Wednesday, November 30, 2011

MEN in YA: Interview and Giveaway with Michael Northrop, author of Trapped


I'm extremely happy to be joined today by the wonderful Michael Northrop, author of two fantastic YA novels: Trapped (2011) (which I reviewed yesterday on my blog and will be giving away today!) and Gentleman (2009). I loved Trapped and I'm absolutely honored to have Michael stop by for the interview today! 


Guys, please give a warm welcome to our brilliant YA Galaxy Defender, Michael Northrop!



E: Evie
MN: Michael Northrop
E: Welcome to Bookish Michael! Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to us today! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your bone-chilling YA novel, Trapped! Could you tell us where the inspiration for this book came from?
MN: Hellooooo! Well, first of all, I’m from a very snowy area in New England. When I was a little kid, a blizzard dumped four feet of snow on us. I wasn’t much more than 4’ tall at the time, so the idea of snow up to my eyeballs has always been with me.

I put the rest together while watching a documentary about the whaling ship Essex, which was sunk by a whale in the middle of the ocean (that’s some karma right there). The sailors drifted for months in their whaleboats, resorted to cannibalism, and mostly died at sea anyway.


So I was thinking about those men, drifting on a vast, indifferent ocean, and I started to think about other ways that people could be stranded in or by nature. I thought of snow right away. Then I started thinking about where they could be stranded. As soon as I thought of a school, I knew I was onto something.
E: How long did it take for you to write Trapped?
MN: I worked at it for about six months, making very little progress, because I was still working full-time-plus at a magazine. The job had started to eat up my weekends, which was when I used to write. Then I rolled the dice and left my job. After that I finished the book in just a few months, in one big adrenalized, caffeinated, relieved rush.
E: How would you describe your book in 5 words?
MN: Teens snowbound at school: Aaaah!
E: What was the most difficult part of the book for you to write? Did you find it challenging to write a story from a teenage boy’s perspective?
MN:  The middle was the toughest part. I really had to immerse myself mentally in the situation, and I had to work hard to be honest about what real teens would and wouldn’t do. I had months to think about the right and wrong moves, but the characters had to make those decisions in the moment.

I actually find it fairly easy to write from a teen boy’s perspective because I remember that age very clearly. One of the things that helps me is that I moved to New York City for college and basically just stayed. So remembering what it was like to be in my hometown is pretty much the same as remembering what it was like to be that age. And I remember it very viscerally: the sights, sounds, smells, and even the feel. What it was like to drive around late at night in my mom’s two-door Buick Skylark out of sheer restlessness, for example.
E: Are any of your characters based on people in your own life?
MN: Not on a one-to-one basis, but most of the characters contain elements borrowed from real people. My brother actually owned the, um, distinctive sniper rifle t-shirt that Jason wears. But Jason isn’t my brother. Matt would never have taken shop class, for one thing.
E: You’re an author of two fantastic YA novels (Trapped and Gentlemen), have you considered making the switch to Adult genre?
MN: Thank you! I’ve definitely considered it. I actually started out by writing short stories for adults, but right now I’m headed in the opposite direction. My next book is middle grade. It’s called Plunked, and it’s about a Little Leaguer who gets hit in the head by a pitch and loses his nerve at the plate. I have a ton of experience writing about sports for young readers, because I worked at Sports Illustrated Kids for 12 years. I’ve also been hit in the head many times!
E: How do you approach writing a new book? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
MNI’m a pantser. I might have a vague idea where the book is going when I start it, but that’s about it. I feel like I need to spend time with the characters and really develop and get to know them before I know how they’ll react to different situations. When I started Trapped, for example, I expected it to be much darker, but as the characters began to take shape they started to cooperate more than I expected. As a result, the book became more social. My initial idea was a frosty Lord of the Flies, but it became much more of a frozen Breakfast Club.
E:  What’s next in line for you? Are you working on a new book now?
MN: Well, Plunked comes out in March so, you know: Promotion, dead ahead! [Warning horn! Warning horn!] After that, I’m doing another YA. I shouldn’t say much more than that right now, but I’m very excited about it. It’s realistic/contemporary YA— because that’s my thang—and I think it’s fair to say it has a lot of bite.
E: What advice would you give to aspiring authors interested in writing YA novels?
MN: A few things:

1) Write about what really interests you. Don’t try to chase trends: That’s lame, and they’re elusive anyway.

2) Read a lot, and not just the sort of books you plan on writing. (I have this fear of becoming a Play-Doh Fun Factory, just taking YA in and pushing YA out in a different form.) Reading a variety of books exposes you to a wider range of voices, techniques, tools, and information. I always try to mix in some nonfiction, because I learn interesting things and it really reinforces the value of communicating clearly. 3) Finish the book and don’t get too bogged down in editing as you go. I really think you can learn more by finishing a bad book than you can by tinkering with an unfinished good one. Most first drafts are a hot mess anyway. That’s what editing is for, but again, it’s not really editing a book if the book isn’t finished. It’s just revising some pages.
E: What genre do you like to read in your free time? Which of your favorite books would you recommend everybody to read?
MN: I mentioned nonfiction above, but I really like to mix it up—and I definitely wish I had more free time to read! I recommend Grendel by John Gardner, which takes one of the most famous monsters in literature and makes him a fascinating, compelling main character. There’s a saying that everyone is the hero of his or her own story, and this book pretty much proves it. It also proves that great writing doesn’t have to be all that complicated and the power of a simple change of perspective.

Michael, thank you so much for joining us today!  
I'm looking forward to reading your other books!
Thank you for participating in the MEN in YA event! :)

I hope you guys enjoyed the interview, for more information about Michael Northrop and his books, please visit his website: Michael Northrop or/and read my review of Trapped.

Here's a couple more fantabulous pictures from the exclusive MEN in YA photoshoot!




Huge thank you to Michael Northrop for the exclusive (and absolutely gorgeous) photoshoot!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Thanks to the fabulous:
I have one hardcover copy of Trapped up for grabs!
To be eligible to win all you need to do is be a follower of my blog and enter through Rafflecopter below.
This giveaway is open to CANADA only (sorry guys, Publisher's request!)
Ends: December 20th






❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ 

This interview and giveaway are posted as a part of the MEN in YA event (Nov 20th - Dec 20th)
For more awesomeness (reviews, interviews, giveaways, guest posts) please click the banner below!


❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

MEN in YA: Trapped by Michael Northrop (ARC Review)

Genre:Young Adult,Thriller
Publication.Date  January 1st 2011
Pages:224
Published By:  Scholastic Canada
WebsiteMichael Northrop
Trapped - Goodreads
My review copy:ARC received from the publisher
Where to get: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | Book Depository




The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....
Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision....
(goodreads.com)




Please note:  Quotes are from an ARC and will be verified against a published copy.
We were the last seven kids waiting around to get picked up from Tattawa Regional High School. It sounds like an everyday thing, but this wasn't an ordinary day. It was one of those bull's-eyes in history, one of those points where everything comes together, if you were at that place at that time, you were part of something big. It meant that we weren't going to get picked up, not on that day and maybe not ever.
It was just the seven of us, the seven of us and the endless snow. 
He looked out at the snow pressed against the glass, literally tons of it. Then he looked back at me and made the same shoot-me-now gesture as Pete had the night before, but he made it with both hands. Then he dropped his thumbs, shooting himself in both temples. Good morning to you too.
Then I did something I hadn't done for a very long time, probably not since I was a little boy. I prayed. I  prayed for myself. I prayed for my mom. I prayed for all of us.


    
     Trapped by Michael Northrop was a very good read. Believable as well as compelling. It gripped me from the get-go. It's definitely a treat for readers who enjoy contemporary thrillers. Realistic and creepy, Trapped is a chilling reminder that the scariest scenarios are ones that could actually happen.

     The plot of Trapped could easily be described with one sentence: A powerful, merciless snowstorm hits the town of Tattawa, cutting people off from the rest of the world,  turning their homes and cars into icy death-traps. That's just the general idea of the book, now let's talk details...  The story starts with the first flakes of snow coming down on the remote town. The snowstorm warning has been issued and the kids at Tattawa  Regional High School are happy to learn that their classes were canceled. The majority of people manages to leave just before the severe weather conditions make it impossible to drive. A handful of kids and a teacher stay behind, still waiting to be picked up by their relatives. As the snowstorm worsens, it quickly becomes obvious that no one is coming to get them. They're stuck at school and their only option is to wait it out. Now, you may think it's not a big deal, after all what's so bad about being stranded at a high school for a few days? You're not out in the storm, you've got shelter, access to school's cafeteria (=food), a place to sleep and a bunch of people to keep you from feeling lonely. How bad can it possibly get? Well, pretty bad. First the power goes off. Then water freezes in the pipes. The food supplies won't last forever, either. And the snow keeps on falling... Day after day. The roof is so laden with snow that it threatens to collapse any second. You can't leave the school, but it's no longer safe to stay there, either. What you considered to be a safe shelter turns out to be a death trap...

      The setting of this book is simple yet powerful. Trapped prays on our most basic, instinctive fears. The idea of being buried under tons of snow is absolutely terrifying to me. I love snow. Where I grew up, we used to have very snowy Winters every year and it was fantastic. I always enjoyed playing in the snow, making a snowman, skiing and having snow fights. I just love Winter sceneries, with ice frosted trees and the world covered with a fluffy, white carpet.. so magical! The snow in Trapped, though, is nothing like the one from my Winter magic land. Northrop's snow is a deadly force of nature, ruthless and unstoppable. The situation described in this book - something you definitely wouldn't want to find yourself in.

      I found this story to be unrelentingly bleak. Sadly, although I really loved the premise, I didn't really connect with the characters. Don't get me wrong, they were really great - believable and very pleasant to read about (I especially liked Scotty's realistic and often very funny narrative voice and the back and forth between him and his friends). I just didn't get to know them well enough to actually care about them. Perhaps it's because the book was only 220 pages long and I didn't have enough time to get attached to anyone. But also, in my opinion, it's not a character-driven story. As far as I'm concerned, the kids stranded at Tattawa High could easily be replaced with a different bunch and it wouldn't make much difference to me. It's the situation that mattered, not necessarily the people. It's the WHAT, WHEN and WHERE, not really the WHO. That's not to say I didn't like the MC or I didn't care what will happen to him at all, I just wished I could get to know him a little bit better.

      Overall, Trapped is a great, fast paced and engaging read, that will keep you on the edge of your sit. I enjoyed reading it a lot. It's a well written YA thriller that sticks with you long after you put the book down. I recommend it for snowy Winter nights, when it's too cold to go out and all you want to do is curl up on your couch with a steaming cup of coffee and a good book.





❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤


Thanks to the fabulous
I have one hardcover copy of Trapped up for grabs!
The giveaway will be posted tomorrow, together with the author interview with the fab Michael Northrop.
Don't forget to stop by and enter!!!



❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ 

This review is posted as a part of the MEN in YA event (Nov 20th - Dec 20th)


❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

Monday, November 28, 2011

MEN in YA: Interview + GIVEAWAY with MR Merrick, author of Exiled


Something totally awesome is happening on the Bookish blog today! I'm very happy and honored to welcome the utmost fabulous MR Merrick to my blog for an interview and a GIVEAWAY:) Matt is the author of the brilliant Exiled - an absolutely gorgeous, action-packed YA debut novel that rocked my socks off (or, in the words of the fab Bookish Brunette: ROCKED MY FACE OFF!!!).

Guys, please give a warm welcome to our fantabulous YA Galaxy Defender, Matt Merrick!



E: Evie
MM: Matt Merrick
E: Welcome to Bookish Matt! It’s really great to talk to you today! Your YA debut novel, Exiled, is on everyone’s lips these days! Could you tell us who or what inspired you to write it?
MM: To be honest, it all has to do with a little girl named Peyton, my daughter. My work life has always been all over the place, I have a bit of problem staying challenged at work. I’ve done dozens of different things, and my schedule has always been erratic, but one thing I promised myself would always remain constant, is being there to tuck her in at night.

Exiled isn’t exactly geared for children, but the bedtime stories I would make up to tell my daughter, sparked a passion for creative writing that I never knew existed. I’ve always loved writing, but before then, I’d never been a storyteller. I owe all of this desire and passion for writing fiction to her.
E: How long did it take for you to write Exiled?
MM: It took me 6 months to write the first draft, and I must have edited it nearly a dozen times before I sent it to a professional editor. I think in total, I spent 16 – 18 months working on it.

When I started this journey, I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know how to write a novel, format, edit. I had to learn everything from the ground up. That definitely made the process take longer than it needed to. It didn’t help that I had no writing community. There was nothing locally that I could use to help me, besides books. I didn’t find the wonderful world of Twitter until Exiled was nearly published, so I was really left to do it all on my own.

To put all this into perspective for any non-writers. The sequel to Exiled is SHIFT. I wrote the first draft of that in 6 weeks, and when it’s published, I’ll have spent about 8 months actually working on it.
E: How would you describe your book in 5 words?
MMMagical, Unique, Dark, Passionate, Explosive
E: What was the most fun part of the book (or chapter) for you to write?
MM: The part I enjoy the most in writing is the first draft. There are no rules and you don’t hold back. You unleash a fury of keystrokes and a story explodes on the page. There’s nothing more enjoyable than not thinking about anything but an epic story.

I actually have two favorites chapters. The last chapter – including the epilogue, because it’s so powerful, and there is so much magic. And I think Chapter 17, where they first go to the tree. That scene is where everything really builds up and gets exciting for me. I’ve read this book a hundred times, but that scene, every time, gets me really jacked up
E: Are any of your characters based on people in your own life? Which of the characters do you feel is most like you?
MMI think it’s safe to say I’m most like Chase. When I started writing Exiled, his name was Chase, but in a nutshell, he was me. After a few chapters though, he became someone different. I actually had to go back and re-write the first few chapters because he wasn’t the same person he started out as. Everyone else was completely original, not based on anyone I knew, but each of their personalities has a some of me inside them, if only a little.
E: Have you always wanted to become a writer? At what point in your life did you decide that this is the right career path for you?
MMI’ve always enjoyed writing, but up until a few years ago, I never realized just how much I loved it. Exiled was when I started writing fiction, and it wasn’t until I was halfway done the first draft, that I realized I wanted to make a career out of this. I discovered a new passion, and I knew it was the career I wanted, because I’d never felt this way about anything I’d ever done before.It has brought such focus and determination to me; I hope I never lose that
E: How do you approach writing a new book? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
MMThis is a tough one for me. I wrote Exiled as a pantser. No outline, no general guideline at all. All I knew is I wanted to create new monsters, put a spin on old ones, and have a lot of really cool magic. In writing the sequel, I did a solid outline. I plotted it from beginning to end. I thought this would take the fun out of writing for me, but it didn’t, it actually made it more enjoyable. Maybe that’s because the world and foundation had already been built. I think I’ll continue to be a plotter, but if I start writing an entirely new series, I might be a pantser for the first book, and just see how far an idea can take me.
E:  What’s next in line for you? When can we expect to see the second book in Exiled series?
MM: Next is Book 2 in The Protector Series, SHIFT. I think before I start any new projects, I’ll continue working on this series. If all goes well, SHIFT will be available for your reading consumption on February 1st.

In SHIFT, you can expect more of the non-stop action you got from EXILED. It’s a lot longer book, about 1 ½ times longer actually, and we get to see more of all the characters you love. We learn more about Chase, we get to see a new side of Willy, but we really get a solid look into Rayna;her past, who she is, and who she might become.
E: If you could time travel, where would you go first?
MM: There are so many time periods I’d love to visit. I wouldn’t’ go to the future. I like the mystery of not knowing what will happen, but I’d love to go back to the time of the Mayans, preferably near the end so I could know what really went down. That, or like 3000BC, and watch how Stonehenge was built. Of course, this only works if I can speak their language. Do I get like a book, or a special machine that can translate anything and everything?
E: If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast for it?
MM: Oh man…I don’t want to be a party pooper, but I can’t answer this. I have this thing where I don’t like to tell people what my characters look like, outside of their descriptions in the book. I like to leave it all to their imagination. It’s the same reason I don’t put character’s faces on my covers. I might show you a character, but there will be no face.

There’s a few bloggers out there that have posted pictures of who they think would play Chase. They have some pretty wicked ideas. I have a picture of Rayna on my computer. Actually it’s perfect, but I found it randomly and have no idea who she is. If it was up to me to cast her, I’d put a banner across the internet with her picture and be like “If this is you, contact me ASAP.”
E: What genre do you like to read in your free time? Which of your favorite books would you recommend everybody to read?
MM: I love to read Fantasy, Thrillers, and True Crime. Really, I’ll read anything, but if I’m going in search of a book, that’s where I’ll look.

I always recommend the first three books in The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. I absolutely love that series. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading the fourth yet. And without question, if they haven’t already read them, I will forever suggest The Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling’s got mad skillz. For real.
I just want to say a quick thank you to Evie, for giving me the opportunity to be here on her blog, and the chance to chat with all her readers!

Matt, thank you so much for joining us today!  
I'm can't wait to get my hands on the second book in the Protector Series!
Huge thanks for being so absolutely wonderful!

I hope you guys enjoyed the interview, for more information about Matt Merrick and his books, please visit his website: Matt Merrick or/and read my review of Exiled.

Here's some more drool-inducing, swoon-worthy awesomeness from Matt!




Huge thank you to Matt Merrick for taking the pictures for the MEN in YA event! <3

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Thanks to the fabulous:
MR Merrick

I have one signed paperback to give away to one (incredibly) lucky winner!!!
I also have one eBook copy for my International followers!
To be eligible to win all you need to do is be a follower of my blog and enter through Rafflecopter below.
The paperback giveaway is open to US/Canada only, the ebook giveaway is open Worldwide!
Ends: December 20th
Please let me know in your comment if you're entering to win the paperback or eBook copy!





❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ 

This interview and giveaway are posted as a part of the MEN in YA event (Nov 20th - Dec 20th)
For more awesomeness (reviews, interviews, giveaways, guest posts) please click the banner below!


❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

Sunday, November 27, 2011

MEN in YA: Exiled by MR Merrick (Review)

Genre:Young Adult, Supernatural
Publication.Date  July 1st 2011
Pages:234
Published By:  MR Merrick
WebsiteMR Merrick

Exiled - Goodreads
My review copy:Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Buy now:

 Amazon |




     Chase Williams is a demon hunter in the Circle, or at least he was supposed to be. Failing to develop any elemental magic on his fifteenth birthday left him exiled in a world full of half-demons, and no hunters to protect him.

When Chase discovers the Circle's plan to unlock a portal and unleash pure-blood demons into the world, he vows to stop them. Knowing he can't do it alone however, he accepts help from Rayna, a sexy witch with an attitude and a secret.

As the pair attempt to stop the Circle, Chase realizes working with a demon is only half the battle. When they find themselves in the middle of the Circle's plan, it leaves one of them to decide what their friendship is worth, and the other's life depending on it
(goodreads.com)




A hunter doesn't mistake the feeling that demons are around. It moves down your spine and chills your bones. Feeling it proved I was indeed a hunter, even without an element.
"Your name is feared by many in Underworld. Your father has created quite the reputation for himself, so they fear you as well," Marcus said.
I smirked "As they should."
He shook his head. "That wasn't a compliment. You will come to learn that the Circle is not pure good nor the Underworld all evil. There are those who belong to the Underworld, such as Rayna, who have no use for the needless killing you associate with demons. There are also those in the Circle whose intentions are not completely honorable. There is something of human frailty in all of us."
You know, you're like a walking magnet for weird shit, Chase.


    
     Supernatural (the TV Show) meets The Mortal Instruments in Matt Merrick's insanely addictive, action-packed novel, Exiled. This excellent debut sparks and crackles with so much detail and emotion that it's virtually impossible not to fell in love with it. A superb cast of characters, clever dialogues, exciting plot twists and rich visual tapestry - all that makes it a book that readers simply can't afford to pass up! An absolute must-read!

No matter how many times I survived, there was always another danger around the corner, and I still wasn't used to being the victim. I was Chase Williams, a demon hunter. I wasn't supposed to be the one looking over my shoulder, I was supposed to be stalking prey.[Chase]

     Chase Williams is a demon hunter who once belonged to the Circle (group of warriors bearing elemental magic). He was raised and trained to become a hunter. At the age of fifteen his powers were supposed to manifest themselves, but, well, they didn't. He's a magic-free zone, null, zero, nada. Together with his mother, he gets kicked-out of the Circle as a punishment for being a disgrace to his father and other Hunters. But that is only the beginning of his problems. Not only does he have to learn how to live among mortals on Earth, but it also appears that our MC is a magnet for all sorts of trouble, always crossing paths with Underworlders, and having to fight his way through life.

Now that we have the pissing contest out of the way, we need information. [Rayna]

     Two years after his exile, he runs into a weird looking demon(ess) and a hunter who seems to be protecting her. Imagine his surprise when these two end up saving his life! Like that wasn't enough, they also tell him that things have changed in the Circle. And not for good at all. Something weird is going on, demon hunters are kidnapping Underworlders and no one knows why. Chase is about to uncover a disturbingly sophisticated web of lies and a plot to take over the world. He will also learn that not all demon hunters are noble and good willed, and not all Underworlders deserve to die.

Yeah, yeah, you expected better from me, being the son of the big, scary Riley Williams and all. Save it, I've heard it.[Chase]

     OMG! Exiled exceeded all my expectations! Seriously, I did not think it would be THAT good. I saw people raving about it on Twitter, and I noticed that its Goodreads page is literally bombarded with tons of 5 star reviews, but I really didn't anticipate to be so amazed by it! OH-MY-GOSH!! It's just... unbelievably good! I know we all have those moments when we're hesitant to pick up a self published book, but let me just tell you - this book is nothing short of awesome. Passing up on it would be like saying no to a huge box of brand new books (or Starbucks Gingerbread Latte) - impossible to resist!

      All the characters are fabulous. From the overly confident, charming, sexy and incredibly witty MC (Chase), to all the fantastic supporting characters, like the hilarious and insanely cute Underworlder, Willy (he is soooo adorable!!!). And then there's also Rayna! Wow, what a great chick! She's hot, totally kick-ass, sassy, funny, thoughtful, temperamental and loyal. Most importantly - she's not in the least whiny - thank goodness for that!  I love Rayna (sorry Chase, you're awesome, too, but she's better!) Merrick's character-and-world-building is simply splendid. I honestly don't know how he does it! There's so much detail to the story, every scene, place and person is described so well, you can easily visualize all that in your head. The plot itself is brilliant, I wouldn't change a thing! I found myself wanting to learn more about the Circle and the Underworld, discover all the mysteries, get to know the characters! I genuinely cared about all that stuff, how extremely rare is that! The wait for the second part is going to be painful for sure, I can't wait to get my hands on it.



        To sum it all up: Exiled is a mesmerizing, spine-tingling wonder of a book. It's the perfect blend of action, magic, mystery, thriller, romance and humor. A one-of-a-kind reading experience that you'll never forget! Read it!




Stop by tomorrow for my interview with the fabulous author and a chance to win a copy of Exiled! 
Trust me, you want it!!!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

This review is posted as a part of the MEN in YA event (Nov 20th - Dec 20th)


❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

Friday, November 25, 2011

MEN in YA: Ashfall by Mike Mullin (Review)

Genre:Young Adult, Dystopia
Publication.Date  October 11th 2011
Pages:466
Published By:  Tanglewood Press
WebsiteMike Mullin

Ashfall - Goodreads
My review copy:Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Buy now:

Barnes and Noble | Amazon | Book Depository




     Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

     Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.
(goodreads.com)




“A librarian can’t live by books alone, and I wouldn’t eat them if I could. Feel too much like cannibalism.”
“I used to think that teachers who gave homework on weekends should be forced to grade papers for an eternity in hell.”
“But unlike thunder, this didn’t stop. It went on and on, machine-gun style, as if Zeus had loaded his bolts into an M60 with an inexhaustible ammo crate.”


    
    I first heard about Ashfall around the time when my hubby and I were planning our Trans-America trip and we've been spending hours after hours searching through the depths of Uncle Google for interesting places, landmarks and other must-see things along the way. I remember my husband showing me pictures of Yellowstone National Park, and how out-of-this-world beautiful it looked like, with all its unique vegetation, geysers and hot springs. I wanted to go there so bad! And that's when I saw someone's Waiting on Wednesday post, spotlighting Mike Mullin's Ashfall... And the book sounded so fascinating: a Yellowstone Volcano eruption covers a great portion of North America in a blanket of ash? How cool does that sound?!  I knew that I had to get my hands on it!  I read it the same day I got it in the mail. I couldn't bring myself to put it down. I loved it. I then re-read it - which is not something that I usually do, as I simply don't have enough time! Yes, it was that good! Compelling, disturbing, touching, thought-provoking - Ashfall is all that and more! Its power lays in it's realistic grounding, after all The Yellowstone Caldera is known for the most violent eruptions, ones that had previously released vast amounts of ash into the atmosphere, leading to extinction of many species. The most scary part? It could happen again. Anytime.

"I was home alone on Friday evening. Those who survived know exactly which Friday I mean. Everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing, in the same way my parents remembered 9/11, but more so. Together we lost the old world, slipping from that cocoon of mechanized comfort into the hellish land we inhabit now. The pre-Friday world of school, cell phones, and refrigerators dissolved into this post-Friday world of ash, darkness, and hunger."

     With these words starts the story of Alex, a teenage boy from Iowa. He's home alone when the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, covering the sky with a thick layer of volcano ash. A chunk of rock blasted off the eruption hits Alex's house, collapsing a part of it and nearly killing him. He then spends a couple of days with the neighbors, hoping for his parents to return from their weekend trip. It isn't until a group of armed man breaks into their house in search of food, that Alex realizes that there will be no waiting it out. The ash-covered world is no longer the world he once knew. It's not safe anymore, and no one is coming to help him. There is no electricity, the phones and cells no longer work and the food supplies are running low. Desperate to find his family, Alex puts on his skies and sets off on an impossible journey. A journey that will change the way he sees the world forever.

“Hunger of choice is a painful luxury; hunger of necessity is terrifying torture.”

     Mike Mullin is a phenomenal writer. He doesn't need vampires, werewolves, demons or any other supernatural stuff to keep you at the edge of your chair. With his painfully realistic depiction of a disaster-stricken world, Mullin not only scares the living @#$% out of you, but also makes you feel for his characters to the point that you hurt, cry and laugh along with them. This is an extremely well-written novel that (at times) reminded me of The Stand by Stephen King (in a way). Of course, there are probably more differences than similarities, but the overall feeling of despair, hopelessness and uncertainty, mixed with hope and a sense of adventure, adds up to an equally fascinating and mesmerizing read. A frightening portrait of a world that could be our own soon.

“For the first time ever, I felt ashamed of my species. The volcano had taken our homes, our food, our automobiles, and our airplanes, but it hadn't taken our humanity. No, we'd given that up on our own.”

     The civilization (as we know it) crumbles into pieces in a shockingly short period of time. The catastrophe brings out the worst of human nature. People turn into ruthless and merciless savages. They will stop at nothing to satisfy their basic needs of food and shelter. With amazing accurateness, Mullin paints the grim, ugly reality of the ash-covered wastelands and the travails of the survivors. The atmosphere is heavy, gray and extremely depressing. All of a sudden the world turned into a dark, treacherous place, in which everyone you meet could be a potential threat. Mullin certainly does not hold back and Asfhall is disquieting and very graphic at times. There are parts of this book that will make you cringe in disgust, but there are also other parts that will make you tear up, or even laugh!

“But even more than I wanted to check out and give my emotional wounds time to scab over, I wanted to live.”

     Despite the masterful storytelling and the utmost fascinating setting of this book, I found the main character slightly unbelievable - at least for the first half of the book. It didn't stop me from enjoying the story, though, as the issue I had with him  was really not that big of a deal. It's just that.. After the gang attack on his neighbor's place, Alex seemed to be deeply shocked and terrified, repelled by the sight of blood and disgusted with the violence. That's one of the reasons he left that house, running through the door without ever looking back. That's, of course, totally understandable, considering he's just a teenage boy, who've never been exposed to anything like that. But then.. a few chapters later we see him fighting ferociously, killing people. All tough and brave... It was, like I said, just a bit too thinly stretched for my taste. He seemed so vulnerable and sensitive at first, so lost and scared, and then all of a sudden we see him turn all macho and bad-ass. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the change, as it indicates the character's growth, I just think it was rushed a bit. The contrast between these few chapters was too strong not to notice.

     But that's basically the only issue I had with this book. Everything else was beyond fantastic. Ashfall is no doubt one of the books I will be coming back to. It's worth reading, so don't hesitate to pick it up!




❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

This review is posted as a part of the MEN in YA event (Nov 20th - Dec 20th)


❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...