantly of all--she can finally call Jace her boyfriend. But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side--along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. Not to mention that he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls--neither of whom knows about the other one.

When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in "City of Fallen Angels.

**WARNING:  Spoiler Alert if you haven’t read City of Bones, City of Ashes and City of Glass**

The Mortal War is over, but does that mean everyone is safe?  Clary is excited because she can finally train to become a Shadowhunter, even though her mother wishes otherwise.  Her mother is busy preparing for her upcoming wedding to the man she’s loved for a long time. 

Things start happening in New York.  Shadowhunters are being murdered.  This is causing tension between the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders. 

Not only does Clary have that to deal with, but Simon is suddenly homeless because his mother found out about him being a vampire.  He moves in with a guy named Kyle, who, unbeknownst to Simon, is also a downworlder and has his own history.  Simon is also dating two girls at the same time, two dangerous girls.  Which one is he going to take to the wedding?  Simon doesn’t see this as a big deal, but Clary knows better.

Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend after all this time.  (Well, three books.)  He is helping to train her as a Shadowhunter.   Now Jace is having nightmares, only they are causing him to do things.  Now he is pulling away from Clary because he doesn’t want to hurt her.  This causes Clary pain because she doesn’t know why he is avoiding her, so she investigates.  Will Jace and Clary finally be together?  What is happening and why are the Shadowhunters being killed?

It is no secret that I am a fan of Cassandra Clare’s writing.  I first read The Infernal Devices series and now and The Mortal Instruments series.  As I have said in previous reviews of these series.  I like that they deal with the same thing, only in different time periods.  In City of Fallen Angels, I had high hopes for Clary and Jace.  I really wanted them to be together.   After all the business with the Mortal War, them being siblings, Jace being part demon…it really seemed like things were finally working in their favor, except for that little incident with the Angel Raziel at the lake at the end of City of Glass.

I like that you get to see more of Simon in these books.  He has always been a good friend to Clary and now that he is a vampire, he is allowed to be more present in her world.  He is the “Daylighter” because he can go out during the day.  This has caused him to be able to continue his life, but also has caused some contention with the other downworlders.  The other vampires don’t want to associate with him, yet because of the Mark of Cain that he has on him, they cannot kill him. 

Jace, Jace, Jace.  He is the guy that one minute, you love him and the next you don’t.  It’s obvious that he really cares for Clary, but he has a funny way of showing it sometimes.  It seems like all the bad stuff happens to him.

Having already read City of Lost Souls before this review was written, I must say that Clare does not disappoint in keeping me interested in this series.  I am eagerly anticipating the release of City of Heavenly Fire, which is rumored to be in September 2014.

The cover features Clary Fray, adorned in Shadowhunter runes wearing the golden silk dress which she wore to the engagement party and the Morgenstern Ring on her necklace which Jace gave to her, and the Daylighter, Simon Lewis.  (This information was taken from Wikipedia.) 

City of Glass

Title:  City of Glass

Author:  Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publish Date: 24 March 2009

Pages: 541

ISBN:  978-1-4169-7225-9

Source:  bought

Genre:  YA, angels, demons, romance

Series:  The Mortal Instruments

Other books in series:  City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls, City of Heavenly Fire (September 2014)

Rating: Really liked

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

**WARNING: Spoiler Alert if you haven’t read City of Bones and City of Ashes**

What would you be willing to do to save your mother?  For Clary, it means going to the City of Glass.  It is forbidden to come to the city uninvited.  That is why Clary has agreed to talk to the Clave.  Only Jace doesn’t want her to go.  Recently, they found out that Clary and Jace were brother and sister.  This put stress on them as they had romantic feelings toward one another. 

Clary is determined to make it to Alicante and does so through her own portal.  She meets Luke’s sister, Amatis, when she saves Clary after an incident happens when she arrives.  She stays with Amatis, who gives her clothes; Shadowhunter clothes that make her feel part of them.

After a while, she meets Sebastian at the Penhallow’s House.  Sebastian seems interested in helping Clary discover what she needs to in order to save her mother.  While all this is happening, the threat of Valentine creating a Mortal War hangs over the City of Glass.  Can the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders work together to win this war, or will Valentine be the winner?  What will happen with Jace and Clary?

This third book in The Mortal Instruments series is just as good as the ones before it.  I like that it continues on the theme.  I really like that I didn’t have to wait for the next book as they were already released.  The story between Jace and Clary continues on in City of Fallen Angels and never failed to keep me interested in what was happening.  I like how Clare switches between points of view in the books.  It is easy to keep up with and you never feel like you are getting whiplash between the characters.

City of Glass was supposed to be the last book in this series, but Clare had decided to write three more books, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls and City of Heavenly Fire (September 2014).

The cover features the new character, Sebastian also known Johnathan Christopher (Clary's real brother), who is a Shadowhunter and on his father's (Valentine) side. He poses as a cousin of the Penhallows, who are friends of the Lightwoods Family, he dyes his hair black to do this and he is about seventeen. He is said to look like a spite image of his biological father.  (This information was taken from Wikipedia.)

This excerpt was taken from the Simon & Schuster webpage, PulseIt.  It includes an author commentary.

 

COG Chapter