Character Interview: Stolen Nights by Rebecca Maizel

UFI welcomes Rebecca Maizel Author of The Vampire Queen Series. Thanks for Joining us!!

Character Interview Lenah

What did you want to be when you were little?


 I was born in the 15th century long before the advent of choice for women. When I was a child my hopes were to live, marry, have children. That's all there was. That and the church.
I lived a hundred lives as a vampire, and none of them were what I wanted. I've always wanted to go back, live, complete the cycle of my life. I've being quote morbid and sad, but it's true!

What was your favorite part of being a vampire?

Seeing the passage of time, watching music change, and technology. Even when I took my hibernation in the 1900s, the world had changed dramatically from 1417. I loved the clothes, though. Corsets, flowing dresses, and gorgeous jewelry! I do miss that.

How do you think your life would have turned out if you had never went out to find your moms earring?

I would have died in the 15th century. But I never would have met Tony or Justin. I wouldn't have met my soul mate, Rhode. It's a funny thing, isn't it? If we could go back and change our fate? Would we? I'm the person I am now because of that choice. If it hadn't happened, would I be better off? I guess that's the thing about life, you really can't go back and change it. Or maybe you can...

While you were a vampire if you could have changed one act what would it have been?

*SPOILER ALERT FOR INFINITE DAYS**

I would not have allowed the coven to kill Tony. I would have done whatever was in my power to stop that. Hopefully one day I can make amends for this.

Who do you consider your best friend?

Tony. He taught me true friendship. He taught me what it meant to really love a person with the wish for nothing in return. Unconditional love but without the romance. He's a special person 

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Rebecca Maizel received her B.S. from Boston University and has masters degrees from RIC and VCFA. She teaches literature in her home state of RI. She talks to her Bichon Frise George like he’s a real person.

 

Find Rebecca and her books

Website / Twitter / Facebook

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Stolen Nights
Author:Rebecca Maizel
Release Date: January 29, 2013
Publisher: St. Martins Griffin
Vampire Queen Book #2
ISBN:   0312649924
ISBN13: 9780312649920
Genre: Young Adult

Lenah Beaudonte should be dead. But having sacrificed herself to save another, she finds herself awakening with strange powers that are neither vampire nor human—and a new enemy on her trail. In her vampire life, Lenah had thought that being human was all she ever wanted; but the human heart suffers pain, heartbreak and loss.

With her new powers growing and the dark force of the Nex after her soul, Lenah faces a choice: between the mortal love of gorgeous Justin, whose passion fed her human soul, and taking a different path to become the mistress of her own destiny, wherever that may lead...

Review: The Cat's Meow by Stacey Kennedy

The Cat's Meow
Author:Stacey Kennedy
Release Date: December 13, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Witch's Brew Book #1 
ISBN13:  9781622668571
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Netgalley

Libby is an Enchantress—a witch gifted by the Goddess to conjure spells. When a magical presence is detected around a recent string of feline slayings, Libby takes the case to uncover the reasons behind the odd deaths. Much to her displeasure, the coven also sends a sexy warlock, Kale, to assist her.

While having the muscle around proves to be useful, fighting the attraction between them is worse than a hex, especially considering Kale is keeping secrets. But soon, Libby has bigger problems than the elusive warlock when her spells turn up clues that point to something far more sinister than slaughtered cats.

Now Libby has landed herself in the midst of an uprising. She trusts no one and isn’t safe—not from the warlocks stirring up trouble. Not from the worrisome rebellion she can’t escape. And certainly not from Kale, who is weaving a very dangerous spell over her heart.

I have to admit the cover and the title didn't interest me and I passed up the title a handful of times on Netgalley before I read some reviews and decided to give it a try. I am so glad I decided to read THE CAT'S MEOW.

THE CAT'S MEOW is a fun easy read with a huge amount of action. The characters are very real feeling and were huge entertainment to follow. Libby, my gawd the sass she brings is fantastic. She is pretty hard headed in some things but she grows by the end of the book and she really has much reason to feel the way she does about things. Her mouth definitely should get her in more trouble then it does though. Kale is a sexy alpha male. He is very closed off at first and remained elusive in his non answers to everything for pretty much the whole book but he is extremely protective of Libby and you cant help but love him just for the things he does. I had a feeling I knew who he really was from pretty early on but the reveal was just as fantastic as it would have been if I hadn't suspected as much. The romance is steady, Libby and Kale made a lot of sense together and I really enjoyed their journey to get to know each other no matter how rocky it ended up being.

The ending wrapped everything up really nicely but left it open for book 2. The only question I have left is When does book 2 come out?

I gave it 4/5 stars

Review: Blood-Kissed Sky by J.A. London

Blood-Kissed Sky
Author:J.A. London
Release Date: December 26, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Darkness Before Dawn Trilogy Book #2
ISBN:  0062020668
ISBN13: 9780062020666
Genre: Young Adult/ Dystopian
 

There's nowhere left to hide.

I thought vampires were our enemies - they controlled our lives, isolated our cities, and demanded our blood - until I met Victor. With Victor taking over as the new Lord Valentine, things were supposed to get better. Instead, they're worse than ever.

Day Walkers, a new breed of vampires who can walk in the sun, are terrorizing the city. Blood supplies are low, and if Victor's vampires don't get enough, they will become infected with the Thirst - a disease that will turn them into mindless killers.

To stop it, I must journey across the desolate wasteland to the very place where the sickness began. I can only hope that the answers that await me are enough to save us all... before it's too late.

BLOOD-KISSED SKY starts up shortly after the cliffhanger ending of book 1. I love both the main character Dawn and her love interest Victor. I was just as shocked as Dawn was when she woke up and was still human after the ending of DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN. 

We get to visit another city and explore life outside Denver. Some of our favorite supporting characters are along for the ride and we get to know a little more about all of them. The romance is a tad bit on the sidelines as Victor tries to protect Dawn and pushes her away but you can still tell with every scene they are in together that the spark isn't going anywhere. 

There was tons of action and drama throughout and the world continues to get better and better. The biggest downfall for BLOOD-KISSED SKY? It ended to soon!! The ending revealed some astonishing stuff (which makes a lot of little things make a whole lot of sense), I love that this series leaves me guessing at every turn. I continue to be a fan and I'm going to be picking up book 3 AFTER DAYBREAK when it hits the shelf's June 2013.

I gave it 4/5 stars

New Releases: 1/13-1/19

Mon Jan 14

The Impetuous Amazon (Alliance of the Amazons, #2) by Sandy James


Tues Jan 15

Gates of Paradise (Blue Bloods, #7) by Melissa de la Cruz
Level 2 (The Memory Chronicles, #1) by Lenore Appelhans
Stone Cold Revenge (Set in Stone, #2) by Jess Macallan
Touch of Death (Touch of Death, #1) by Kelly Hashway
Vortex (Tempest, #2) by Julie Cross

 

Happy Reading!!

Early Review: Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway

Touch of Death
Author:Kelly Hashway
Release Date: January 15, 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Touch of Death Book #1
ISBN:  193705330X
ISBN13: 9781937053307
Genre: Young Adult
Review Copy Source: Publisher

Jodi Marshall isn't sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she's in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she's being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.
After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he's not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she's part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendants of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.
Jodi's deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn't difficult enough, Jodi discovers she's the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can't figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

I did like Jodi. She starting off as any other girl only to find out that she was anything but when people start dying and resurrecting around her. If that isn't bad enough she is being stalked. There was a great amount of action and suspense in TOUCH OF DEATH. I loved that the story incorporates Medusa and I liked the scenes where her voice was involved. This is definitely not the Medusa we are used to reading about. 

The romance between Alex and Jodi was sweet but didn't move very far or feel all consuming or anything. There was a lot of over explaining of some things which tended to get a bit annoying at times. I also felt that a lot of situations were a little to obvious and it was like HEY LOOK THERE when the characters didn't pick up on it. I easily guessed the bad guys but I still enjoyed the story.

TOUCH OF DEATH was fast paced. I enjoyed most of the characters and I was left entertained when all was said and done. I think any YA fan that loves Greek mythology and zombies will enjoy it. 

I gave it 3/5 stars

Week in Review: 1/6-1/12

Books Ive Bought/received

*Ever After by Kim Harrison- eARC- Publisher via Edelweiss

* Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes -eARC- Publisher via Netgalley

* Blood Oranges by Caitlín R. Kiernan - Publisher

* House Rules by Chloe Neill- Publisher

* Apollyon by Jennifer L Armentrout-ARC- Publisher

* The Different Girl by Gordon Dahlquist- ARC- Librarything early reviewers

* The Cat's Meow by Stacey Kennedy- eARC- Netgalley


Books I Read

Kitty Rocks the House by Carrie Vaughn
Ever After by Kim Harrison
Requiem by Lauren Oliver
The Rules by Stacey Kade
House Rules by Chloe Neill
Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Reviews Posted

Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep
The Trouble With Fate by Leigh Evans
Touch of the Demon by Diana Rowland

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* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?

* Friday brought the first guest post of 2013 to UFI. Tara Maya stopped by on her The Unfinished Song series tour to promote the newest book in the series Wing. There is a giveaway as well.

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 * I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.

Guest Blog & Giveaway: Wing by Tara Maya

UFI welcomes Tara Maya Author of The Unfinished Song series. Thanks for Joining us!!

How To Enjoy Epic Fantasy

When I wrote The Unfinished Song series, I wanted to join two literary traditions: the Young Adult paranormal romance and the traditional epic fantasy. For readers familiar with both genres, the mix is a fun one, but what about readers who find traditional epic fantasy a little intimidating?

1. Wander the map.

The map is there, filled with wondrous names and blank spaces, so you, the reader, can wander around in it. You don’t have to stop traveling where the book ends, but can meander your way around the world on your own, imagining what other nooks and crannies you might find, what creatures and dangers, what adventures and romance. Enjoy!

2. Delight in deep time.

You don’t have to know the names of all the kings of yore. (See below.) But do reflect on the eon past that have gone into the creation of this world.  

Pretend you are a visiting another country, a real one, and the guide is telling you about the various epochs as you gaze across the vine-covered ruins, and suddenly it hits you: These stones were built by people who lived thousands of years ago. Whoah.  

That’s the feeling of wonder that fantasy seeks to recreate. Whoah….

3. Don’t worry about bit players.

Epic fantasy has a lot of characters. A multitude of men. Gobs of goblins. Everflowing elves. A whole host of heroes and vast numbers of villains. And serfs and slaves and peasants and thieves and assassins and gods and five nation’s worth of royal lineages with fifty dead kings each.  

Reading name after name, with umlauts and apostrophes, you may panic. Does the author actually expect me to remember all these people?  

Nope.  

Here’s a secret. Even the author doesn’t remember half of them. The author is scratching his head wondering, “Did I already name an elf Galadrinel or was that Galafalel?” 

If these characters are not that important, why do they have names? Why must they be dragged through the scene at all?

 

The joy of epic fantasy is that it immerses you in a new world. Would you believe in a world that had only four people in it? No. Would you believe in a world that had only nameless masses in it? No. A fantasy world invites you to believe that it is like our world, filled with people who have names, histories and desires of their own which you will never know. You don’t need to know them right now… you’re with the hero, saving the world…but you know that they are there, and they are what makes the world worth saving.

4. Re-read.

Of course this only works if you love the series, but one of the most enjoyable aspects of a fat, juicy epic is that when you re-read it later, you’re certain to pick up a lot of details and subtleties that you missed the first time around. If the writer is any good at all, you’ll find that he or she foreshadowed so much more about the themes and ending of the series than you realized the first time around.

5. Relish your superpowers!

Like all fantasy, the heroes of epic fantasy have fantastic powers. Mighty thews and magic spells and unique destinies! To be truly epic in scope, the stakes usually involve the fate of the entire world— and the powers wielded by the protagonists and antagonists must be equal to that task—vast indeed. And that’s…freakin’ awesome. 

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Author Bio: Tara Maya has lived in Africa, Europe and Asia. She’s pounded sorghum with mortar and pestle in a little clay village where the jungle meets the desert, meditated in a Buddhist monastery in the Himalayas and sailed the Volga River to a secret city that was once the heart of the Soviet space program. This first-hand experience, as well as research into the strange and piquant histories of lost civilizations, inspires her writing. Her terrible housekeeping, however, is entirely the fault of pixies.

Find Tara and her books

Website / Twitter / Facebook

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Wing
The Unfinished Song #5
Amazon / Kobo /  Smashwords / Barnes and Noble

UMBRAL SERVES THE DEATHSWORN. He exists for one purpose only: to hunt down the last girl with rainbow magic and kill her. Now he has Dindi at his mercy. But he discoverers that the Raptor Riders of Orange Canyon have played with dark magic that threatens all Faeath, and he needs Dindi’s help to stop them.

DINDI BARGINS FOR HER LIFE. She offers to help her captor rescue the White Lady from the Raptor Riders, who plan to use the faery as a pawn in a monstrous scheme. But Dindi will never forget that Umbral murdered someone she loved…and never forgive. She vows to escape and bring him to justice.

A DARKNESS UNCOILS IN ORANGE CANYON. If they can’t work together, the darkness will consume everything.

WELCOME TO FAEARTH…where humans are trapped between the immortal fae and the minions of Death. But one woman and the warrior who loves her will defy every taboo to protect their people.

Come taste the world of Faearth... The first book is available right now for FREE.
The Unfinished Song (Book 1): Initiate
The Unfinished Song (Book 2): Taboo
The Unfinished Song (Book 3): Sacrifice
The Unfinished Song (Book 4): Root
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