Synopsis The mind-blowing new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Matter and Recursion—currently in development as a motion picture at Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners
“You are the next step in human evolution.”
At first, Logan Ramsay isn’t sure if anything’s different. He just feels a little . . . sharper. Better able to concentrate. Better at multitasking. Reading a bit faster, memorizing better, needing less sleep.
But before long, he can’t deny it: Something’s happening to his brain. To his body. He’s starting to see the world, and those around him—even those he loves most—in whole new ways.
The truth is, Logan’s genome has been hacked. And there’s a reason he’s been targeted for this upgrade. A reason that goes back decades to the darkest part of his past, and a horrific family legacy.
Worse still, what’s happening to him is just the first step in a much larger plan, one that will inflict the same changes on humanity at large—at a terrifying cost.
Because of his new abilities, Logan’s the one person in the world capable of stopping what’s been set in motion. But to have a chance at winning this war, he’ll have to become something other than himself. Maybe even something other than human.
And even as he’s fighting, he can’t help wondering: what if humanity’s only hope for a future really does lie in engineering our own evolution?
Intimate in scale yet epic in scope, Upgrade is an intricately plotted, lightning-fast tale that charts one man’s thrilling transformation, even as it asks us to ponder the limits of our humanity—and our boundless potential.
—————————————————————————-
My Review This was a riveting story from the opening pages. Logan Ramsay is as ordinary as they come. Ordinary intelligence, physique, life, but with an extraordinary backstory that unfolds slowly. He is the offspring of one of the world’s most brilliant biotech scientists, who also happens to be disgraces after her discovery led to the death of scores of people across the globe. But that pales in comparison to the legacy she leaves behind after her death.
After an unfortunate accident, Logan finds himself the victim of an upgrade to his entire body. He not only becomes stronger, more focused, and develops more endurance, but his new intelligence puts his former intellect to shame. But the government cannot allow him to be among the masses in his upgraded form. Soon, Logan is running for his life and the lives of everyone on earth. Because the same upgrade he was given is coming for everyone in the belief that smarter people will stop destroying the planet. Only one problem, up to a billion people could die from the upgrade.
Plot The plotting is expertly done. The author takes on a fast-paced adventure as Logan races against time to save himself, his family, and the world as a whole. There are several amazing twists that were both heartbreaking and stunning. The subplotting is subtle and involves Logan’s family, but it’s so intertwined with the main plot, it almost doesn’t feel like a subplot.
Characters The characters were fascinating, particularly Logan. His metamorphosis was believable as he evolved, his emotions wholly in synch with what he was experiencing. The rest of the cast were nearly as well developed, even minor characters.
What I Loved About UPGRADE 1. The Science. Crouch does a great job of making the futuristic seem possible and relevant.
2. Pacing. A fast-paced story that only let up long enough to allow us to catch our breath.
3. Plot. The plot was not only interesting, but chilling, and it pulled me in.
4. Theme. While the author is a little heavy with the theme, I think it’s an important one to dissect from all angles and he did a great job of that.
5. Twist. I love a good plot twist, and Blake Crouch had several that were fun as well as surprising.
Bottom Line A gripping, fast-paced tale about a totally plausible, near-future dystopian Earth.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author Blake is a bestselling novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of a dozen novels, most recently, Dark Matter, Recursion, and Upgrade, for which he is also writing the movie for Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners. His international-bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy was adapted into a television series for FOX, executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan, that was Summer 2015’s #1 show.
With Chad Hodge, Crouch also created Good Behavior, the TNT show starring Michelle Dockery based on his Letty Dobesh novellas. His novel, Recursion, is currently being developed as a Netflix series by Shonda Rhimes and Matt Reeves, and Skydance is developing a film adaptation of his novella, Summer Frost, based on Crouch’s script. His novels have been translated into forty languages and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Ellery Queen, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and Cemetery Dance.
At the moment, Crouch is writing a new book and creating a nine-episode adaptation of his novel Dark Matter, for Apple TV+. Blake lives in Colorado.
Welcome to the cover reveal for ANGEL OF ASHES AND DUST, the final book in the new adult dystopian fantasy series, The Wormwood Trilogy, by D.H. Nevins, releasing October 18, 2022. See below for information on the book and series, preorder links, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
ANGEL OF ASHES AND DUST (The Wormwood Trilogy #3) by D.H. Nevins
About the Book Title: ANGEL OF ASHES AND DUST Series: The Wormwood Trilogy #3 Author: D.H. Nevins Publisher: Black Wraith Books Release Date: October 18, 2022
Genre: New Adult Dystopian Fantasy
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis
The end of her people and the death of a planet are looming over her. Kali Michaels must choose between the illusion of safety and the danger of her own power in this anticipated and heart-stopping finale to The Wormwood Trilogy.
Kali learned the hard way that her abilities cannot be trusted if they can be used against her. In an effort to protect those she cares about, she is determined to let the power of her Shadow lie dormant, despite the dangers rising up around her.
Now, tormented by an unstoppable enemy, she and Tiamat Wormwood must try to lead others while doing the impossible—ensuring the survival of humans and half-angels alike.
But how can she partner with Tiamat, when her proximity could kill him?
And how can the Nephilim, Tiamat, be trusted to save a planet, if he is the one who shattered it in the first place?
Little do they know that sometimes, for new beginnings, that which they love must first be destroyed.
————————————————————————————–
ANGEL OF ASHES AND DUST (The Wormwood Trilogy #3) by D.H. Nevins (Full Cover)
About the Author D.H. Nevins was born in Toronto and currently lives in a quiet area of Ontario, surrounded by forests and lakes. By day, she is a personable, friendly school teacher. By night, she silently chuckles as she writes about destroying the world. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys world travel, hiking, camping, flying around on her motorcycle or dabbling in live theatre.
Welcome to the book blitz for CHILD OF ETHERCLAW, the first book in the young adult science fiction/dystopian series, Etherclaw, by Matty Roberts. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on their giveaway.
CHILD OF ETHERCLAW (Etherclaw Series #1) by Matty Roberts
Synopsis
The bonds of family go well beyond blood.
But can those bonds hold when the blood itself carries a devastating secret?
Fenlee’s opal necklace had always radiated a certain warmth since her mother’s death. But now, at sixteen, her world begins to unravel as the stone sparks to life, revealing itself to be an otherworldly artifact of untold power.
Between her mechatronics studies at the academy and scavenging expeditions beneath the sprawling city of New Cascadia, Fenlee and her adopted brother, Elliot, try to decipher the mysteries of her necklace and its link to events in Fenlee’s past.
But they’re not alone in their search.
Strange undercity dwellers offer cryptic warnings, drones track their movements, and deadly corporate agents lurk in the shadows. When tragedy rips Fenlee’s family apart, she must learn to use the artifact’s power to save those who are deeply precious to her. But nothing can prepare her for the dark truths that she will uncover on that journey…
“Lee,” Elliot mumbled. “I’m not who you think I am.”
————————————————————————————–
Excerpt #2 When you grow up in an orphanage, you learn to read people pretty quickly. When you grow up in an orphanage run by an abusive drunk and his neglectful wife, you learn that everyone is full of shyt and you have to fend for yourself if you want to survive. The former enabled Quinn to do the latter. Reading people helped him find good marks, then he and Lyra would rob them blind. Lyra was quick and clever, like most foxes, but she was special. She could start fires with the flick of her tail, which came in very handy when you needed to distract a mark to pickpocket them, or on cold nights when you didn’t have an actual roof or walls to protect you from the harsh frost seasons. He’d learned long ago that they had to take care of themselves. That meant doing whatever it took to survive.
Q didn’t like looting corpses, but he wasn’t above it either; sometimes they had the best shyt. When he saw her lying there half-curled against the cold, on the side of the road just outside the Dark Woods, he couldn’t pass up the golden opportunity. She had a whole bag of who-knows-what lying next to her. It could just be food, but it could be decent enough stuff to sell or use themselves. Even if it was food, he and Lyra weren’t exactly feasting these days. Besides, she was dead. What did a dead girl need with whatever was in that bag?
“Lyra, you know the drill,” he whispered. As a fox, she was innately adept at sneaking, which was why she always made the initial approach. They’d tried other ways when they first started out on their own, but this was by far the most effective. Q sat back, partially hidden behind an old oak tree, and waited.
As Lyra crept closer, he could feel her heart rate slow and her senses heighten. She was inches from the corpse when he felt a violent shock, as though he’d been struck by lightning. He cried out, as did Lyra, before nearly blacking out. Q pulled himself from behind the tree, barely able to crawl to his knees before a second, more powerful blast struck them and he keeled over completely.
————————————————————————————–
————————————————————————————–
Author Matty Roberts
About the Author Matty Roberts began their career in journalism where they earned an Emmy and had the privilege of working on several other award-winning projects. They hold an MS from Johns Hopkins University and are now an engineer in renewable energy in Denver, Colorado where they live with their wonderful partner, two extraordinary kids, and the best doggie ever.
In addition to writing, engineering, and parenting, Matty is a vegan enby nerd who is in love with this world and will forever be doing all they can to make it a better place. And they may be known to occasionally play in a punk band here or there.
For more information about Matty and their upcoming books, visit www.mattyroberts.io.
Welcome to the book blitz for FREEDOM OR DEATH, the fourth book in the young adult dystopian series, Juche, by Adria Carmichael. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
FREEDOM OR DEATH (Juche Series #4) by Adria Carmichael
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: FREEDOM OR DEATH Series: Juche Series #4 Author: Adria Carmichael Release Date: May 23, 2022
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis A highly addictive Young Adult Dystopian Survival Saga that will keep you glued to the pages.
Areum and Nari are arrested and face imminent doom, but are saved at the last minute by an unexpected and unspeakable betrayal.
Still, they are far from being out of the woods. As they are reassigned to food gathering duty in the mountains, they must continue their fight for survival under the constant threat of daily executions and the rampant starvation sweeping through the prison camp. And with time running out for Nari, Areum is more desperate than ever to find a way to escape, making her forge risky new alliances that until now would have been unthinkable.
As the situation in the camp deteriorates further, their survival comes down to their ability to work as a team. But dark secrets and lies continue to be revealed, sending the fragile coalition to the verge of collapse at an alarming speed.
Will they make it out in time?
————————————————————————————–
————————————————————————————–
Excerpt #2 I buried my face in the pit of my elbow that rested on my folded knees. My head felt almost as heavy as my heart, and the whirlwind of thoughts raged on ceaselessly.
And Nari’s condition is only one of all the Sacred Rules we have broken these past months. Soon, both of us will be up on Cemetery Hill under a buzzing cloud of black flies together with—
A sudden scream made me jump so hard I smashed my head against the wall behind me. I ran to the door and pressed my ear against the cold metal with one hand firmly over the excruciatingly throbbing bruise on my scalp. The scream died out just as abruptly as it had started, but I remained in the same position for a long time before I returned to my corner. The scream had come from a girl, but not Nari. I was sure of that. Still, I couldn’t help rubbing my fingernails in a futile attempt to ease the phantom pain from the invisible needles piercing deep into the pink, tender flesh underneath them.
I didn’t have to wait long for the next scream. This time, it was a boy. I told myself it didn’t sound like Jun Ha, but I was less sure this time. Immediately after that scream had faded, another scream penetrated the air. And then another. The harrowing screams came and went—each more agonizing and horrifying than the previous. I crawled up further into my corner with my hands covering my ears, desperately trying to gather my thoughts. I went through the events of the past few days that had led me to sit here, waiting for my turn to scream.
About the Author Adria Carmichael is a writer of dystopian fiction with a twist. When she is not devouring dystopian and post-apocalyptic content in any format – books, movies, TV-series and PlayStation games – she is crafting the epic and highly-addictive Juche saga, her 2020 debut novel series that takes place in the brutal, totalitarian nation of Choson. When the limit of doom and gloom is reached, a 10K run on a sunny day or binging a silly sitcom on a rainy day is her go-to way to unwind.
Welcome to the book blitz for LIQUID FOUNDATIONS, the third book in the young adult/new post-apocalyptic adventure, Hell in a Handbag, by Lisa Acerbo. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
LIQUID FOUNDATIONS (Hell in a Handbag Series #3) by Lisa Acerbo
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: LIQUID FOUNDATIONS Series: Hell in a Handbag Series #3 Author: Lisa Acerbo Publisher: DLG Publishing Partners Release Date: April 13, 2022 Genre: Young Adult/New Adult Post-Apocalyptic Adventure Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis Even the most solid foundation can be shaken.
No place is safe anymore, and I’m on the run from something new.
The putrid stink of zombies has been replaced by sulfur, feces, and wet dog. The High Point Inn has been abandoned, the landscape plagued by the unimaginable, animal-hybrids. Wolves and bears rise from the grave or maybe they never died. Sure, the hordes of undead humans are diminishing, but whatever lies in wait is faster, smarter, and spurned by the devil himself.
With Caleb, Lilly, and Eric at my side, I search for friends and suFictiorvivors. But the new evil has arrived.
I can’t run quick enough.
The wolves are here, and they’re hungry, not to mention cunning and cruel. Endless rains force my group underground and into a cave system. Lost in the interminable, pitch-black subterranean tunnels, I struggle to keep my sanity and my life. There’s only one place in the world that makes sense anymore, and that’s where my friends are.
If I can survive the dark and the zombie wolves, Hopewell, Maine, here I come.
—————————————————————————-
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt #2 “It’s really dark. The flashlights don’t even make a dent,” Lilly said. “Let’s hope the batteries last.”
“Stay here for a second.” Caleb strode forward, leaving the rest of the group huddled in inky black‐ ness. “I can see it narrows ahead. Let me check it out. Don’t want us all to go stumbling around in the dark.” Caleb’s footsteps receded, taking the shadows of the flashlight beam with him.
Jenna bit her thumb nail. It tasted of dirt but the small pain from ripping off her flesh stifled her fear for Caleb. Relief flooded in waves when his voice preceded the watery beam from the flashlight.
“It’s a tight squeeze for about a hundred feet before it opens into a chamber. And it appears the underground river Lilly mentioned might be waiting for us too.” Caleb passed the beam of light over them.
A soft rumble, like a swarm of bees, echoed in the tunnel behind them.
“What the . . .” Eric’s words trailed off.
A cascade of rolling rocks had Jenna hopping forward. “Move!”
“Cave in.” Eric’s words bounced around like ricocheting pebbles.
Jenna ran deeper into the tunnel. Pain lanced her arm, a sharp rock ripping through her clothing and snagging her backpack. She stumbled, the rock bouncing away, and righted herself. Heart thudding, loud in the chaos entombing her, she sprinted, coughing up dirt.
Lilly twisted her flashlight. “Eric?”
“Help.” His voice diminished, dim as their surroundings. Muffled swearing and the thump of rock clashing hit the air. “I’m stuck!”
“Calm down,” Caleb said. “You’ll be okay. We’re coming back.”
“I can’t see anything. I’m not okay. I can’t move. Something’s coming. It’s behind me.”
“Be calm, Eric,” Lilly crooned. “They’re not coming. Take a deep breath.”
Eric huffed, coughed, and huffed again. “I can’t. I can’t. I can’t breathe. They’re coming.”
“Stop. I’m here. Listen to me.” Lilly’s flashlight lit Eric’s face. She put a hand to his cheek. “You’re good.”
“I can’t move, and they’re coming. Not again. Not another time like the movie theater. I won’t survive. I’d rather be dead than stuck and defenseless. They’ll rip me apart. Don’t let it happen.”
Jenna moved close. “Eric, look at me. The most horrible thing that could have happened to you is over. Done. You survived. There are no Streakers here. You’re so much stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
“I can’t.”
“You can, and you will,” Jenna scolded. “For Lilly and me. We need you.”
Lilly aimed her flashlight into the shadows behind Eric. “Can you slip out of your backpack?”
“Maybe? My leg. I think I’m bleeding.” Eric shifted sideways, grunting. After a few lunges, he stumbled forward minus his pack. “Free.”
Lilly hauled Eric in for a hug. “Told ya so. Never doubt me.”
Caleb tugged the backpack. “It’s stuck on something.” He heaved but it didn’t budge. “Maybe we can twist it. Hold this.” He handed the flashlight to Jenna.
Redirecting the beam, the light hit the cave ceiling. Bats exploded, sinking low. Caleb hugged Jenna against him. She threw her arms above her head, hugged her scalp in hopes of protection. The draft of bats lifted after a minute and they spiraled high, consumed by the funnel-shaped black chasm.
Caleb stepped back and tugged on Jenna’s jacket, arms still protective. “Please tell me you’re not going to adopt a wounded bat, tame it, and bring it along.”
“I’ll pass, but where is our dog?” Jenna twisted away. “Louie? I hope the bats didn’t scare him.”
A warm tongue licked her hand. “There you are. Good boy.”
About the Author LisaAcerbo is a high school teacher and adjunct faculty at a local community college. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, daughters, two dogs, and horse. When not writing, she mountain bikes, hikes, and fosters dogs.
Welcome to the book blitz for THE LAST BEEKEEPER, the first book in the young adult dystopian fantasy trilogy, The Silent Skies, by Rebecca L. Fearnley. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE LAST BEEKEEPER (The Silent Skies Trilogy #1) by Rebecca L. Fearnley
Synopsis Solma is a fighter. Trained by her village Steward to protect their community from the predators of their harsh world, she is fierce and loyal. But how can she protect her friends and family from crop failure and starvation? With flying insects extinct for over a century, nowhere on the forsaken continent of Alphor is safe and Solma is terrified her little brother, Warren, will be one of the next to die. The villagers cling to life, waiting for the Earth Whisperers—mysterious nomads with a strange magic that helps plants grow—to arrive.
But then Warren finds something. Something impossible. When the first bee in a hundred years crawls out of the earth, Warren forms a strange bond with the creature and Solma fears he might have a new power. One that leaders of Alphor would kill for. As she and Warren fight to keep the bee secret and safe, word of this miracle sweeps the continent. Allies and enemies alike descend on the village. Some demand the bees for themselves, others want to destroy the colony to level the odds. When words become threats and then violence, Solma and Warren are caught in the conflict, and now it isn’t just the bees in danger.
When whoever controls the bees controls the world, how will Solma and Warren know who to trust?
————————————————————————————–
Excerpt #4 Suddenly, Blume launches herself off her flower and buzzes to the base of a tree. She zigzags across the roots, droning excitedly. Warren scrambles round to see what she’s doing and gasps.
Blume has landed in the dirt between two tree roots and as they watch she disappears down a tiny hole. They knock their heads together trying to see where she’s gone. Warren clasps his hands together excitedly.
“I hope she likes it,” he murmurs. Solma looks at him.
“Likes what?”
“Her new nest,” Warren says. “It’s perfect, ain’t it? Bell was right!”
Solma scowls. It’s annoying that Bell was right.
They peer at the dark hollow. Solma tingles with anticipation.
“How will we know—?”
“Shh!” Warren hisses. “Wait!”
Solma scowls but obeys. They seem to stand there forever, staring at the ground, until Solma feels restless. She glances over her shoulder, peering towards the watchtower on the horizon. Her patrol’s in a few minutes. They need to go soon. If they’re seen … if they’re caught …
Then Blume’s happy vibrato cuts through the silence and she emerges from the hollow, lifting into the warm air. She flies a lazy circle around the burrow. Then another and another, rising higher into the air with each pass. Solma frowns.
“What’s she doing? Is she sick?”
Warren chuckles. “I don’t reckon so,” he whispers. “I bet she’s memorizing. She’s making a map of the burrow in her mind before she goes to get more pollen.”
Solma frowns. “I don’t think she’s that clever, Warren,” she says. Warren flashes her a furious look.
“How would you know?” he retorts. “Just ’cos you don’t understand her or speak her language, doesn’t mean she’s stupid!”
Solma opens her mouth to protest, then closes it again. He’s got a point.
Suddenly, Blume seems to feel she’s done enough mapping and hums off towards the managed forest. They watch her go in silence.
“Right,” Solma says after Blume’s tremolo song fades into the distance. “Let’s leave her to it, eh?”
Warren, of course, kicks up a fuss about having to leave Blume.
Solma checks the sun through the canopy of leaves. She doesn’t have time for this.
“Come on, Warren,” she says, trying and failing to keep the impatience out of her voice. “Please?”
There’s a rustle and snap somewhere up ahead. They both freeze. Solma’s rifle is off her shoulder in seconds and she’s gathered Warren behind her. They peer between the trees, out into the long grasses beyond. Silence.
Solma is about to relax when a flash of russet catches her attention and she snaps her gaze round just in time to see a figure running in the distance, dressed in Gatra black, with a red braid bouncing against a rifle. Her gut twists.
“Who was it?” Warren whimpers. “Did they see?”
Solma swallows against a sudden lump in her throat, “It was Olive,” she whispers. “And I don’t know. She might’ve seen nothing, or …”
She shoulders her rifle, lungs tight with worry. “… or she might’ve seen everything.”
————————————————————————————–
————————————————————————————–
Author Rebecca L. Fearnley
About the Author Rebecca has been obsessed with two things since she learned to walk and talk: stories and animals. Luckily, the two seem to be very compatible. Rebecca writes stories set in strange worlds filled with bizarre creatures, strong female characters and magical powers. She started her writing career as a poet, performing all over the country and publishing her first collection, Octopus Medicine, with Two Rivers Press in 2017.
In addition to writing, Rebecca is also a teacher and, in 2018, decided that she wanted to write quality books for the young people she works with. Her books tend towards themes of respect for the environment, protecting the planet and the new generations challenging the old to face up to their mistakes.
She lives in Reading, UK, with her unusual family, which includes herself and her partner, a friendly little mini-lop rabbit (called Cleo) and a gregarious and feisty quaker parrot (called Maya).
Author C.A. Rene and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Yolanda Olson are revealing the cover to MIMIC, a standalone adult post-apocalyptic dystopian romance, releasing November 14, 2022. See below for the cover, information on the book, preorder links, and a link to add it your Goodreads TBR.
Synopsis The world died before I had a chance to take a breath.
There’s a small number of survivors scattered around what was once Los Angeles. At least, that’s what I think this piece of land used to be called. I can only go by what I’ve been told, and the one person that guided me and kept me safe died seven years ago.
With her last dying breath, she told me that I’m special. That I can fix this, and so I hunt. Scavenge for the scraps that haven’t been turned to poison, for the animals that can provide a meal for the ones I’m hiding in my home. But that’s a dangerous thing now.
I’ve stumbled across a family that hunts more than just animals. Anything they see as a threat, they’ll take down. Find the cure or watch what’s left of humanity die. I have to take this burden on my shoulders because I promised her that I would. I just didn’t know how difficult things would get until I saw them.
Because he has something I want, and I won’t stop until I take it from him.
————————————————————————————–
————————————————————————————–
Author C.A. Rene
About C.A. Rene I like to write about twisty dark things, you know… since my life is lollipops and rainbows. The computer screen is my canvas and the keyboard my brush, thank you for viewing my masterpieces.
About Yolanda Olson Yolanda Olson is a USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author. Born and raised in Bridgeport, CT where she currently resides, she usually spends her time watching her favorite channel, Investigation Discovery. Occasionally, she takes a break to write books and test the limits of her mind. Also an avid horror movie fan, she likes to incorporate dark elements into the majority of her books.
Welcome to the book blitz for AWAKENING ADI, the fourth book in the adult dystopian fantasy romance series, Iron Mountain, by Havana Wilder. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive teaser excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
AWAKENING ADI (Iron Mountain Series #4) by Havana Wilder
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: AWAKENING ADI Series: Iron Mountain Series #4 Author: Havana Wilder Release Date: September 10, 2021 Genre: Adult Dystopian Fantasy Romance Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT
Embarking on a journey to helping her best friends restore a castle that now belongs to DJ Adi’s world is turned upside down. As her four-year relationship hangs on by a thread, she’s faced with a heart wrenching decision to help a new friend who knows all about her and her gifts. Callum walks into her life in need of help and her world comes to a screeching halt when she finds out why…
~All is not as it seems~
Deciding to help a guy whom her current love interest hates causes her already chaotic world to spiral out of control leaving her questioning everything. She soon finds out there is no action too horrible or too grand when pursing the one you love or are fighting your enemies. Adi finds herself stuck in a love triangle between Callum and her beloved Larson. Torn between right and wrong, justice and peace, honesty and immorality. Adi struggles to embrace herself and the world around her.
Does the battle she chooses to fight end in victory or total defeat?
In the midst of all the mayhem will either guy ultimately win Adi’s heart, or has too much damage been done for her to get her happily ever after?
About the Author Havana has always had a vivid imagination and is an avid dreamer. As a child, she used to have a goal of making her mom laugh as much as she could by coming up with some very outlandish stories. As she grew up she discovered her love of fantasy romances and dreamt about becoming an author herself. So, she decided to put her dreams into reality by becoming an author herself.
Be sure to follow her on Instagram and Facebook for updates at Havana Wilder.
Author Destiny Hawkins is revealing the cover to THE UNBROKEN, the third book in the adult dark fantasy, dystopian series, The Descendants, releasing April 2022. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
THE UNBROKEN (The Descendants Series #3) by Destiny Hawkins
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: THE UNBROKEN Series: The Descendants Series #3 Author: Destiny Hawkins Release Date: April 2022
Genre: Adult Dark Fantasy Dystopian
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis Best-selling author Destiny Hawkins brings you the third installment of a gripping dark fantasy where a powerless girl must survive in a society that doesn’t accept the weak…or the defective.
About the Author Destiny Hawkins is a multi-genre author with a dark imagination and a love for magic.
She enjoys working on her graphic designing business : Vibrant Designs LLC, writing, listening to music, reading, and of course watching some anime! Her favorite genres to read and work in are Fantasy, LGBT, Paranormal, Romance, Dystopian, Sci-fi, and young adult.
Destiny loves creating stories and building worlds that both teach and entertain! When writing she sticks to her slogan: Where beauty can be found in darkness.
Get ready for The Unbroken, Book Three of The Descendants Series!
Welcome to the book blitz for THE DESCENDANTS, the first book in the adult dark fantasy, dystopian series, The Descendants, by Destiny Hawkins. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE DESCENDANTS (The Descendants Series #1) by Destiny Hawkins
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: THE DESCENDANTS Series: The Descendants Series #1 Author: Destiny Hawkins Release Date: December 17, 2016
Genre: Adult Dark Fantasy Dystopian
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis Fail the tests and become a slave. Display defectiveness and be put to death.
Monroe Academy was built to separate the weak from the strong. Pass the biyearly leveling and be released into society upon graduation. Fail to be promoted and be stripped of rank and forced into servitude. That was a rule that applied to all but Rayah Bardeau. A student of Monroe Academy, branded as a Null because of her absence of Lighter energy.
With her mother standing as a slave in her place, Rayah was given until the age of twenty to make level six, but at nineteen-years-old and with only eight months until her twentieth birthday, she was only a mere level one. The same level she’s been since she was ten. With the stress of her upcoming test, the loss of a friend, and the constant wrongdoings towards her, Rayah could only dream of escaping from Lytonia, and escape she did. Only, when she awakened in her dorm, she couldn’t distinguish if she had only dreamt of meeting Soren, a wild and adventurous defect in the Wild Lands, or if she had somehow used her Lighter Form to get there.
But only the elite ― the most powerful of Lighters ― could tap into their Lighter Forms. Right? And what was the dark energy she used when she and Soren were attacked by Depleters? Was Rayah really as powerless as she thought? Was she a defect? And if she used dark energy, could she call herself a Lighter at all?
Bestselling author Destiny Hawkins brings you the first installment of a gripping dark fantasy where a powerless girl must survive in a society that doesn’t accept the weak…or the defective.
Content Advisory: The following book contains vivid depictions of violence and death. Reader discretion is advised.
—————————————————————————————
—————————————————————————————
Excerpt #3 I let my hand drop to my side and began walking but didn’t even make it a few feet before hearing twigs and leaves crunching on my left. When I turned my head to see who or what it was, I froze, and my lips parted to inhale.
Oh, no.
Psycho had also stopped walking when he spotted me, looking almost as shocked as I was. If he were any regular guy that I’d spotted in the forest, I would have blushed at his handsomeness. I couldn’t see him as well the first night that we met, but now that I was looking at him in the brightness of the day, I couldn’t stop staring. The sun rays shining down on him only made it harder for me to turn away, but when my eyes landed on the Life Stones dangling from around his neck, I frowned.
A slow and devious grin crept up Psycho’s lips. “Found you.”
Right as I started to run, white lighting blasted from Psycho’s fingertips. He didn’t expect me to slide under it, roll to my feet, and continue running. I was experienced in having others try and use their powers to keep me from escaping, so I naturally knew how to get around some things.
I heard crackles of lightning slicing through the air behind me, barely missing me by a hair each time. Splinters of wood exploded from the trees, warning me not to slow down. Psycho was probably more experienced in chasing his victims than I was in running from my attackers, so I had to consider that he was leading me in the direction that I was going.
I wanted to stop and turn but changing direction would be dangerous. I could turn right, making myself an easier target, I could go in the opposite direction, giving him a few seconds time to zap me, or I could just charge at him and catch him by surprise. He was just an elem. It was the brights that I had a hard time fighting against, since they were so fast and strong, but Psycho－
Fire roared past my face, causing me to slide to a stop. I wasn’t paying attention and had almost been burned. The heat of the flame kept me from running through it, making me think back to Artemis and his hot iron rods. I couldn’t believe that my thoughts of being burned again had hindered me from escaping. I had run through fire plenty of times before, patting off the fire patches as I got away, but this time I couldn’t move. Artemis had done something to my mind, causing me freeze in fear.
—————————————————————————————
—————————————————————————————
Author Destiny Hawkins
About the Author Destiny Hawkins is a multi-genre author with a dark imagination and a love for magic.
She enjoys working on her graphic designing business : Vibrant Designs LLC, writing, listening to music, reading, and of course watching some anime! Her favorite genres to read and work in are Fantasy, LGBT, Paranormal, Romance, Dystopian, Sci-fi, and young adult.
Destiny loves creating stories and building worlds that both teach and entertain! When writing she sticks to her slogan: Where beauty can be found in darkness.
Get ready for The Unbroken, Book Three of The Descendants Series!
Author C.L. Denault is revealing the cover to GAUNTLET, the third book in her young adult scifi dystopian romance series, The Prodigy Chronicles, releasing August 25, 2021. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
GAUNTLET (The Prodigy Chronicles #3) by C.L. Denault
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: GAUNTLET Series: The Prodigy Chronicles #3 Author: C.L. Denault Release Date: August 25, 2021
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction Dystopian Romance
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis In 2160, humanity is divided. The ruling class of prodigies dictates law and order for all, while normals fight to survive. Only the Councils in charge of advanced Core cities can decide the fate of a traitor.
A life of luxury is Willow Kent’s destiny. As long as she plays within the boundaries of the Core’s game, she can have anything she wants. Anything except for her friend Kane to avoid execution. Driven by guilt, she negotiates a secret Meta-X exchange to free him. But when a new threat emerges—one even her rare skill level cannot withstand—the stakes become dangerously high. To save Kane, she must navigate the slippery political terrain that surrounds her House, her mysterious Guardian, and the corrupt, unforgiving Council.
The most lethal terrain, however, lurks inside her own mind. Can she overcome her skillset before its savage intentions spiral out of control?
About the Author C.L. Denault is a speculative fiction writer who loves dreaming up tales of adventure and intrigue. A former systems analyst, she gave up her nerdy code-writing skills to care for her family (including a son with special needs), and currently lives among the vast stretches of cornfields in Illinois.
Writing and working out are her biggest passions, along with drinking coffee and watching sci-fi. When she’s not hanging out with her husband and kids, she can usually be found at a library or tucked away in the shadowy corner of a hip coffeehouse. She’s also been glimpsed sneaking into her garage, late at night, to work on her time machine.
She enjoys connecting with people—especially those from other planets, nearby dimensions, and the future. To find her, just visit her website or social media pages. Or use a Stargate. Whichever is easiest. .
Welcome to the book blitz for APOCALIPSTICK, the first book in the young adult/new post-apocalyptic adventure, Hell in a Handbag,, by Lisa Acerbo. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
APOCALIPSTICK (Hell in a Handbag Series #1) by Lisa Acerbo
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: APOCALIPSTICK Series: Hell in a Handbag Series #1 Author: Lisa Acerbo Publisher: DLG Publishing Partners Release Date: March 24, 2021 Genre: Young Adult/New Adult Post-Apocalyptic Adventure Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis Life is bad after the apocalypse . . . the undead just made it worse.
“My dreams pre-pandemic included a high school graduation party before attending college and marrying an attractive future lawyer. Instead, I’m praying for a long, sharp knife and a big gun to survive the undead.” —Jenna
Jenna Martin lives in a world gone insane after a mysterious pandemic kills much of the population. Being alive after an apocalypse is bad, but it is made worse when the multitudes killed by the disease return ravenous for human flesh. Jenna, in serious trouble and pursued by undead, heads to the safest place available, a cemetery.
Ready to give up, she finds the strength to persevere for one more night and meets a group of survivors willing to take her in. The group caravans to Virginia, where they plan to inhabit an isolated inn called High Point, but the undead are always close behind. Packs of zombies, known as Streakers, attack, leaving Jenna and the other survivors battling for their lives and racing toward safety.
Once safely isolated at the inn, the group rebuilds society and Jenna begins a relationship with Caleb. Although he withstood the virus, he has not come out unscathed. He and some others now labeled the New Rave have changed into what many would call zombie kin—vampires. Jenna’s falls hard and fast for Caleb, which causes more problems that she ever expected in the fledgling society. But there are worse things than vampires and zombies searching for her, and they arrive at the inn’s door ready for destruction.
—————————————————————————-
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt #3 Glass shattered in the next room and footsteps crunched over the broken splinters. What had once been a tall, middle-aged man in a business suit, was now a bloated corpse in rags crusted over with blood and pus. The baked-by-the-sun Streaker wore a wrinkled face with the consistency of an old raisin. His right arm hung limply, dislodged from the socket, but both hands made continual grabbing motions.
Lacking any grace, the creature staggered to the bedroom door and stopped. It sniffed, searching out its next meal. Blood poured from Jenna’s lip, where Tundra had hit her. She wiped it away, then retrieving the piece of wood. Sensing the movement, the Streaker turned its undead eyes on her. Some of its skull had been torn away, exposing the rot. It lumbered and stumbled over the chair in its path, giving Jenna desperate seconds to ready herself. Arm raised, eyes dead and unblinking, it came, dancing with death. It reached out to grab her.
Jenna ducked, then swung low and hard. “I must have gone brain dead. I can’t think of one good zombie joke right now.”
The creature staggered back, but then surged forward. Jenna rammed the edge of the board into its stomach.
“No comeback from the undead. There’s a no brainer.”
It writhed against the constant pressure of the wood. A trail of intestines spurted out, staining the tattered remains of clothing. Jenna gagged at the stench.
“You, my good sir, are too gross for words.”
The undead groaned, plowing forward. Decaying brains leaking from its nostrils and eyes.
“That all you got for me?” She stepped back, hoisting the board, and swung. The head of the creature flew sideways, but it continued forward, emaciated fingers scratching. She drove the Streaker over to the left with a repeated, steady swing. The wood sank into a shallow layer of skin covering the undead’s overripe, bloated belly.
Upon Caleb’s return, he moved to Jenna’s side. She stepped back and leaned against the window. Caleb, hatchet in hand, forced the Streaker into a corner. A noise at the window had her spinning around. A hand shot through the glass and into the room to claw at Jenna’s face. Outside in the darkness, lifeless eyes found her. The undead rammed against the window, spraying glass. Jenna stepped away, and seconds later, a loud crack caused splintered wood and glass to fall to the floor along with pieces of the zombie’s fingers. With a catatonic stare, the Streaker pushed through the opening, tearing its flesh against the jagged edges of the frame.
Jenna flashed back to the cigarettes and matches she saw in the room. Fire was exactly what she needed now. She searched for the matchbook that had laid on the floor, but the room was in disarray thanks to the fight. Something bumped behind her, and panic rose inside her. Dropping to her belly, scanning the floor, her fingers reached under the bed.
—————————————————————————-
—————————————————————————-
Author Lisa Acerbo
About the Author LisaAcerbo is a high school teacher and adjunct faculty at a local community college. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, daughters, two dogs, and horse. When not writing, she mountain bikes, hikes, and fosters dogs.
Welcome to the book blitz for IN COMMAND, a novella between books 2 and 3 in the young adult dystopian series, Aunare Chronicles, by USA Today bestselling author, Aileen Erin. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
IN COMMAND (Aunare Chronicles #2.5) by Aileen Erin
Synopsis Amihanna di Aetes is used to fighting, surviving, and relying on her strength to get through the hard times. She thought the worst was over when she accepted her engagement to Lorne ni Taure, the High King of the Aunare, and claimed her place as the future High Queen.
It should be easy to slide into her new role. How hard can it be living in luxury with your soulmate after growing up alone on the streets?
But the more she learns about the Aunare and their politics, the more she realizes that the true test of her strength is just beginning.
Amihanna di Aetes is in for the battle of her life if she wants the Aunare to accept her.
*In Command is a 65K novella that takes place between Off Balance and On Mission (Books 2 & 3 of the main Aunare Chronicles). The series can be enjoyed without reading this story, but you can’t enjoy this story without reading the series.
————————————————————————————–
Excerpt #2 It was too much. This feeling of love and contentment grew until it nearly consumed me, and I knew that no matter what we faced tomorrow and the next day and ten years from now, it would be okay.
Because we were together. And when we were together, it was like my soul was whole again.
I never realized how broken I was until I’d found him, but I was okay.
I was better than okay.
His fingertips slipped up my ribcage, spreading warmth through my body, and I gasped. “You still with me?” he asked.
All I could see were his aquamarine eyes as they stared down at me, and I knew whatever happened, everything was going to be all right.
I reached up, pulling him down closer to me so that I could kiss him. “Your eyes are still my favorite color. That’s how obsessed I am.”
His already bright skin brightened a little more as he pulled away, searching my face. “They are?”
“Yeah. I don’t think that’s ever going to change.” I was with him. I was with him for whatever came next.
And I would find a way through whatever came at us.
About the Author
Aileen Erin is half-Irish, half-Mexican, and 100% nerd–from Star Wars (prequels don’t count) to Star Trek (TNG FTW), she reads Quenya and some Sindarin, and has a severe fascination with the supernatural. Aileen has a BS in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles, and spends her days doing her favorite things: reading books, creating worlds, and kicking ass.
Authors A. Smith and Lauren Sevier are revealing the cover to GUNS & SMOKE, the first book in their adult dystopian romantic western series, The Fool’s Adventure, releasing July 10, 2021. See below for the cover, information on the book, preorder links, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
GUNS & SMOKE (The Fool’s Adventure Series #1) by A. Smith and Lauren Sevier
Synopsis In a world where safety is a luxury and honor is found only among outlaws, two people attempt to outrun dangers lurking around each corner and the tragedies that define them.
Bonnie is an outlaw on the run. Beautiful but dangerous; her dark past stalks her like the crater beasts that roam the desert. As the notoriously cruel outlaw Jones sends his henchmen to track her down and retrieve the gun she stole from him, Bonnie hopes she can stay one step ahead. Because if he catches her, a fate worse than death awaits.
Jesse always dreamed of leaving the farm to explore the ruins of the big cities he’d heard about his whole life. He just never imagined he’d be forced to flee after strange men burned down his rural mountain town and murdered everyone he loved. Responsible for his kid brother and searching for an uncle he’s never met before, he isn’t sure he can navigate the perils of life among con artists and thieves long enough to find him.
Their two paths collide as they find themselves thrown together on the adventure of a lifetime.
Together, they may just discover that life is about more than just surviving.
————————————————————————————–
————————————————————————————–
Author A. Smith
About the Author Abbie Smith is an author of romance novels. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in theatre, where she learned the art of storytelling. A lifelong resident of southern Louisiana, she is a lover of coffee, naps, and animals. When not writing, she can be found spending time with her dogs, Klaus and Bree, and her cat, Sirius. Abbie is passionate about mental healthcare and believes that helping others with their own mental health battles is her small way of changing the world. Abbie grew up watching westerns with her grandfather, which partially inspired the setting of her upcoming coauthored debut novel, Guns & Smoke.
About the Author Lauren Sevier lives a simple life in small town Walker, Louisiana with her family and two mischievous dogs. She’s a proud firefighter wife and mother to her miracle son, born through IVF after an eight-year battle with infertility. She works full-time for a non-profit hospital in Cardiology caring for the elderly and low-income families all over the state of Louisiana in satellite and outreach clinics. Writing and being in the service of helping others are her two passions in life.
She started writing song lyrics and poems on the front porch swing of her family home nestled amidst a 200-year-old pecan tree orchard that was once part of a Civil War plantation. She’s inspired the most by Shakespeare, the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, and JK Rowling. Her background in Theatre introduced her to classic British literature, playwrights, and poets from a very young age. This helped her to understand story concepts, dramatization, and character development the way Shakespeare once did, as an actor.
Now her biggest inspiration for writing is her son who, like all children, learns by example. Lauren is determined to set a specific example for him; to live simply, work hard, and to never stop chasing her dreams. Because, one day, you just might catch them.
Willow Lane Publishing and author Alanna Mackenzie are unveiling the cover to THE JADE TALISMAN, the second book in her adult science fiction/dystopian series, The Jade Chronicles, releasing March 28, 2021. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
THE JADE TALISMAN (The Jade Chronicles #2) by Alanna Mackenzie
About the Book
Title:THE JADE TALISMAN Series: The Jade Chronicles #2 Author:Alanna Mackenzie Publisher: Willow Lane Publishing Release Date: March 28, 2021 Genre: Adult Science Fiction/Dystopian Links: Goodreads
Synopsis A talisman. A song. A story about time itself, as it moves through each winding branch in the tree of life.
It is the year 2762 in the Empire of Khalendar, and AI Masters rule the civilized world, striving to crush all dissent. But they have not yet managed to quell the Jade Rebellion or its leader, Walter Saltanetska. The Jade Queen, once a prison ship commandeered by the AI Masters, is now a rebel stronghold. Walter and his companions have sailed all the way to Vei’arash, a lush island reputedly home to exiled dissidents and evil shamans. Their mission is to fulfill a pact with their Mage allies—to find animal spirits exiled to Vei’arash long ago by the AI Masters.
As the rebels plunge deeper into the jungle, physical laws are upended. The plants and animals of the rainforest are inextricably linked to divine beings. The most powerful of these beings entrusts Walter with an enchanted gemstone, the Jade Talisman, that warps the basic rules of time and space.
The Talisman allows Walter to gaze into a mesmerizing labyrinth of future possibilities. But the visions it offers up are troublingly dark, giving Walter insight into the deepest recesses of the human soul. While he needs to remain emotionally distant from them, he cannot. The people in these visions are not strangers, but Walter and his loved ones. This gift proves to be a crushing burden, and Walter desperately longs for an ordinary life. But there is no going back…
The gripping sequel to The Jade Rebellion, The Jade Talisman is a tribute to the perseverance of spirituality in a world dominated by the cold logic of artificial intelligence.
About the Author Alanna Mackenzie lives in Vancouver, Canada. She holds degrees in History, French studies, and Law from the University of British Columbia. An environmentalist at heart, she believes in using the law as a tool for social and environmental change. When she is not pursuing that passion, she can be found brainstorming the next chapter in her novels, playing Irish fiddle tunes on the violin, and hiking West Coast trails.
Vesuvian Books and author Mary Ting are unveiling the cover to CODE, the fourth book in the young adult science fiction/dystopian series, International Sensory Assassin Network, releasing April 20, 2021. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
CODE (ISAN Series #4) by Mary Ting
About the Book
Title: CODE Series: International Sensory Assassin Network Series #4 Author: Mary Ting Publisher: Vesuvian Books Release Date: April 20, 2021 Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction/Dystopian Links: Goodreads
Synopsis Behind enemy lines, new soldiers will emerge, and unexpected heroes will rise.
Ava is a prisoner. And she is not the only rebel held hostage at ISAN’s secret compound. As she plans an escape, the lives of the rebel prisoners are in her hands, along with those she thought were dead.
Rhett and his team desperately search for Ava while one of the Remnant Council joins forces with another network looking for the creator of the Helix serum. And time is running out. Mr. Novak has been secretly creating an army called CODE, and what he plans for Ava will mean a permanent end to the rebels–and her.
About the Author International Bestselling, Award-Winning Author Mary Ting writes soulful, spellbinding stories that excite the imagination and captivate readers all over the world. Her books run a wide range of genres: science fiction, fantasy, and swoon worthy stories. Her storytelling talents have won her a devoted legion of fans and garnered critical praise.
Mary was born in Seoul Korea and resides in Southern California with her husband, two children, and two dogs—Mochi and Mocha. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Becoming an author was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother. After realizing she wanted to become a full-time author, she retired from teaching after twenty years..
Welcome to the book blitz for THE LEMERONS, the second book in the young adult dystopian series, The Secret Archives Trilogy, by Valerie Puri. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE LEMERONS (The Secret Archives Trilogy #2) by Valerie Puri
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: THE LEMERONS Series: The Secret Archives Trilogy #2 Author: Valerie Puri Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Release Date: October 1, 2020 Link: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
Synopsis Walls are meant to keep the monsters out…
Deep in the forest there is a wall where no wall should be. Behind it live the people of the Commune, the last remnant of human kind.
Jennie Caraway has lived behind the wall her entire life, certain that it protects her and her brother from the lemerons, ravenous undead monsters whose only desire is to kill – and feed.
Jennie’s peaceful existence is shattered when she uncovers a secret organization whose purpose threatens to destroy not only Jennie, but her entire world. The Order has a deadly mission, and they will stop at nothing to see it completed.
Jennie and those closest to her must expose the evil truth before they are killed – or worse.
—————————————————————————-
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt #2
Marlene She sprung to her feet, drawing her sickle. Slashing the curved blade in front of her, she opened the lemeron’s throat. Congealed brown blood splattered her face. She grimaced, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
Stepping on its corpse, she dashed through the chaos of battle. Ethan swung wildly, cutting down advancing creatures with his sword in one hand and dagger in another.
Marlene gave a nod of approval as she passed him. A blade in each hand was smart. He blinked, confused. There was no time to stop and explain. A lemeron snarled and lunged at Ethan. Brenden stabbed it through the side.
They were being overrun and still didn’t notice the five other monsters running right for them.
She charged past the advancing group, slicing the head off one as she went by. Its head hit the ground with a wet thump. The other four stopped to face her.
These were people once. One still had the tattered remains of a dress hanging limply off boney shoulders. Its slack jaw tightened as it snarled and charged.
Marlene slashed at it, cutting its arm off. The lemeron didn’t even notice. It continued attacking, brandishing dirty fingernails and blackened teeth.
As she reached back, preparing to strike a blow, another seized her from behind. The ragged breath it drew rattled in Marlene’s ear.
Don’t let it bite you!
She squirmed, pulling frantically away from its face as the lemeron opened its mouth.
“Not today,” she yelled, twisting her arm free.
She rammed her elbow back, connecting to its jaw with a wet crack. The monster loosened its grip, giving her enough room to strike. Her blade stabbed the lemeron right through its open mouth. Its limbs went limp and crumpled to the ground.
She charged the one-armed lemeron in the tattered dress, aiming her sickle at its neck.
Marlene roared as she sliced its head clean off. It fell lifeless to the forest floor.
Two more to go.
They charged her at the same time. Marlene crouched. Extending her arm, she adjusted her grip on her sickle. Narrowing her eyes, she waited for them to get closer. When they were almost upon her, she sprung up, spinning in a circle. She felt resistance as her blade made contact two times.
She stopped, her back to the creatures. She glanced over her shoulder in time to see the two headless creatures collapse, dead.
Ethan and Brenden were still fighting off the remaining lemerons. Red blood streamed down the side of Brenden’s face. Three of the monsters backed him against a tree as he tried to fight them off. Ethan was busy with two of his own.
Marlene’s temper flared. No one – living or dead – threatened her family. She charged, swinging wildly, cutting down anything in her path.
Letting out a shrill scream, she cut and slashed with her sickle. The blade cut air and lemeron flesh alike. It felt good. The sound of flesh ripping open was like music to her. Like the song always calling her. The one that was currently calling her back to the wall. She fought it for so long. It was so loud now, welcoming her to oblivion.
About the Authors Valerie Puri is an author of Paranormal, Fantasy, and Young Adult.
As an author of both short stories and novels, she enjoys the flexibility of writing tales of any length. Her favorite aspect of writing is the ability to create something out of nothing. She loves building worlds readers can visualize and filling those worlds with complex characters and storylines. Valerie believes that the experiences we have in life are just stories waiting to be written.
In 2016, she published her debut novel, The Crimson Tree, a thrilling paranormal tale inspired by true events. The main source of inspiration for this story was a number of experiences her sister encountered in her home. She went on to publish The Dociles, book one of The Secret Archives Trilogy, her young adult dystopian series. Valerie’s work can be found in anthologies such as Demonic Anthologies, Thrill of the Hunt, and We Know the Truth, Do You? Readers can look forward to future novels and short stories with paranormal and urban fantasy aspects in the near future, including a trilogy she is co-authoring in the Dark Projects world.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, or listening to audio books. She is a Florida transplant, but part of her will always call the Midwest home.
Synopsis Alliances are forming. The resistance is growing. Everything is about to change.
With her memory still fragmented, Ava returns to the International Sensory Assassin Network (ISAN) to find the twin sister she never knew she had.
But as Ava hunts for information, she finds herself tangled in a web of yet more lies and conspiracy. The Helix serum may not be required to access her superpowers, and the number of male assassins—previously considered too volatile to tolerate Helix—is growing in every territory.
The more Ava uncovers, the more of a threat she becomes to ISAN. Her only salvation may be to join the rebels—if she isn’t killed first.
————————————————————————————–
My Review
WARNING: Spoilers for books 1 and 2.
The third book in the International Sensory Assassin Network (ISAN) series, GENES is a rollercoaster ride that never lets up. It picks up in the immediate aftermath of HELIX. We once again find Rhett, Ava and their renegade friends struggling for survival while trying to find a way to bring down ISAN. Except this time, they have the help of some super-powered little friends. At the end of HELIX, we learn a plethora of heinous acts ISAN has been up to. Armed with this knowledge, Ava is more determined than ever to end them and Mr. Novak, the leader of ISAN, once and for all. Ava now knows the identity of her twin, but they are not who she expected. As the rebels fight to save the lives of everyone they love, they willingly risk their own. There’s not much I can say without giving too much away, but this installment is action-packed with more romance, more love, and more loss than in the previous two books. It’s the very definition of a page-turner.
Plot The story is well-plotted and moves almost constantly. The author does a good job of planting the seeds we need at just the right time for everything to fall inevitably into place. Ting is an expert at white-knuckle suspense and GENES is no different. The stakes are higher than ever and Ava and Rhett have so much more to lose.
Characters Not only do we hear from Ava and Rhett again, but we get some new points of view. Rhett’s goes from first person to third and it was a little jarring at first, but I got used to it quickly. Ava continues her growth arc, learning that she is not responsible for everyone and everything. In addition to the new characters we met at the end of HELIX, there are more new characters, both good and evil. Some of the bad dudes aren’t as well developed as they could be, but that’s a small complaint in an otherwise stellar read.
What I Loved About GENES 1. Twists. There are more twists and turns, starting in chapter 1, that kept me on the edge of my seat.
2. Rhett. Once again, he is swoon-worthy and nearly perfect.
3. Mr. Novak. He is the type of villain I relish hating.
4. Ava. She has her moments when I want to slap some sense into her, but the more I learn about her backstory, the more I’ve come to understand her.
5. Momo. A new character, she’s spunk on steroids and may be my new favorite character. Watch out Rhett, you have some adorable competition for best character in the ISAN series.
Bottom Line Another pulse-pounding edition in this high-tech, sci-fi dystopian romantic adventure.
Disclaimer I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author International Bestselling, Award-Winning Author Mary Ting writes soulful, spellbinding stories that excite the imagination and captivate readers all over the world. Her books run a wide range of genres: science fiction, fantasy, and swoon worthy stories. Her storytelling talents have won her a devoted legion of fans and garnered critical praise.
Mary was born in Seoul Korea and resides in Southern California with her husband, two children, and two dogs—Mochi and Mocha. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Becoming an author was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother. After realizing she wanted to become a full-time author, she retired from teaching after twenty years.
Ink Monster LLC and USA Today bestselling author, Aileen Erin are revealing the cover to ON MISSION, the third book in the young adult dystopian series, Aunare Chronicles, releasing December 15, 2020. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, preorder links, an a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
Synopsis From USA Today Bestselling Author Aileen Erin comes the third book in the Aunare Chronicles.
“Declan’s been captured.” Ahiga’s strained voice carried through the recording and Amihanna knew without seeing him that he must be hurt. “SpaceTech is shooting us dead in the street and we can’t run or hide fast enough. I’m not sure how long we can stay in Haden’s hideout. We need your help. I know it’s a lot to ask, but please. I’m begging. We’re all going to die without you.” Ahiga’s message was everything Amihanna feared would come true. She was on a convoy to meet with the Aunare’s allies.
“Wait!” Amihanna screams. Her mind is racing, and she needs to make a decision. Keep going. Meet Lorne on the neutral planet to broker an alliance as planned. Or change course. Jump across the universe as quickly as she can, and pray it’s fast enough to save her Earther family. Amihanna knows what it’s like to be abandoned, fighting for her life, and hoping that someone would come. No one helped her except for the Crew, Declan, and Ahiga. Sometimes debts can’t be repaid, but Amihanna is a di Aetes. She won’t give up. Not ever.
About the Author
Aileen Erin is half-Irish, half-Mexican, and 100% nerd–from Star Wars (prequels don’t count) to Star Trek (TNG FTW), she reads Quenya and some Sindarin, and has a severe fascination with the supernatural. Aileen has a BS in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles, and spends her days doing her favorite things: reading books, creating worlds, and kicking ass.
Welcome to the blog tour for STING, a young adult dystopian adventure/romance by Cindy R. Wilson. See below for information on the book, buy links, my five-star review, and details on her giveaway.
STING by Cindy R. Wilson
Synopsis They call me the Scorpion because they don’t know who I really am. All they know is that someone is stealing from people with excess to help people with nothing survive another day.
But then a trusted friend reveals who I am―“just” Tessa, “just” a girl―and sends me straight into the arms of the law. All those people I helped…couldn’t help me when I needed it.
In prison, I find an unlikely ally in Pike, who would have been my enemy on the outside. He represents everything I’m against. Luxury. Excess. The world immediately falling for his gorgeous smile. How he ended up in the dirty cell next to mine is a mystery, but he wants out as much as I do. Together, we have a real chance at escape.
With the sting of betrayal still fresh, Pike and I will seek revenge on those who wronged us. But uncovering all their secrets might turn deadly…
————————————————————————————–
My Review This is a fun thrill ride from the opening pages through the pulse-pounding conclusion. Cindy R. Wilson creates fascinating characters and throws them into impossible situations against a rich dystopian backdrop. Scorpion is just a teenage girl who was unfortunately on the wrong side of the bride when the world came tumbling down. Living in a “bunker” in an abandoned gaming center, Tessa, aka the Scorpion, shares her “home” with Cass, a twelve-year-old orphan. The two form a tight family unit, which not only do whatever it takes to survive, but also helping others who live in the Dark District get what they need. This makes her public enemy number one of the Light Sight, which is under the control of Campbell, who also happens to be the father of her best friend, Elle. But when someone betrays her, Tessa is thrown into prison where she meets Pike, a former enforcer in training who wants to take down Campbell almost as much as Tessa does. The two form a friendship that borders on something more as they plan to escape and help the Dark Side and exact revenge on Campbell. But Tessa’s hate for Campbell is powerful and may get in the way of what she needs to do.
There are a lot of similarities between STING and THE HUNGER GAMES. So if you enjoy a good dystopian adventure of the oppressed rising up against their oppressor, a badass heroine with a younger sister figure she’ll do anything for, and a couple of swoony boys fighting over the protagonist, this is right up your alley!
Plot The main plot centers on Tessa and her quest for revenge against Campbell, the man who has kept the Dark District in the dark. There are strong subplots involving Tessa’s search for Cass, and her relationships with both River, another darksider, and Pike, the lightsider she meets in prison. The story shines in all of these areas. The action is well-spaced ensuring perfect pacing and twists and turns kept me engaged. Some I saw coming, others not so much. Everything is expertly woven together to create a compelling story that is nearly impossible to put down.
Characters The characters are superb! Scorpion will go down in history as one of my all-time favorite heroines. River, Pike, Cass and the rest are all deep, complex, compelling. Even the antagonists are more than just shallow stereotypes for the most part. Mongo and even Elle at times seemed sort of trope-y, but they served a necessary purpose. I love Tessa so much. She’s tough but vulnerable. Her inexperience with romance makes her stumble over her feelings for those around her, but her fierce loyalty is what endears her to me from the very beginning. Pike is my Peta. He’s also loyal, brave, smart, and he gets Tessa on a deep level. River is my sweet, sweet Gale. He loves Tessa so much, he’d do anything for her. Elle is complex and conflicted as the best friend and daughter of Tessa’s rival, and Campbell, well, he’s easy to believe these days as a greedy bastard who sees the poor people of the world as a drain on his power and wealth.
What I Loved About STING 1. Tessa. She’s the perfect blend of strength, fearlessness, loyalty, and vulnerability.
2. Pike. He’s wonderfully patient, brave, and would do anything for Tessa.
3. Action. There is a lot of it and it’s pulse-pounding and intense.
4. River. Another great guy who will risk everything for the people he cares about.
5. Twists and Turns. Really well done and caught me by surprise more than once.
What Didn’t Quite Work for Me Nothing! Though I hope this is the first book in a series. It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger and I have no idea what the author would do in a second book, but I love this world and these characters so much, I don’t want to let them go.
Bottom Line A thrilling dystopian adventure with plenty of romance!
About the Author Cindy lives at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and loves using Colorado towns and cities as inspiration for settings in her stories. She’s the mother of three girls, who provide plenty of fodder for her YA novels. Cindy writes speculative fiction and YA fiction, filled with a healthy dose of romance. You’ll often find her hiking or listening to any number of playlists while she comes up with her next story idea.
