Bright Star Review

Book: Bright Star
Author: Nickie Anderson
Edition Read: eBook

Blurb:

It's bad enough that Sadira Pascal's father doesn't make it home to celebrate her fifteenth birthday. He might be a busy hovership engineer pulling overtime on a new design, but he's always been home for the important things. It's worse when she discovers her father decided to ride on the maiden voyage of his newest ship, the CAS Bright Star, without even telling her. But things really fall apart during Sadira's field trip with her class to observe the hovership launch. Instead of a successful flight, she watches the Bright Star fall out of the sky.

The Central government confirms her father's death, leaving Sadira to pick up the pieces of her former life. While she struggles with her loss, Private Baruj Haddad tries to convince her that her father and the rest of the Bright Star crew are still alive. At first, Sadira doesn't believe there's any hope. But then she stumbles across a message that makes her think maybe, just maybe, her father is still alive. As she digs deeper into the Bright Star's crash, Sadira uncovers secrets about her father's work, secrets that put her and everyone she loves in danger.

My Review: 

**5 Stars**

I received a copy of this book for an honest review. 

MY OVERVIEW: This book has gotten my elusive 5 star rating! What an exciting read! At first, as with most dystopians, you are thinking that the society is actually pretty nice. But then what dystopian society is actually utopian? None.

PROS: I really liked Dr. DeWitt. All I could picture was Doc Brown from Back to the Future. :) I enjoyed that this was not a book that you could tell what was going to happen next. It really had you guessing, and it wasn't one of those books where everything went right all the time.

CONS: I really didn't have too many complaints. I think the one I do have is Papa. He was really annoying and not at all what I expected at the end of the book. I just wish he was a little different.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I really didn't want this book to end. I hope that there is going to be another one, and soon! I highly recommend this book, especially for dystopian fans.

Add Bright Star to your Goodreads shelf.

Starflower Tour - Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours...

Starflower
Tales of Goldstone Wood #4
by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Paperback, 400 pages
Published November 1st 2012 by Bethany House

Premise:

When a cursed dragon-witch kidnaps the lovely Lady Gleamdren, Eanrin sets boldly forth on rescue mission...and a race against his rival for Gleamdren's favor. Intent upon his quest, the last thing the immortal Faerie needs is to become mixed up with the troubles of an insignificant mortal.

But when he stumbles upon a maiden trapped in an enchanted sleep, he cannot leave her alone in the dangerous Wood Between. One waking kiss later, Eanrin suddenly finds his story entangled with that of young Starflower. A strange link exists between this mortal girl and the dragon-witch. Will Starflower prove the key to Lady Gleamdren's rescue? Or will the dark power from which she flees destroy both her and her rescuer?





About the Author:

Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a passel of cats, and one long-suffering dog. When she's not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, and studies piano, painting, and pastry baking. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. She is the author of HEARTLESS, VEILED ROSE, MOONBLOOD, and STARFLOWER, with DRAGONWITCH due to release in 2013. HEARTLESS and VEILED ROSE have each been honored with a Christy Award.

Find & Follow:

Facebook

Twitter

Website/Blog

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Get Your Copy:

Bethany House
Barnes & Noble
The Book Depository
Amazon

My Review:
**4 Stars**
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

MY OVERVIEW: It is hard for me to think of where to start my review. I really enjoyed it and was happy that it worked well as a stand-alone. I have not read any of the previous three books in this series, but I didn't need to. This book acted as a prequel to those, so I am actually glad I read this one first. 

PROS: I loved Eanrin! Ok, honestly, I didn't like him at first, but he really grows on you. I think it was really interesting how the women in the village were treated and viewed - seen but not heard. 

CONS: I wish that The Hound was explained a little bit more towards the beginning. You are really guessing about who/what it is for most of the book. Gleamdren was really annoying. From beginning to end; but then I guess she was supposed to be. 

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: The book did have religious undertones, but it wasn't overwhelming. You knew they were there, and they worked really well in the story... but you didn't feel like the author was preaching at you. I am planning on reading the rest of the books in this series.

The River Calls to Starflower

     The trees drew back from the girl as she fled. They dared not interfere while she walked that Path, no matter how they might wish to. She took no notice of them. how long has she fled now? Had it been one night, or days and weeks of this nightmare? And always the howls pounded her memory. 

     Suddenly, the howls vanished. A new voice spoke from the gloom. 

     Come to me, pretty maid.

     The girl stopped, swaying where she stood, on the verge of collapsing. Slowly, as though she dared not hope to find what she sought, she turned her head to the left. Between the trees a river sparkled like a ribbon of pure light and sweetness. 

     Her thirst was overwhelming. Even the snarls faded from her mind, replaced by the river's voice, babbling, gurgling, inviting. Come to me, pretty maid, it said, though she heard only the voice of water. 

     Her feet left bloodstains on the moss and rocks as she hastened down to the river's edge. A glint of gold shimmered in the tail of her eye, shining even in the Wood's oppressive shadows. She ignored it. Falling to her knees on the bank of the water, she plunged both hands in. The water stung her wrists where the harsh cords had bitten into her skin. 

     Drink deeply. Drink.

     The water flowed about her arms, fresh and alive, and the sounds of its flowing filled her ears. She cupped her hands and lifted the cooling liquid to her lips. She drank. 

     One long, shuddering breath. Then she fell upon the bank, one arm extended into the water, the other upon the shore. Her black hair covered her face, and the River ran his fingers through the ends of it, pulling, pulling. 

     Sleep deeply. Sleep,  said the River. 

Check out the entire December Tour!

3 - Laura @ Colorimetry - Launch!

3 - Laura @ Letters to the Cosmos - Review

4 - Kathy @ I Am a Reader, Not a Writer - Excerpt

4 - Kari @ Kari's Crowded Bookshelf - Review/Excerpt - River Calls

5 - Aleksandra @ Aleksandra's Corner - Guest Post - Inspired by Cats I

6 - Lisa @ Bookworm Lisa - Guest Post - Inspired by Cats II

6 - Mandy @ The Reading Diaries - Review

7 - Alicia @ Mortality Bites - Dragonwitch page REVEAL

7 - Naj @ Unputdownable Books - Guest Post - Inspired by Cats III

9 - Lissette @ Passion and Life - Guest Post - Night Terrors

10 - Laura @ Colorimetry - Review

10 - Bonnie @ A Backwards Story - Review

12 - Aimee @ Getting Your Read On - Guest Post - The Faces of Love I

12 - Kimberly Krey @ Kimberly Krey - Guest Post - Drafts

13 - Abbi @ Christian Novels - Tales of Goldstone Wood Reviews

13 - Mandy @ The Reading Diaries - Interview

14 - Ivy @ Open the Page - Guest Post - The Faces of Love II

16 - Alicia @ Mortality Bites - Review

17 - Len @ Musings of a Reader Happy - Highlight/Excerpt - Meet Dragonwitch

17 - Jen @ Literally Jen - Review

18 - Beth @ Living a Goddess Life - Review

19 - Rach @ Stressed Rach - Guest Post - Illustrated Sneak Peak

19 - Christy @ Christy's Cozy Corners - Review

20 - Heather @ Proud Book Nerd - Review

20 - Heidi @ Geo Librarian - Guest Post - The Faces of Love III

21 - Jaime @ Goodreads - Review

21 - Finale @ Colorimetry - Giveaway winner announced

Giveaway:

GRAND PRIZE: The first four books The Tales of Goldstone Wood: Heartless, Veiled Rose, Moonblood and Starflower + SWAG.   2nd Place is a copy of Starflower + SWAG.

Grand Prize

2nd Place

Enter to win until 12/20. Winner to be announced 12/21. Open to anyone who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here & on Colorimetry as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Void where prohibited by law.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal ~ Desolate City

Desolate City by Racquel Jones

After being invited to a party, Seiren never dreamed of being haunted by the Haydens--supernatural beings--of her city. She was suppose to forget about how they watched her every move days before. She was suppose to forget how everything went downhill after meeting a certain white eyed Hayden. But that would be too simple...

Ereshkigal, a group of powerful beings that all Haydens resent, have their sights on Seiren and Haydens from every corner of Black Phoenix will do everything in their power to stop them.

With the help of the gun-toting agent Luann and Hayden guardian Julius, Seiren must figure out her place in all of this and why she is literally running for her life.

Expected Publication: January 10th 2013

Add Desolate City to your Goodreads shelf.

Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for setting up this cover reveal!

Antigoddess Cover Reveal & Author Interview with Kendare Blake

About Antigoddess:

Old Gods never die...

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health. 

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra - an ordinary girl who was once and extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn't involve herself in the business of gods - in fact, she doesn't even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning. 

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don't just flicker out. 

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath. 

The Goddess War is about to begin. 

Expected Publication: September 10th 2013

Add Antigoddess to your Goodreads shelf.

Pre-order from Amazon.com.

My interview with the amazing Kendare Blake:

1) Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares definitely had a "creep factor" to them. Will you be bringing that same thrill to Antigoddess?

Yes, to the thrill. And actually, yes to the "creep factor" every once in a while. There's a good deal of blood and guts in Antigoddess. Can't seem to get away from that in any of my writing. Violence. It happens. But I don't know what scares people, really. Everyone is different. I hoped the Suicide Forest in Girl of Nightmares would creep people out, but the basement scene in Anna? I had no idea. 

2) How did you come up with the title?

The title was a bit of a struggle, actually. Originally, it was called Sing, Goddess and it was going to be a duology followed by Speak, Muse. Mythology buffs might recognize these as the openings to The Iliad and They Odyssey. But, after the book was finished, my agent thought that those titles didn't depict the action.. packed-ness? So I brainstormed different titles and realized it was a trilogy. 

I started thinking about lots of stuff. Olympus. Aegean. And then I remembered Antigone. I always loved her name. The girl born against things. And from Antigone, came Antigoddess. The other books have titles too, but I can't tell you yet. 

3) Can you describe Antigoddess in 5 words or less?

Dying gods and other disasters. 5 words is hard. This is actually one of the old chapter titles. 

4) What inspired you to write a book based on the Greek gods & goddesses?

I've always loved Greek mythology. I read it voraciously, and studied it a bit in college. But this novel actually evolved from a short story, about dying goddesses, and how alone they were in the modern world. 

5) How many books will there be in the Antigoddess series?

Three. But the world is vast. I might return to it. Who knows? Too soon to say. 

6) Do you prefer to write with pen and paper or on a computer/laptop?

Computer! I could never write with pen and paper. My handwriting blows, usually. 

7) Do you have any advice to give aspiring authors?

Well, read, is the most obvious piece. But other than that, write. It's important, and often quite difficult, to actually coax the story out of your head and onto paper. But if you just dream about it, it won't do anyone any good. Except you, because dreaming is fun. 

I want to thank Kendare for letting me be apart of this amazing cover reveal and for her awesome interview. 

You can find Kendare on Goodreads, Twitter, Blog, and her website.