"Lucid" by Adrienne Stoltz and Ron Bass

Release Date: October 2, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 342

From Goodreads: "What if you could dream your way into a different life? What if you could choose to live that life forever?

Sloane and Maggie have never met. Sloane is a straight-A student with a big and loving family. Maggie lives a glamorously independent life as an up-and-coming actress in New York. The two girls couldn't be more different--except for one thing. They share a secret that they can't tell a soul. At night, they dream that they're each other.

The deeper they're pulled into the promise of their own lives, the more their worlds begin to blur dangerously together. Before long, Sloane and Maggie can no longer tell which life is real and which is just a dream. They realize that eventually they will have to choose one life to wake up to, or risk spiraling into insanity. But that means giving up one world, one love, and one self, forever.

This is a dazzling debut that will steal readers' hearts." 

Like Michelle Hodkin's "Mara Dyer" series I admittedly only understood between 27.3% to 45.8% of what was going on in this book at any one time, however that did not stop me from liking this book in the slightest- with likeable characters, entertaining character arcs, an idea like no other and the likes of I believe it near impossible to not like this book.

On the note of interesting characters, while I really like both of the girls, Maggie and Sloan, I surprisingly enjoyed Maggie more, which I found to be quite surprising as Sloan is almost always the sort of girl I veer towards- the stereotypical all American/ girl next door character, who is extremely focused on school, rather than the flighty LA/  New York model/ actress/(insert occupation of that nature here) who gallivants around her city as if she owns it. I just found Maggie's story to be so much more relateable, real and raw- she was just so good, always trying to see the best in everyone around her and more often than not putting others before her (I mean, essentially mothering her little sister, Jade? That is no small feat).

Additionally, much like preferring Maggie over Sloan I also preferred Maggie's love interest, Andrew, over Sloan's, James. James was almost too perfect in my opinion, to the point of being unapproachable, whereas Andrew is the sort of person I think that anyone would be happy to consider a friend- a boy who makes mistakes and who isn't afraid to admit it. He had nothing on Maggie when it came to handling her younger sister.

That being said, not only were the mains and their love interests great characters, but so were the secondary characters- from Jade, Maggie's aforementioned little sister, with a personality almost as big as her crush on Andrew, to Gordy, Sloan's rock, of sorts, the boy who is dependable and who you can always count on, through thick or thin, to Sloan's gossipy bestie girly friends who help to balance out her serious personality.

As mentioned, while I only understood between 27.3% to 45.8% of the story overall, I think that I only understood 2.4% of the ending, but I'm okay with that. I like how it is open-ended and really up to the reader's discretion/ imagination about what exactly happened.

All in all, this is an extremely fascinating reading and one that I will pick up over and over again, not only to see if I can get a better grasp on the ending, but also to relive everything amazing that this book has to offer- great characters with interesting arcs, a unique plot, and the likes of.

Rating: 4/5

I received this book from the publisher to read and honestly review.  I was not compensated in any way for said review.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating...
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Title: "Revolution 19"
Author: Gregg Rosenblum
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: January 8, 2013

From Goodreads: "Twenty years ago, the robots designed to fight our wars abandoned the battlefields. Then they turned their weapons on us.

Only a few escaped the robot revolution of 2071. Kevin, Nick, and Cass are lucky —they live with their parents in a secret human community in the woods. Then their village is detected and wiped out. Hopeful that other survivors have been captured by bots, the teens risk everything to save the only people they have left in the world—by infiltrating a city controlled by their greatest enemies.

Revolution 19 is a cinematic thriller unlike anything else. With a dynamic cast of characters, this surefire blockbuster has everything teen readers want—action, drama, mystery, and romance. Written by debut novelist Gregg Rosenblum, this gripping story shouldn’t be missed."

Guest Post: L.M. Preston

Today I am excited to have author L.M. Preston stop by the blog author of the "Explorer X" series stop by to tell us a bit about the gap between middle grade and young adult fiction! 

The Gap Between Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction

Sometimes I wonder if it was wise of me from a marketing standpoint to write both Middle Grade fiction and Young Adult Fiction. They seem to be sometimes miles apart.

Many times I when I look at my sales of both genres I can see the big divide. And when I attend publishing conferences or writing events I’m constantly told not to jump genres all the time.

WHY NOT JUMP GENRE

The most important reason is the building of different markets. When you write a book in a specific genre, market that book, build a fanbase for that book within your genre – changing it means basically starting all over again.

Someone who reads mostly romance may not be a fan of your new horror book. It’s so much easier to build and maintain an engaged audience when you keep feeding them goods they love. Which in turn saves marketing dollars and efforts.

BUT…if you write companion genre it may help instead of hurt. For me, I hope my middle grade readers grow up to like my young adult novels as well.

DO READERS CARE

Yep, because let’s face it. Readers are picky and creatures of habit. Yeah, I may jump out of my comfort zone once in a while but most people love the same type of story and genre. For instance, all those girls that loved Disney’s fairytale love stories probably love romances that are grown up love story, lol!

THE DIFFERENCE IN SALES

This to some people is the bottom line. I have to admit that my Middle Grade books sell MUCH better in person at book signings, direct to stores and other venders then it does in ebook. It’s growing in ebooks but not by leaps an bounds mainly because most people prefer to buy their 6th-8th graders paperback books over ebooks.

My Young Adult novels do much better on the ebook formats than the paperback. Over the years their paperback sales have shifted to the ebook format although remaining somewhat steady in paperback.

SOOO…… What are your thoughts? Do you like to read an authors book when they hop genre even when the genre is something you aren’t in love with?

From Goodreads: "For most kids, a trip to space camp is the trip of a lifetime—for Aadi it was life altering. After receiving a camp immunization needed for travel to Mars, Aadi finds that the immunization is the catalyst of an insidious experiment. He realizes what is happening too late for a change of fate. The full experiment is set in motion when he and his co-pilot, Eirena, crash in a distant galaxy called Shrenas, where they change and realize the full extent of their power. This turn of events forces him to grow up quickly, accept his change, and to decide to save a world, or to do what he was trained to do—dominate it. His power is coveted by the warring leaders of Shrenas, and he is forced to choose sides—a decision that may prove just how much humanity he has left."

About the Author:  LM. Preston was born and raised in Washington, DC. An avid reader, she loved to create poetry and short-stories as a young girl. With a thirst for knowledge she attended college at Bowie State University, and worked in the IT field as a Techie and Educator for over sixteen years. She started writing science fiction under the encouragement of her husband who was a Sci-Fi buff and her four kids. Her first published novel, Explorer X - Alpha was the beginning of her obsessive desire to write and create stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds. She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encouraged her writing.

ARC Review: "Venom" by Fiona Paul

Release Date: October 30, 2012
Publisher: Philomel
Pages: 432

From Goodreads: "Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice’s lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady’s maid, and a wealthy fiancé, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.

When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?

Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that’s as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself."

If I were asked to describe this book in one word it would be "long". Despite it only being a 432 page book (I know, I'm also considering my sanity by writing "despite it only being a 432 page book"- what can I say? I've grown accustomed to books that are at least 500 pages long) it felt much, much longer. Everything just felt so long drawn out and slow- from the plot, all of the descriptions that Fiona writes, and the likes of. And as such, I personally could only read a few chapters every night (for almost a week and a half) when I am used to reading a book in a single sitting.

But then there is a flip-side, I did finish it despite my complaints- this means that I liked it enough and was intrigued enough to do so. What made the story for me were the characters- Cassanda and Falco. Despite not typically being a fan of female characters I did really like Cass. I found that overall she had a fairly strong head on her shoulders and was someone that readers can really relate with. While Falco may not have started out as being totally swoon-worthy with his cocky arrogance I did soon find myself swept off of my feet by him as the story progressed and we learned more and more of his true character.

I was also interested in the love triangle- who is better for Cass? The boy who makes her loose her inhibitions and feel alive? Or the boy who is unwavering solid and can offer her not only the world, but her family? However, personally I believe that it was one of the most dissatisfying love triangles I have ever encountered before mainly because I love love and I hate to see it go to waste  (Let's just say that if you weren't a fan of how the love triangle ended in Lili St. Crow's "Strange Angels" series that you will most likely not be a fan of how this love triangle also ends).

Another aspect which I am a bit iffy on is the ending- the last chapter is mainly composed of Cass questioning everyone and everything around her- by the end of this book very little is revealed (I mean, the series is named "Secrets of the Eternal Rose" yet the Eternal Rose is mentioned all of two? Three times? It's not like Cassie Clare named her "Mortal Instrument" series as such and didn't make mention of the Mortal Instruments until the third book or so).

All in all, despite my complaints, I, as mentioned, did enjoy the book- it is an extremely unique YA, "The Diviners" by Libba Bray meets "The Thief Lord" Cornelia Funk. Furthermore, I do plan on continuing with this series if only to see how it all wraps up.

Rating: 3/5

I received this book from the publisher to read and review. I was not compensated in any way for said review.

On My Wishlist

On My Wishlist is a great event that Book Chick City runs every Saturday. It's where you list all of the books that you desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. I thought that this was a fantabulous idea so I thought I would join in!
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Title: "Essence"
Author: Abbi Glines
Release Date: December 13, 2011
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

From Goodreads: "What happens when you're stalked by Death? You fall in love with him, of course.
Pagan Moore doesn't cheat Death, but instead, falls in love with him.

Seventeen year old Pagan Moore has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn't let them know she could see them, then they left her alone. Until she stepped out of her car the first day of school and saw an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he's dead.

Not only does he not go away when she ignores him, but he does something none of the others have ever done. He speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What she doesn't realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul at all.

He is Death and he's about to break all the rules."

Author Interview: M.X. Kremzen

Today I am excited to have M.X. Kremzen, author of DARK RISING, stop by the blog to talk whether they prefer unicorns or Sasquatches how big of an impact cover art has on readers, and why they decided to go indie! 

From Goodreads: "The ancient and powerful Arcana have fallen.

The knowledge they recorded was lost. The artifacts they gathered from civilizations throughout the universe have been destroyed. Their ability to harness the powers of dark matter couldn’t save them. Many are dead. The rest are scattered. And the vengeful defector that brought them down has begun his hunt for the remaining survivors.

When sixteen-year-old Alexander learns he’s an Arcana, the hunt is already underway. All his gadgets, books, and plans to run away have to be put aside. And when James, the young alien instructed to take him to safety lapses him into the heart of enemy territory to settle a personal score, Alexander has no choice but to accept the responsibilities placed on him. That includes learning to wield his new-found dark matter abilities, even though he’d rather not. But nothing is as simple as it seems. Secrets have been kept. A truth has been hidden for thousands of years. If Alexander doesn’t learn who and what he actually is in time, it’s not just his life he’ll lose. Entire worlds will die with him."

Describe DARK RISING in five words or less.

Knowledge is power.

How many books do you intend for your THE DARK MATTERS CHRONICLES?

As of now, it's a trilogy but there's a good chance it will end up being 4 or 5 books. It all depends on where the natural breaks in books 2 and 3 are, and if the books can be separated without compromising the integrity or quality of the storyline.

What are some upcoming projects that you're working on?

I'm working on book 2 of The Dark Matter Chronicles series right now. I have tons of other ideas for more books but they will have to wait!

Who would be your dream cast if DARK RISING were to become a film?

This is always fun to think about! I would cast Andrew Garfield as Alexander (the protagonist) and Robert Pattinson as Psi (the antagonist).

How did you come to the decision to go indie?

This year, the Mars rover landed, the discovery of the Higgs Boson was made, the Guardians of the Galaxy movie was announced, and superheroes were more popular than ever. I felt that a book that touched on the themes of space, science, technology, fantasy, adventure, superheroes, and war, (as my novel does), should be out in the world right now. Traditional publishing is great, but it takes a very long time to find a publisher and then get a book onto the shelves. The process takes years. With indie publishing, I can release the book now and build the series over time with a great deal of flexibility. There are also a few things about my book that aren't conventional so I can write what I want with no restrictions. For instance, Dark Rising is little more about Psi (villain) than Alexander (hero). The divide between good and evil will blur further into the series as well. Indie publishing will let me change and the break rules a little more easily.

I personally love your cover- how big of an impact do you believe that cover art has on readers?

Thank you! My designer, Iva Holovac, did a wonderful job of capturing the tone I wanted. A book cover is very important because it informs the reader's first impression and gives clues as to what the story is about. A good cover will draw you to the shelves and a bad cover will keep you from reading a single page.

Being an indie author what impact (if any) have book bloggers had on your career?

In the past couple of months, I've connected with a lot of indie authors and one thing is clear: book bloggers are crucial to building a readership. They are champions of indie publishing! My career has just started so I can't say what the exact impact has been so far, but I know it will help a great deal in getting me on my way.

Do you read reviews of your book? If so, how do you respond to negative (or not-so-nice) reviews?

I have gotten a few reviews and I did read them. So far, they've been great! But I have to say, I'm looking forward to getting some negative ones. Negative reviews should be welcomed because sometimes they can help you grow and improve as an author. I also think that if no one disagrees with you or dislikes your book, you haven't offered the world anything new.

Any advice for aspiring authors?
Writing is not easy. It involves discipline and hard work. You'll have days when you want to give up and that's alright. Let yourself have that moment when you feel like you can't do it and your book is not good enough. Get it out of your system. Then pick yourself up and get back to work because all that matters is that you keep writing.

This or That

Unicorn or Sasquatch? Unicorns, because where there are unicorns, there is magic (and hopefully dragons).

Dogs or cats? Both. Dogs will love you unconditionally while cats will remind you of your place in the world.

Coffee or coke? Coffee. It is the elixir that begets written words.

Music while writing or no music? I spend a lot of time in coffee shops so light music is nice in the background. When I write at home, it's too distracting.

Typing on a computer or writing in a notebook? Both. Computer for writing and notebooks for ideas. I'm never without one or the other.

Reading a book or watching TV? Both. Books let you create alongside the author, while TV invites you into a completed experience. They're different mediums but both have something to offer as far as stories go.

Batman or Superman? Batman. Not everyone is born with great abilities but everyone can choose to be great, even in small ways.

About the Author: 
Excerpt from a non-existent wildlife documentary on authors:

A Kremzen is an odd, neurotic breed that lurks in coffee shops and tiny apartments. Its nerdy tendencies make it fond of superheroes, quantum physics, futuristic technology, LOL cats, and stars. This particular Kremzen has a severe addiction to cake and coffee.

When not falling flat on its face or accidentally running into furniture, it can be found parked in front of a screen, creating stories. It has an equally strange assortment of friends and has made itself a comfortable home in Toronto.