Monday 13 October 2014

Dead Girl Walking (Royal Reaper #1) by Ruth Silver


Published: April 27 by Patchwork Press
Pages: 242

SYNOPSIS

Forget everything you know about grim reapers. Princess Ophelia Dacre sneaks out of the castle to visit her boyfriend in secret. A perfect night cut short when she's brutally murdered. Ophelia is given the rare chance to become a grim reaper. She must become Leila Bele, cut ties with her old life, and follow the rules of the reapers. Her greatest adventure begins with death. 


REVIEW

Ruth Silver has done it again! I devoured this book in one sitting, it starts with some action in the first chapter, and never ends!

We meet Princess Ophelia when she is sneaking out of the castle to meet her boyfriend Larkin. They go to a pub where she believes that no one knows who she is, and they are having ale and going to dance. She goes to use the latrine outside and when she reaches it, she is suddenly murdered. 

She then meets Edon, who tells her that she has been chosen to be a grim reaper. She does not believe what is happening to her, she does not think that she has been murdered, and wants Edon to put her back in her body and bring her back to life, though he cannot do that.

He brings her back to the asylum where all the other grim reapers live. She is introduced to some of them, and she immediately moves in to a house with some of the other girls. 

This is when the story picks up and she starts to get her assignments, and she learns very quickly what happens if she decides to ignore one of them.

I loved all the characters in this book, and the plot, everything was bang on, and cannot wait for the second installment in the series.

If you are looking for a YA paranormal with something a little different, this one is for you! I give it a 4/5!

Monday 6 October 2014

Origins (Demonkin #1) By Sean Hayden


Published Sept 2 2014
by Untold Press

SYNOPSIS

Being different is never easy, especially when you're a vampire.
Ashlyn is far from normal. She was born a vampire, a trait that makes her utterly unique. Knowing this, her family strived to keep her existence a secret. Tragedy forces her from hiding and hunger drives her into the open. Unfortunately, living in a world that has accepted, embraced, and yet still fears the supernatural is never a good place to stand out. Especially when the one who notices you wants you dead. The only people who can save her want to use her as well, but she's left with little choice. Ashlyn joins the FBI and becomes torn between two worlds. She can either be a monster, or she can help destroy them.

REVIEW

Ashlyn is kick ASS! Let me just start by saying that! 

We start the story off when Ashlyn's Mother is calling forth a spirit, or so she believes, and it does not go well for her, we find out at the end of the novel why.

We then turn to Ashlyn when she is about 17 years old, and living with her Aunt. She has been living with her Aunt since birth as her Mother did not make it through childbirth. She has no ID to speak of, and she does not exist anywhere, she has been living in the house with her Aunt, and no one knew. Her Aunt passes away in a traffic accident (and this is all in the first chapter, so I am giving nothing away). This is when the story picks up as far as action, etc and does not stop!

Ashlyn figures out that her Aunt has left her some fake ID to use, and a key to her safe deposit box, so she goes to the bank and gets in and her Aunt has left her $10,000.00 to start off a new life for herself somewhere, she knows that Ashlyn could not be left the house or anything as she does not technically exist anywhere, so this is the best that she could do.

Ashlyn has been surviving by drinking her Aunt's blood her entire life, so now she is confused on where she is supposed to find a supply as unlike "typical" vampires, she has no use for humans as their blood does not appeal to her, only blood of some kind of supernatural she is beginning to realize appeals to her, so on top of everything else, she is trying to figure out what her Aunt was as she came off as a typical human to her her entire life.

After setting herself up in a hotel, she decides to travel out to where she knows of some clubs to see what she can come across. A situation occurs and she is brought to the owner of the club to see what is going to be done with her, and she starts to realize what some of her powers are. She is then brought to the vampire that really runs Chicago to see what he thinks can be done with her as far as keeping her alive or not. There is another big situation that happens there, and that is when she meets the agents of the FBI for the first time.

She is taken in to custody and questioned extensively as far as who she is, who her maker is (as every vampire is made, not born), and she answers all the questions honestly and tells her life story as best that she can. They decide that she is unlike anything that they have seen before, and decide to offer her a job.

We get to see Ashlyn go through training and get put on her first case, and see how that goes, but I don't want to give anything else away as it would totally take away from the awesome that is this book! If you love paranormal and are in for reading about a creature that is unlike anything you have read about before, this book is for you! I give this a 5/5 and I cannot wait to get my hands on book #2 in the series!

Wednesday 1 October 2014

Vanished From Dust Tour



Book Title: Vanished from Dust by Shea Norwood (Book 1 in the Vanished from Dust series)
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Pages: 320
Published: October 16th, 2013
Published by Createspace
Barnes & Nobles: http://bit.ly/1o0HuEq

SUMMARY

A CHILL RUNS THROUGH HIS SKIN AS THE PHANTOM APPEARS.

HE SEES THEM EVERYWHERE . . .

Eric Stark is not insane. Or at least he doesn’t think so. He wishes everyone in Dust, Texas, felt the same way. But that’s not going to happen since the whole town thinks he’s crazy. Why didn’t he keep his mouth shut?

No one understands. Eric is alone as he battles his sanity in a town of tormenters. Suddenly a new friendship emerges after the new kid, Kyle Barrett, moves to town.
Eric reluctantly reveals his secret. Is it a curse or a gift? He isn’t certain, but with Kyle by his side he finds the courage to seek the truth.

They soon realize that something sinister is descending on the residents of Dust.
Is it caused by Eric’s phantoms or is it something else? Is it connected to the mysterious death of hundreds of townspeople over sixty years ago? One thing is certain—only Eric and Kyle can save them.

They set out on a heart-pounding adventure and find themselves transported to a disturbed and deserted version of their small southern town. They quickly discover that this new world has mysteries of its own to uncover. What they find could prove more than they bargained for, and it only leads to more questions. Eric and Kyle must face a horrifying fact—they may never get out alive.

“We’re gonna die here,” Kyle muttered.

 “I don’t believe that,” Eric said. “And neither do you.”

Will they survive their encounter with these dark and mysterious beings?

Will they find a way back home?

Or will they be lost forever?

The Vanished from Dust series is perfect for anyone who craves a hair-raising thriller packed with mystery and suspense. This paranormal story for young adults can be compared to Stand by Me, mixed with Odd Thomas, and a twist of The Dark Tower.
EXCERPT

CHAPTER    1    


    

“I’m    not    crazy,”    Eric   Stark    shouted    at    the    crowd    of    seventh    graders    as    they    surrounded    him.    He    looked    up    from    the    ground,    which    consisted    of    patches    of    grass    and    dirt,    to   see    the    sunlight    glinting    off   of  the    metal    braces    of    a    girl    with    pigtails    as    she    pointed    and    laughed    with    the    rest    of    them.    Another    boy    kicked    him    in    the    stomach,    causing    him    to    retreat    into    a    fetal    position    to    guard    against    another    blow.    
“Oh  yeah?”    Greg    Coffey    asked    as   he    towered    over    Eric.    His    lip    was  curled,    showing    his    crooked,    heavily    stained    teeth.    “What    happened    last   week    in    class?    You    said,    ‘They’re    watching    me.’    Remember    that,    loser?”    
“I  didn’t    say    that.”    Eric    tried    to    get    up,    but    Greg    pushed    him    back    down    and    kicked    dirt    in    his    face.    Eric rubbed    his    burning    eyes    with    both    hands.    When    he    opened    them    he    saw    four    more    kids    sneering    over    him,    all    laughing    at    his    expense.    Where    was    a    teacher    when    you    needed    one?    The    hot    Texas    sun    was  high    on    the  horizon,    almost    blinding    him    as    he    stared    back    at    his    tormentors.    Sweat    was    pouring    from    his    brow,    mixing    with    the    tears    that    streamed    down    his    face.    
“Yeah  you    did,”    Adam    Marshall    said    with    a    smirk.    “You’re    going    off    the    rails,    
crazy  train.”   
“I    like    that—crazy    train.    Just    like    the    song,”    Greg    said.    He    laughed    and    gave    Adam    
a    high    five.    “That’s    your    new    name.    Like    it?”    Greg    kicked   another    pile  of    dirt  at    Eric.    Eric    tried    to    spit    it    out,    but    his    entire    face    was    covered    in    a    muddy    film.    He    
wished  that    he’d    just    kept    his    mouth    shut    about    it,    but    it    was    too    late    now.    News    traveled    fast    in    a    small    town,    and    he    was    sure    everyone    thought    he    was  insane    by    now.    
He    didn’t    know    what    he    was.    
“Leave  him    alone,”    a    kid    said.    He    leaned    over    to    help    Eric    to    his    feet.    “I    don’t    like    
bullies.”  
“Stay  out    of    it,    new    kid.”    Greg    said    and    gave    him    a    scowling    stare.    
“Or   what?”  The    kid    got   closer.    
“Let’s  go,”    Adam    said.    “There’s    a    teacher    coming.”    He    slapped    Greg    on    the    
shoulder.  
“This   ain’t    over,”     Greg   said   as   he   walked    away.    “Thanks,”    Eric  said.    
“I’m    Kyle    Barrett,”    the    kid    said,    extending    his    hand.    
Eric  shook    it.    “Did    you    just    move    here?”    
“Yeah,    this    is    my    first    day,”    Kyle    said.    “It’s    hard    being    the    new    kid.    No    one    talks    to    
you.”  
“No  one    talks    to    me    either,    except    to    make    fun    of    me,”    Eric    said.    
    
******  
Six  months    after    the    dirt-­‐kicking    incident,    Eric    and  Kyle    had    turned    from    strangers    
into    fast  friends.    But  everyone    else    still    thought    Eric    was    crazy.    Even    now,    he    
couldn’t  be   sure    if    they    were     right    or  wrong.    
He    only    knew    one    thing—he    hadn’t  actually    seen   them    in    several    months.    So    was    
it  all    in    his    head?    His    mom    always    told    him    time    heals    all    wounds.    But    this    wound    

was  more    like    a    cut    that    never    healed.    It    festered    in    the    eyes    of    everyone    in    Dust,    Texas.    He    was    just    a    mentally    defective    kid    who    barely    deserved    their    pity.    
He    was    in    the    eighth    grade    now,    and    he    tried    to    put    those    troubled    years    behind    
him.  It    seemed    that    most    of    his    classmates    felt    the    same    way,    but    a    select    few    never    grew    tired    of    reminding    him    of    his    sanity    (or    lack    thereof)    and    demeaning    nickname    from    time    to    time.    
Eric   looked  up    at   the   clock.   The     second  hand    moved    in    a    slow,    agonizing    speed    
before  the    bell   rang     loudly,    reverberating    throughout    the   building.    
“Finally,”  he    said    quietly    to    himself.    The    sound    of    the   bell    signified     the   end   of   the    school    week,    and    he    was    happy    to    hear    it.    It    was    only    the    week    after    Thanksgiving    and    he    was    already    looking    forward    to    summer    break.    He    scrambled    down    the    stairs    and    out    the  heavy    double    doors.    Kyle   Barrett   waited    at   the    foot    of    the    steps    wearing    
a    tucked-­‐in    red    polo.    They    had   been    inseparable    ever   since   Kyle    had    stood    up    for    
him    that    day.    
He   didn’t    stop    when    he    got    outside,    taunting    Kyle    to    a    footrace.    Kyle    ran    hard    to    catch    up    after    seeing    Eric    dart    by.    Kyle    was    five    months    older,    but    for    the    time    being    they    were   both    still    fourteen,    and   they   were  often   thought    of    as    brothers    due     to   
their  similar    appearances.    Both    of    the    boys    had    dark-­‐brown    hair,    chestnut-­‐colored    eyes,    and    olive    skin.    But    Kyle    was    broader    in    the    shoulders    compared    to    Eric’s    slender    frame.    
“Bet    I    can    beat   you    to   the    car,”    Eric  yelled.    
“No   way,”   Kyle   said    as   he    raced    ahead    of    Eric.    
Eric   wasn’t     going    down    without    a    fight,    so   he  ran    harder     while  dodging    several    students    loitering    outside   the    school.    He    was    closing    the    distance    when   he   tripped,    scattering    his    books    across    the    parking    lot.    A    group    of    girls    standing    on    the    sidewalk    giggled    as   he   got    to    his    feet   and   gathered   his   things    and    what    little    dignity    he    had    
left.  Kyle    made    it    to    the    car    and    pointed    at    Eric,    laughing.    “You    busted    big    time,”    Kyle    said.    
“You    got   lucky.    If   I   hadn’t  tripped     I    would’ve     beat    you,”   Eric   replied.   
“Yeah  right,    you’ll    never    beat    me.”    
Jean,  Kyle’s    mother,    rolled    down    the    car    window.    She    had    a    cigarette    hanging    from    her    lip.    Eric    watched    as    the    smoke    drifted    out    the    window    and    disappeared    into    the    wind.  
“Can    I   spend    the    night    at    Eric’s    house    tonight?”    Kyle    blurted    out,    still    breathing    
hard.  
Eric    was  standing    anxiously     next  to   the   car,    waiting    for    her    reply.    He   bent    over   to    rub    his    knee.    He    was    pretty    sure    he’d    scraped    it    hard    enough  to   draw    blood.    He    looked    back    to  see    if    the    girls    were    still    watching    him.    They    were    on    the    sidewalk    waiting    for    their    rides    but    apparently    had    found    a    more    interesting    topic    to    discuss    since    they    were  no  longer   looking     at   him.    
“Did  Eric’s    mom    say    it    was    all    right?”    Jean    asked.    She    flicked    her    ash     out    of  the    window    and   took    another  drag.    She    had    dry,   ashy-­‐brown    hair,    along   with    a    pair    of    large-­‐rimmed    glasses    that    draped    over    her    hazel    eyes.    She    wore    a    simple    mauve-­‐ colored   T-­‐shirt    and    blue    jeans.    

Kyle’s  little    sister,    Katie,    and    older    brother,    Ben,    were    sitting    in    the    backseat.    Katie    Barrett,    the    youngest    of    the    family,    had    wavy    dirty-­‐blonde    hair    that    looked    like    a    poodle’s    fur.    Ben   was   Kyle’s   older    brother.    
“She  is    okay    with    it,”    Kyle  said.    
“Yeah,    we  asked    last    period,”    Eric   added.  
“Well    if    she    doesn’t    mind,    then    it’s    fine    with    me,”    Jean    said.    She    took    her    huge    glasses    off,   wiped   the  lenses  with    her    shirt,    and    put    them    back    on.    “Kyle,    do    you    still    have    your   bike    at    Eric’s?”     
“It    should    be  there.”    Kyle   eyed    Eric    for    confirmation,    and  he   nodded.   
Eric  looked    in    the    backseat    and    saw    Ben    picking    his    nose    with    no    shame.    He    thought    about   pointing    it   out   but    quickly    decided    against    it.    It    was    only    a   couple    of    weeks    ago    that    Eric  had    narrowly    escaped    getting    his  head   dipped   in   the   toilet   by    him    at    the    high    school    football    game,    so    it    was    best    that    he    kept    a    little    distance    for    now.    If   it    hadn’t    been    for    the    school    principal    walking    in    during    the    act    he    would    have    had   the    unfortunate   opportunity    of    seeing    a    close-­‐up    view    of    the   inside    of    the    toilet    bowl.  
“Dammit  Ben.    Don’t    pick    your    nose    and    throw    boogers    in    my    car,”    Jean    
demanded.  
Ben  looked    up    and    replied,    “I’m    not    picking    my    nose    Mom.”    
“Katie,  did    you    see    him    picking?”    Jean    asked.    
“No  ma’am.    I    didn’t    see    anything,”    Katie    said.    Eric    was    fairly    certain    that    she    had    
in  fact    seen    her    older    brother    pick    a    fairly    large    booger,    methodically    roll    it    into    a    neat    ball,    and    then    flick    it   onto    the    floor    of   the   car,   but   she   probably    knew    that    it    was    much    wiser    to    keep    her    mouth    shut.    
Jean  turned    and    gave    Ben    a   stern   look    before   turning  back   to   look   at   Kyle.   “Y’all   
be  good    now.”    
Kyle   and   Eric    nodded    in    near   unison    as   she    rolled    up   the    window    and   pulled   out   
of   the    school    parking    lot.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Shea Norwood is an emerging author and native of West Texas that currently lives in the DFW area with his wife and son.He was drawn to writing at an early age and recently rekindled this passion after dusting off a decade-old manuscript, titled Vanished from Dust. The fictional town of Dust is loosely based on a small town south of Odessa, TX.
When he’s not writing, Shea loves to spend time with this family, read, and is a frequent globetrotter. His travels have taken him to France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, Germany, and Mexico.Shea writes Young Adult Fantasy/Paranormal/Mystery

Follow Shea on Facebook to get updates on upcoming releases. https://www.facebook.com/sheanorwoodauthor

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