BLOG TOUR - FREEKS by AMANDA HOCKING - YA PARANORMAL - PAN MACMILLAN

By: Amanda Hocking
Published By: Pan Macmillan
Released : Available Now
Details: Received from Publisher for honest review. Thank you!!

RATING: 3.75 STARS

In a world of magical visions and pyrokinesis, Mara just wants to have a normal life. But is that possible?

Mara has become used to the extraordinary. Roaming from place to place with Gideon Davorin’s Traveling Carnival, she longs for an ordinary life where no one has the ability to levitate or predict the future.

She gets her chance when the struggling sideshow sets up camp in the small town of Caudry and she meets a gorgeous local guy named Gabe. But before long, Mara realizes there’s a dark presence lurking in the town that’s threatening the lives of her friends. She has seven days to take control of a power she didn’t know she had in order to save everyone she cares about—and change the future forever.



BOOK REVIEW :


I am a HUGE fan of Amanda Hocking. I have a couple of her original covers for Trylle and My Blood Approves signed, which I covert. They are my precious.

I have read most of her works and reviewed them. Freeks, I enjoyed, but it might not be my favorite book from Amanda, and that is okay.

I am not sure if it is the beginning of a series because there was certainly room for more story line and answers to questions I have from Freeks.

I really liked her use of carnival characters who all possess a little something supernatural.

The romance I felt needed to connect with me more between Gabe and Mara. I would have liked him more in the story to solidify their less than two week romance. I needed something to hold onto there.

I really liked all the characters, but still feel like I have questions. I wondered about the tag on the cover telling me A Return To The World of The Trylle Series. I did not see any Trylle world in this book.

Unless, I have a memory lapse. I am curious about this.

I enjoyed this YA read, but at the same time I was looking for more. Trylle series and My Blood Approves series are both my two absolute fave series of hers. I was missing some of that writing style from Freeks.

I felt maybe the plot was a little too easy in Freeks, but maybe this will not be the case for another reader and I wanted more connection with Gabe and Mara in dialogue and being front and center. Gabe popped in and out and we moved around the life of the carnival more. I felt sometimes we moved away in the story from where we probably should have stayed for a bit longer, but of course it is not my story to tell.

I will always pick up an Amanda Hocking read regardless.

If you are an Amanda fan, try this one on for size and see what you think. I am a blogger who reads a mountain of books and I am also getting older, so this may also be a reason for my lower rating. I do enjoy a good YA read as much as an adult read, but sometimes I might be looking for a deeper connection with characters compared to a teenaged reader.

Amanda's Mini Q & A

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Most of my free time is spent taking care of my pets (I currently have two dogs, three cats, and a hamster, so that takes up a lot of my time). I also watch a lot of bad movies, read a lot of good books, and play video games with my husband and stepson.

How many jobs have you had before you realised you were destined to become a writer?


I always knew that I wanted to be a writer, since I was about two or three years older, and I learned that making up stories could be a profession. But before I was actually able to pay the bills with my writing, I think I had six other jobs. Most of them involved either dishwashing or assisting people with disabilities.


Favourite genre to read?


My current favorite genres are probably horror (either YA or adult), and true crime.

BLOG TOUR - CRYSTAL KINGDOM by AMANDA HOCKING - KANIN CHRONICLES # 3 - YA FANTASY - PAN MACMILLAN

By: Amanda Hocking
Published By: Pan Macmillan
Released: Available Now
Details: Paperback from publisher for honest review, 422 Pages

RATING: 4.5 BRYN STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads
Cast out by her kingdom and far from home, she's the Kanin people's only hope.

Bryn Aven - unjustly charged with murder and treason - is on the run. The one person who can help is her greatest enemy, the enigmatic Konstantin Black. Konstantin is her only ally against those who have taken over her kingdom and threaten to destroy everything she holds dear. But can she trust him?

As Bryn fights to clear her name, the Kanin rulers’ darkest secrets are coming to light… and now the entire troll world is on the brink of war. Will it tear Bryn from Ridley Dresden, the only guy she’s ever loved? And can she join forces with Finn Holmes and the Trylle kingdom? One thing is certain: an epic battle is underway—and when it’s complete, nothing will ever be the same…

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle :

Things got hopping in this final installment. I really enjoyed the action side and the lurrvvve side was a slow burn but I was endeared to it and knew it was inevitable, just some emotional bridges to cross along the way.

Bryn and Konstantin get paired up for a fair bit of this book and I enjoyed having them partnered up, not by choice but by circumstance.

I really like Konstantin. Sure he did some shady, erm bad things in his past and I am not sure if I was that invested in why he did them, but he did, so here stands our bad boy in more ways than one.

But bad boy isn’t altogether bad, and I knew that, I could feel it early into the trilogy.

Ridley and Bryn spend a fair bit of this book apart, but when they get their mojo on the same page...

There are twists, a couple I could see coming, but for the most part I loved that I got little shocks and surprises. I enjoy getting those in a book.

There are villains and allies must be made and swords come out and Omte are about and Ogres and all good fantasy stuff is going on.

There are moments that will squeeze your heart tight and moments where you are cheering on Bryn who is being kickass and well... a cool chick.

Crystal Kingdom was a satisfying ending to the Kanin Chronicles. I am now looking forward to what Amanda will bring us next.

Michelle

Blog Tour – Crystal Kingdom

· Saturday, August 1 - Diva Booknerd - Review and Q&A

· Sunday, August 2 - Book Nerd Reviews - Review and Giveaway 

· Monday, August 3 - Butterfly Elephant – Review

· Tuesday, August 4 - Confessions from Romaholics – Review

· Wednesday, August 5 - SassyBookLovers - Review, Q&A & Giveaway 

· Thursday, August 6 – Fictional Thoughts - Review and Q&A 

· Friday, August 7- Behind the Pages - Review 

· Saturday, August 8 - Words Read and Written - Q&A 

· Monday, August 10 - Aussie Bookworm - Review and Q&A 

· Tuesday, August 11 – Gobblefunked – Review and Q&A

· Thursday, August 13 - The Rest Is Still Unwritten – Review

· Friday, August 14 - The Rest Is Still Unwritten - Q&A

· Saturday, August 15 – Fangirl World – Review

· Sunday, August 16 - The Cosy Dragon – Q&A

· Tuesday, August 18 - Mystical World of Books - Review and Q&A

· Thursday, August 20 - Novels on the Run – Review

· Saturday, August 22 - #LoveBooks - Review and Q&A 

· Sunday, August 23 - The Cosy Dragon - Review 

· Monday, August 24 - Behind the Pages - Q&A

· Wednesday, August 26 - YA Book Addict - Review 

· Thursday, August 27 - Read Between the Lines - Review 

· Saturday, August 29 - Book Nerdigans - Review and Q&A 

· Monday, August 31 - Oops I Read a Book Again - Review and Q&A 

Amanda Hocking lives in Minnesota, had never sold a book before April 2010 and has now sold her

millionth. She is now ‘the most spectacular example of an author striking gold through ebooks’- Observer. Amanda is a self-confessed 'Obsessive Tweeter. John Hughes mourner. Batman devotee. Muppets activist. Unicorn enthusiast.'

Please see more at www.worldofamandahocking.com

‘[Hocking has] generated an excitement not felt in the industry since Stephenie Meyer or perhaps even J.K Rowling’ – New York Times

BOOK REVIEW - ICE KISSED by AMANDA HOCKING - KANIN CHRONICLES # 2 - YA FANTASY - PAN MACMILLAN

By: Amanda Hocking

Published By: Pan Macmillan

Released: Available Now

Details: Paperback from publisher for honest review, 304 Pages

RATING: 4 RIPLEY STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

The second novel in the Kanin trilogy, from the international bestseller Amanda Hocking.

In this series, we return to the world of Hocking's million-copy bestselling Trylle trilogy...

Bryn Aven is still struggling with her burgeoning relationship with Ridley. She's also set on completing her mission to find the missing Skojare Queen. But when they do finally discover what happened, Bryn finds out that things are much more complicated than she'd originally thought.

And as she gets closer to the truth, Bryn is framed for the murder of the Kanin King himself. She ends up on the run, as home holds too few answers and no solutions.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

“So, what do you say, white rabbit?” 

This was another great installment in the Kanin Chronicles.

Bryn and Kasper get paired up to go on security detail. Not a lot is revealed moving the story forward but we do get to know Kasper and Tilda better.

Ripley is a bit of a cranky pants and Konstantin is MIA from this book...well mostly.

I was so looking forward to some Konstantin in this instalment. I felt like I was looking for him.

The good thing is Ripley and Bryn seem to be getting their mojo on the same plane, but will it last?

Oh and that ending...whahhhhh!

I am looking forward to reading Crystal Kingdom up next.

I have to repeat, the cover art is GORGEOUS on this series.

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - FROSTFIRE by AMANDA HOCKING - KANIN CHRONICLES # 1 - YA FANTASY - PAN MACMILLAN

By: Amanda Hocking
Published By: Pan Macmillan
Released: Available Now
Details: Paperback from publisher for honest review, 321 Pages

RATING: 4 RIDLEY & KONSTANTIN STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes.

Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who's determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite King’s Guard to protect the royal family. She's not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her boss Ridley Dresden.

But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin– a fallen hero she once loved – begins kidnapping changelings. Bryn is sent in to help stop him, but will she lose her heart in the process?

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I have been an Amanda Hocking fan from the word go, when she was self published. I have one of her original Trylle trilogy covers and My Blood Approves, signed.

I have watched Amanda almost be the pioneer for self published authors. I know she wasn’t the first, but she made a HUGE statement with the amount of books she sold by herself and then she was picked up by St Martin’s in US.

She has just kept on writing. And I keep on reading.

I do love seeing a blurb of mine inside quite a few of her books, gives me a little tickle.

Now I am onto her spinoff series that started with Trylle Trilogy and now we have Kanin Chronicles.

I am back in her fantasy world and love seeing Finn pop up. Although I will admit I got a little shock he is settled with two kids, a wife and one on the way, considering the whole he and Wendy issue and the why.

I did love Finn so hard in Trylle trilogy, but Loki was amazing too.

My heart is happy for Finn as it did feel a little lost for him after Ascend.

So we have Bryn in this new spinoff and she is very much like Finn with how she takes her tracker job uber seriously and shiz just doesn’t get in the way.

Ridley the Rektor, is a great character but I feel like I am missing something a little there at the moment. Some connection.

Ridley is essentially Bryn’s boss but he has eyes for Bryn and she has eyes for him, but like Finn, she takes her tracker job very seriously so he’s gotta go get himself some side fluff, who is actually a lovely girl.

Bring the Amanda-Finn-Loki-Wendy conundrum on. Nah, this time it could be easy for me to not have my heart broken...mind you there is also that other conundrum...

“I love it when you talk clean to me, quoting training manuals like sonnets,” Ridley teased, but I found his usual flirtation off-putting since I didn’t know how to respond.

We have what at first impressions is the handsome villain of the story, Konstantin Black.

But...is he?

Now from where I’m sitting there are the usual suspects to take into consideration this early into the trilogy...I know, but I do have me some.

I shall keep them to myself...but something isn’t adding up to me.

I love that Finn’s sister, Ember is part of this series. She is the lesbian character, not that there is anything wrong with that, just sayin.

I did get a nice OMG moment in the latter... latter part of this book and that was awesome.

It was one of those Luke I am your father, moments. Even though there was no Luke or a father...but you know what I mean...we just kinda go ...whahhhhhhh.

Frostfire was a good start to this series. I am missing a little fire in the story but I am on to Ice Kissed next, so we shall see where that takes me.

I adore the cover art, it is so pretty for both US and UK covers. 

The thing is I will always pick up an Amanda Hocking book to read. I have such a love for My Blood Approves, which may never be resolved ( the last book ) and Trylle series.

I do recommend getting a hold of the Trylle series and also My Blood Approves and delving into what started off the whole Amanda Hocking phenomenon.

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - TIDAL by AMANDA HOCKING - WATERSONG # 3 - PAN MACMILLAN - YA PARANORMAL

By: Amanda Hocking
Published By: Pan Macmillan
Released : Available Now
Details: Paperback, Received from Publisher for review, 342 Pages

RATING: 4 DANIEL STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads
The magical world of Watersong is about to change forever. The answers Gemma and her friends have been searching for are finally revealed - but evil is closing in and time is running out....

Gemma and Harper Fisher are facing the fight of their lives. Gemma has been cursed with extraordinary powers that have a terrifying dark side, but she's finally found what she needs - a way to break the curse and become human again. However, finding the means to do it will be her greatest challenge yet. And now Penn, Lexi, and Thea - the gorgeous but deadly creatures who cursed her - are determined to kill her before she has a chance. Making matters worse, Penn has her sights set on Daniel - the guy Harper loves - and Penn always gets what she wants.

As Gemma and Harper race to break the curse before it's too late, they're thrust deeper into a mythical world of immortal secrets. They must into their enemies' past to find the answers they need, even if it means being drawn deeper into their savagely beautiful world. But one of the girls is not what she seems...and Gemma finds an unlikely ally as she struggles to save herself. Will it be enough to break an ancient curse that no one has ever escaped from alive?



BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:


I am a fan of Amanda Hocking, have been since her self published days. Anything she writes I will read. I enjoyed Tidal, the third instalment in the Watersong series. It is maybe not my favourite in the series, as I think for me personally, the Sirens, those bad ass chicks were not as... well, badass. But I still wholly enjoyed this read.

I love Thea. Penn was a bit sedate for me for the most part and Lexi , well one flew over the cuckoo nest with that one. She is a piece of work. You learn something interesting and surprising in their back stories. I kinda assumed something. 

Daniel is my sigh worthy lad. He is just a stand up guy and he can build me a fancy floor to ceiling bookshelf any day.

Awww, my heart went out to Alex, the poor lovey has had some Jedi Mind Tricks played on him and he is suffering for it.

Harper and Marcy are great chicks. Harper always wanting to play the mother role, and Marcy is just funny. I must say, Marcy got some depth to her character she has a brain attached to that, for all appearances, lazy head of hers, and she knows people who know shit that can help Gemma and Harper. Marcy always has Gemma and Harpers back when called upon.

I love that.


“Agreed ,” Marcy said. “My mama didn’t raise any fools and she didn’t raise any heroes.”


Ahhh the predicament Amanda has put our swoon worthy lad in with that evil vixen Penn.

DON’T DO IT DANIEL!!!

I really enjoyed the back story woven through with the Sirens and it is rather surprising the things you will find out.

I raise one eyebrow.

As far as moving forward with story line, Gemma and Harper didn’t really move that forward. Gemma is still living precariously from day to day until Penn decides when it is time to off her.

Daniel and Harper are trying to make their relationship work.

Their mother is still in her own little world and sadly, like awwwww, sadly, dad has made some big decisions for his future.

Alex is a smart cookie he knows his life has been tampered with and there isn’t anything he can do about it. He is living Groundhog Day with his feelings.

Penn has gone and got herself an infatuation, and decided to throw in some blackmail as well, to seal the deal.

But! What I really loved was the last quarter of the book. Shiz really started happening and , well, shiz was flying.

OOO, and what about the replacement. I am feeling like there is another cuckoo in the house.

I am still rather intrigued about that tattoo all over Daniel’s back and now the new addition sounds like she hasn’t made the math any better for Gemma.  It may keep her alive longer.

So what does this mean? Gemma needs to suck it up and attend to her boy eating ways to survive or can she break the curse?

If I was a Siren I think numming down on evil boy hearts would be doing a service to the world. Leave the good guys alone. If you can’t beat them, join them, as they say. Take a leaf out of Edward’s back story in Twilight. You can be a nice clean living Siren and behave yourself, if you put the effort in.

I am not a huge fan of the Aussie cover, the US cover is rather brilliant, but no matter, I still had a great time in Amanda’s world of Sirens. I have Elegy here to go onto and it is a much thicker book.

I may need to pull an intervention with Daniel.

DON’T DO IT!!!

Another enjoyable read with those no knicker policy wearing Sirens and a couple of gorgeous lads who would do anything for the girls, one is decidedly forgetful at the moment and one just makes me swoon.

Onwards to Elegy!!

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - LULLABY by AMANDA HOCKING - WATERSONG # 2 - PAN MACMILLAN - 4.25 STARS!

By: Amanda Hocking

Published By: Pan Macmillan

Released: 27th November 2012

Details: Paperback for review Pan Macmillan, 290 Pages

RATING: 4.25 DANIEL & ALEX STARS!!

Blurb: Goodreads

Harper only wanted a safe, normal life. But when her younger sister Gemma runs off with a dangerous clique of beautiful girls, Penn, Thea, and Lexi, everything changes. Vowing to get her sister back no matter what the cost, Harper must face dangers unlike any she's ever experienced. Fortunately, she has Daniel by her side, a gorgeous guy who's devoted to helping her find her sister—and who's immune to the girls' dark powers.

While Harper searches for her sister, Gemma struggles to adjust to her new life. Gemma's powers are growing by the day, and the longer she lives with her new "sisters," the harder it is to resist entering their magical world. It's a realm both dark and beautiful, and where she's plagued by strange hungers and unspeakable needs. Just as she's drifting far away from her old life, Harper and Daniel find her...but no one can deny how much she's changed. All she wants is to return to her family and the mortal world, but how can she do that when she's become something else entirely—and will they still love her once they learn the truth?

Prepare to fall under the spell of Lullaby, the second book in the Watersong series from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I really like the characters and pace of this new series of Amanda’s. Where Wake finished, Lullaby starts. The titles and covers are just beautiful.

Daniel is still such a gorgeous character who is there for Harper and her family. There is a vulnerability to him I love and he doesn’t hesitate to risk his life. Oh, there was a scene that I was ‘shadow boxing’ in, and high fiving Daniel.

If you have read book one, you know we are dealing with Sirens, and Penn is an awesome villain. She oozes evil. Lexi is unpredictable, spontaneous in her decisions, which is not necessarily a good thing. Thea, seems to have some compassion....if possible?

Gemma thinks she is doing the right thing, but really, you need a little help from your friends.

Marcy, I really like her. She shoots from the hip and doesn’t hesitate to throw in some ideas and looks at the problem/villain with a clear mind and tries to solve the conundrum of how to do away with the evil that is a threat to mankind and her friends. She is a logical thinker. Whether it works?

I can’t help thinking there is something up with Nathalie? Her outbursts sometimes tell me things....or not, lol!

Earplugs and a plan is what is needed to help them stay on track and fight Penn, Lexi and Thea. Are some of the Siren’s theories starting to unravel? Is Penn not telling them the truth? Or does she truly believe in what she was told about the curse?

I liked Alex’s character development in this series. Daniel is teaching Harper that she may have had to play the mummy card with Gemma, but he is a big boy. * swoon*

Amanda doesn’t hold back with her gorey moments, her bare bottom Sirens are to be reckoned with, throw in a couple smexi lads ( Daniel, *swoon*) and Harper, the sister that won’t give up, and this is turning into a very intriguing series.

I know I over swooned but deal with it J 

Bring on Tidal!

FAVE QUOTES:

“Your sister ran off with some weird-ass bird-monsters,”Daniel said. “Can you really afford to turn away somebody that wants to help get her back? Especially someone that doesn’t think you’re insane for believing in weird-ass bird-monsters?”


“I have a one-track mind? “ Marcy scoffed. “We spend every day talking about sirens, but I want to spend an afternoon talking about the T.rex and his ridiculous appendages, and I have a one-track mind?”

“You’re right.” Harper paused......" 

......”Good. Because yesterday I read 1001 Exciting Facts About Dinosaurs while you were gone,” Marcy said. “And today I plan on sharing all of them with you.”

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - WAKE by AMANDA HOCKING - WATERSONG # 1 - PAN MACMILLAN - 4 DANIEL STARS!!

By: Amanda Hocking

Published By: Pan Macmillan

Released: Available now

Details: Paperback, 309 Pages

RATING: 4 DANIEL * swoon* STARS!!

Blurb: Goodreads

Fall under the spell of Wake—the first book in an achingly beautiful new series by celebrated author Amanda Hocking—and lose yourself to the Watersong.

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

This is an awesome book trailer, one of the best ones I have seen about.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I’ve been a fan of Amanda Hocking since her self published days. Loved Trylle trilogy, still waiting for My Blood Approves wrap up...will it happen? *fingers crossed*

The Hollows was Amanda’s foray into the zombie genre and I loved it!! Now it’s time for Wake, book # 1 in Watersong series.

I adore the cover, the book trailer, and the title and series name all make such sense to the story within.

Harper and Gemma are sisters who live with their dad Brian. Nathalie, their mother has brain damage and lives in a group home. It was sad reading Nathalie and what has befallen her and how the girls deal with it.

Harper is 18yrs old and is almost the mother figure instead of the sister that Gemma so desperately needs. Gemma , swimmer, 16yrs old and falling for her sisters guy bff, Alex, the super sweet geek who lives across the road.

Even geeks can become beautys and grow muscles.

Enter Daniel.... humma, humma. Daniel is a gorgeous character. He has the grungy rock star look, lives on his boat , ‘The Dirty Gull’ and has been caught out relieving himself ( doing a twinkle) over the side of his boat by Harper.

Apparently, Daniel had woken up and decided to pee over the edge of the boat. She just happened to look up at precisely the wrong time and got a full view of his manly parts.

Harper had screamed, and Daniel immediately pulled up his pants. that was when he jumped down from the boat to introduce himself and apologize profusely. If he hadn’t been laughing the entire time, she might have actually accepted his apology.

Harper has this very prickly attitude around Daniel. He returns it with a rather smexi attitude. Oh did I mention he has a tattoo on his back. ( check book # 3 cover - Tidal, me thinks that is Daniel)

swoon

I loved the Seinfeld moment with Harper and Daniel.

“I’ll take an IOU, then.”

“An IOU?”She raised an eyebrow. “For ice cream?”

“Or any meal of equal value,” he squinted , thinking about what that would be. “Maybe a smoothie. Or a large coffee. But not like a full meal with fries and a salad.” He snapped his fingers as he thought of something. “Soup! A cup of soup would work, too.”

Penn, Lexi and Thea are the strange, dangerous, beautiful, creepy girls of the small seaside town of Capri.

They have set their sights on Gemma.

This is not a good thing.

This book starts of warm, then the heat turns up the more you read. I really enjoyed this first instalment. I really loved Harper and Daniel. They have such wonderful character chemistry, I just don’t think Harper realizes it yet?

Amanda throws in the gore, the sweet friendship, tragedy, mystery, Daniel (swoon).....what? The guy has great lines in this book, three girls who won’t take no for an answer and a town rocked by missing persons. Throw in a mythological character or more and you have another Amanda Hocking series to keep you warm.

This party has only just got started. Amanda has sown some seeds in this instalment, I can’t wait to see them grow. 

I did notice something with Daniel...will I be right?

Stay tuned for Lullaby # 2 due for release 27th November 2012, my review 28th November 2012.

Michelle

I love the cover art of this series.

Book 4 - Elegy no cover as yet.

Lullaby audio excerpt.


WAKE AUDIO SNEAK PEEK

BOOK REVIEW: SWITCHED by AMANDA HOCKING

Title:   SWITCHED 

(Trylle Trilogy #1)

Author:  AMANDA HOCKING

Publisher: Tor / Macmillan Australia
Version:  Paperback 335 (incl Torn excerpt)
Acquired:  Received from Macmillan Australia for Review



RATING:  4.5 FINE-TUNING FINN STARS!!

Description:

What if your entire world was built on a lie?

Wendy Everly knew she was different the day her mother tried to kill her and accused her of having been switched at birth. Although certain she’s not the monster her mother claims she is – she does feel that she doesn’t quite fit in...

She’s bored and frustrated by her small town life – and then there’s the secret that she can’t tell anyone. Her mysterious ability – she can influence people’s decisions, without knowing how, or why...

When the intense and darkly handsome newcomer Finn suddenly turns up at her bedroom window one night – her world is turned upside down. He holds the key to her past, the answers to her strange powers and is the doorway to a place she never imagined could exist. Förening, the home of the Trylle.

Finally everything makes sense. Among the Trylle, Wendy is not just different, but special. But what marks her out as chosen for greatness in this world also places her in grave danger. With everything around her changing, Finn is the only person she can trust. But dark forces are conspiring – not only to separate them, but to see the downfall everything that Wendy cares about.

The fate of Förening rests in Wendy’s hands, and the decisions she and Finn make could change all their lives forever..

REVIEW:

Well I'm certainly impressed!!  Amanda has given a very imaginative and very interesting world focusing on the Trylles (trolls).  Not the dumpy under the bridge variety of Troll....but the very stylish and often wealthy human looking trolls. 

We don't normally get the other side of the Trolls in stories... we get to learn in Switched the reasons behind swapping human and Trylle babies at birth - and it's a well thought out plan to ensure the continuance of their kind - and also a way to fund their stylish lifestyles! Plus the rules and regulations of living under a monarchy within normal American society.

After a childhood with a mum that attempts to kill her and is certain she is not her child, Wendy finally discovers the truth when she meets Finn - a fellow Trylle. As shocking and hard to believe as it is...Wendy must come to terms with her new found status as Princess of the Trylle....and with it comes certain danger and possible death (or at least kidnapping). 

Finn is charged with her care and also teaching her the ways of the Trylle. A job he is very well skilled for as the "right hand man" of the Trylle Queen (Wendy's true mother).  Finn's "job" is in jeopardy when his feelings towards Wendy become more than his job description allowed for. Displeasing the Trylle Queen can never end with a reward.

Wendy rebels as any teenager would and longs for the closeness that she could have Finn.  But of course this pairing was never meant to be. Finn is of a different "class" than Wendy and it's just not accepted.

Add to the romantic perils Wendy and Finn face, throw in the evil Vittra and their desire to kidnap Wendy and Amanda Hocking has given us a very enjoyable start to the Trylle Series...one which I am very eager to read further.

After being a self published author through this series (and others) originally, I am not surprised at all that Amanda Hocking was finally picked up by a big publisher. She certainly has a great talent within her that she has tapped into and I am sure has many more stories to tell and keep us entertained with.

Now a word on the book covers........

The one I have posted at the top of the blog is the final US edition cover....and I LOVE it!!!  Below are the two covers available in Australia and also UK, Asia & South Africa.  The orange tone feature is the "adult" release cover and the pink tone feature is the "young adult" release cover.  Waaaaahhhhh!!!! I want the US cover!!!

ENJOY!

MARISSA

BOOK COVER REVEAL - HOLLOWMEN by AMANDA HOCKING - THE HOLLOWS # 2

Have a look at this cover, isn't it gorgeous and matches stunningly with Hollowland. If you haven't read Hollowland, then what are you waiting for!!! Here's my review HOLLOWLAND REVIEW

Hollowmen is due out in November and I can't wait!!

Head over to Amanda's page .  I can't believe I am shortening my chances of winning a signed copy of Hollowland by telling you all to head over and enter her giveaway to win 1 of 3 signed Hollowland books!

Amanda's Page

I bought my signed Torn and My Blood Approves books, so would be nice to add another signed Amanda Hocking book. If you haven't read any of Amanda's work, then pull your finger out and start, I highly recommend.

I started with Trylle series and then My Blood Approves series, then Hollowland and Virtue. All reviews except for Virtue and Ascend in left side bar. I need to pull my finger our and write those!

Oh just spotted this on Amanda's page...she is on fire with her work, well not literally, but yes literary...lol!! Hollowland Comic Books!!!!

Michelle

NEW COVERS - AMANDA HOCKING TRYLLE SERIES...GORGEOUS!!!!!

HAVE A LOOK AT THESE, ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS COVERS!!!

TRYLLE TRILOGY

SWITCHED

TORN

ASCEND

MAKES ME WANT TO GO BUY THEM IN PAPERBACK

I HAVE MY SIGNED TORN, OLDER COVER, THESE ARE JUST TOOOO PUUURRRTTTY.

Michelle

RANDOM # 13 VIRTUE by AMANDA HOCKING ON SALE NOW!!

*doing a happy dance *

I just bought my copy of VIRTUE, can't wait to read it.
 $2.99 from Amazon. My Ereader was a dud, so sadly I shall be sitting at my computer, but happily reading VIRTUE. I read an excerpt, couple weeks back and squuEEeeeEEee can't wait to read the whole book. If Eric, Amanda's roomie says it's the best she has written, that's got me uber , uber excited!!
Amanda , you truly need to come on a book tour to Australia, I think I am close to Number One fan here..well that's how I feel anyway..hee..hee.

Gotta love Amanda's prices, can't wait to get a hardcopy.

VIRTUE

A Fairy Tale

In a world filled with magic, love might be the final answer in the eternal battle between good and evil. When Lux is tasked with retrieving the virtuous Lily for his master, his entire world is put in jeopardy. Lux must battle goblins, demon dogs, and sea dragons to rescue the one he loves, and that's only the beginning of what he must face...

Virtue is a fairy tale for young adults with action, suspense, and romance. It contains mild language and some suggestive dialogue. Recommended ages 14 and up.

click the link :

 http://amandahocking5.blogspot.com/2011/05/virtue-is-on-sale.html

Michelle

Random # 7 AMANDA HOCKING VIDEO - AWESOME!!! INSPIRATIONAL!!

I am a HUGE fan of Amanda Hocking. Not just her writing, but she beats to her own drum. She was rejected, hundreds of times, but she perservered . It gives such hope to many writers dreams. Her story is not the norm, but its inspirational. I think it's a totally 'cool', story.

This link will take you to the video. I copied the embeded code but it brought nothing up??

http://www.webcastr.com/videos/health-living/amanda-hockings-stories.html 

Here latest book 'VIRTUE', to be released in May according to Amanda's blog page.

http://amandahocking.blogspot.com/2011/05/new-book.html

You go girl!!!

Michelle

BOOK COVER RELEASE - NEW BOOK 'VIRTUE' by AMANDA HOCKING

In a world filled with magic, love might be the final answer in the eternal battle between good and evil. When Lux is tasked with retrieving the virtuous Lily for his master, his entire world is put in danger. Lux must battle goblins, demon dogs, and sea dragons to rescue the one he loves, and that's only the beginning...


Virtue is a fairy tale for young adults with action, suspense, and romance. It contains mild language and some suggestive dialogue. Recommended ages 14 and up.


I get so excited when Amanda Hocking writes a new book. Well this is it!!  'Virtue' !!!

According to Amanda's blog it should be available by end of this month.

I am a huge Amanda Hocking fan and I needed another Amanda fix.

If you haven't read any of Amanda's works, well get to it and read some, she is very , very good:D

click this link to go to all the awesome information about this book and also you can read an excerpt.


http://amandahocking.blogspot.com/2011/05/new-book.html

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - HOLLOWLAND ( The Hollows # 1 ) by AMANDA HOCKING

By : Amanda Hocking
Published By : Self Published Smashwords
Released : Available Now
Details : E-Book , 463 Pages ( On my uber new  6" Rank Arena E-Book reader)

RATING :  5 TATUM & LAZLO STARS!!

Hollowland - the first book in the young adult dystopian series The Hollows...


"This is the way the world ends - not with a bang or a whimper, but with zombies breaking down the back door."


Nineteen-year-old Remy King is on a mission to get across the wasteland left of America, and nothing will stand in her way - not violent marauders, a spoiled rock star, or an army of flesh-eating zombies.
 
 
BOOK REVIEW:
 

Firstly I would like to show you Amanda's original cover for this awesome zombie book. I really do like her new one up above. Gives me a face to Remy's character.

 If you don't know of Amanda Hocking, never read any of her work, well have a nose around this blog and you will see that I am a huge fan. Go on....this review can wait....but make sure you come back to this exact spot!!
 
I must admit I am not a zombie fan..you know,  blood, gore, fugly, generally want to rip you to shreds in the most grotesque way and eat you....and so on....
 
Hubby got me watching 'Zombieland',  his movie pick at the cinemas awhile back. My choice was,  'New Moon' at the time..he didn't so much go for that choice.  So here I am sitting in a cinema thinking how am I going to get through this zombie movie with actually seeing some of the movie ( not hiding my face in his shoulder).
I always like to look around at who is in the cinema with me before the lights dim. Nice 50 ish couple behind us..... they look safe, he was reading a book until lights dimmed. Just me preparing myself for the onslaught of gore that I was going to be subjected to. Well, talk about awesome movie. Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, the little chicken from Little Miss Sunshine ( who did that hilarious dance that grandpa taught her) anyhoo trying not to tangent here, just saying I was not into zombies. Once you get past that most gorey 4 minute opening scene it is a very clever , funny movie. Hubby was giggling all through first 4 mins, I was like "oh how am I going to survive this movie"....but I did and it was worth watching.
 
I saved Amanda's zombie book to near last ( my fear of zombies) in all the books she has written and self published for all us lucky readers to read. Well somebody slap me with a stinky dead fish , should have read it earlier, talk about an AWESOME!!! book.
 
From the first page, the book takes off. No waffling on about life before this happened, just BAM!!! straight into the story and Remy and Co, fleeing for their lives.
 
CHARACTERS:
 
REMY : 19 yrs old, survivor. Her mission is to find her brother Max , 8 yrs old.
 
HARLOW : 13 yrs old , orphan.
 
SOMMER : "...contained all the nervous energy and usefulness of a chipmunk."
 
BECK : Soldier, looked out for Max.
 
BLUE : 20ish yrs old, studying to be doctor ( always handy)
 
LAZLO : Rockstar, same age as Remy.
 
RIPLEY : Well , I'll let you figure Ripley out by yourself.
 
The 'lyssavirus genotype 8', mutation of rabies virus, only infects humans. Within day of exposure, symptoms are , headaches, fever, nausea, hallucinating, paranoid, aggresive. Within 3 days, angry , violent, incapable of rational thought. The infected are  overdosed with adrenaline, crazy strong, insatiably hungry for anything including dirt and people. If you shoot them, they die. If you get their blood or saliva in your blood, you die. Pretty simple.
 
Plan was , quarantine all the infected , let virus run its course.
 
Not all plans go accordingly.....
 
Remy is on a mission to find her little brother, it is all she has left. She knows he was evacuated from the quarantine base that they were now fleeing from. Zombies were getting smarter.....the virus mutating within their bodies.
 
The characters Remy picks up along the way on her quest to find Max make the book very enjoyable. She is a survivor who will not let anyone stop her . She is as strong as any 19 year old girl can be but she is determined. She is a quick thinker . She will not allow herself to fail.
 
Amanda writes Remy's story very well. I really felt like I could have been tagging along with her. That feeling of surviving the whole ordeal keeps the heart racing as you read. The whole time I was in fear of who was going to get torn apart, bitten, clawed.....
 
Amanda is very good at making you 'feel' for certain characters. They aren't 2 dimensional. Remy has emotions but she can't afford to take the time to connect with them as it will be her undoing. She has an unlikely friend who doesn't say much ( hee..hee...) but is always there for Remy. A very odd friendship. I kept fearing she would be left behind all the time. I was like...don't forget her.
 
Some nice little POW!! moments ( POW = didn't see that coming). I have a team t-shirt and I think funnily enough it is Tatum. I know Lazlo is the rockstar and cool dude, but I can't help thinking there will be more with Tatum in book 2.  Just me , thinking aloud. I really connected with Tatum. Like I connected with Peter in MBA series ( My Blood Approves ).  
 
Does Remy complete her mission? How much will she have to sacrifice for that freedom that so many will be relying on?  She is only 19 and not super woman.  She can't fix everything...or can she?
 
Visually , this would make an awesome movie. So glad this is a series of books as the ending had me wanting so much more.

With some further snooping it would appear 'Hollowmen' is book 2 in this series..yayayayayay!!

I thought this youtube clip was very good explaining the book but does contain spoilers which I chose not to include in my review ...click on it only if you want to watch a very review in clip form of Hollowland containing couple spoilers:D 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sJn-6KGxe8
 

Michelle

ASCEND by AMANDA HOCKING AVAILABLE NOW AT AMAZON

ASCEND book # 3 in the Trylle Trilogy is now available at Amazon . I just purchased my ebook. I stumbled through that whole purchasing and downloading Kindle PC reader onto my computer, process. Sigh!!! I am sooo technical it hurts my brain...lol!! Anyhoo , I did it I am now reading Ascend .....back later with review:D

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - WISDOM by AMANDA HOCKING - MY BLOOD APPROVES # 4

By : Amanda Hocking
Published By : Self Published at Smashwords.
Released : Available Now
Details : Smashwords Ebook , 190 Pages


RATING 5 PETER AND JACK STARS!!



For her eighteenth birthday, Alice Bonham takes a vacation to Australia only to have her trip cut short by an unexpected murder.


While Alice tries to understand what happened, she regrets some of the choices she's made, especially the more permanent ones.


On top of that, the child vampire is running loose, and its attracting some very unwanted attention...

BOOK REVIEW:

Amanda takes us outback to the Northern Territory,  Australia and back,  in  'Wisdom'. In hindsight, maybe not outback enough.
Daisy is exactly what Ezra predicted. Poor Bobby is Daisy's target. Everytime Daisy lined Bobby up,  I was laughing, maybe I shouldn't have been but it would have been funny to watch. Kinda a pretty little 'chucky doll' launching itself at Bobby. Mae isn't seeing straight and Alice has had enough of the little monster.

Leif is hanging around more and Olivia is training Alice to harness her strength and learn some skills. Alice is going all Nancy Drew and leaving Jack out of the picture. I love Alice's new sidekick. He has really grown on me, lol!!!

Jacks taste in car was rather cool. Amanda brings back all the memories with that one.

I can't help feeling when reading this series that Jack may be older in human years than Peter, but he acts younger, hence Lego, X-Box games etc. Jack loves Alice , he will fight for her but is not a fighter. Jack doesn't show interest in training.  Peter and Jack's 18th birthday gifts to Alice were soo different. Jack is there for Alice whenever she needs him which is getting less and less as her strength supercedes his,  making her less a target and more a badass fighter. Alice's character grows , Jacks doesn't in their relationship. Peter , I have a soft spot for him as he too easily would give his life up for Alice he still feels some connection that he can't ignore even though the bond has broken. Alice will do whatever she can to save both Peter and Jack when they need it but can only choose one lover. I can't help feeling Peter should be 'the one'. He is soo raw and honest with his feelings towards Alice.

'Wisdom'  has action, stolen kisses, smexi moments, fight scenes, boundaries are pushed with trust, sad moments, funny moments and times where you will just go OMG!!! Lots of storyline is packed into these pages. Amanda never skips a beat with her storytelling.


FAVE QUOTES:

"Yeah." Jack's smile grew broader.
"Does it come with a flux capacitator? " Milo asked.
"No." Jack looked at him like he was an idiot.

"You're gonna wear a cape?" Violet laughed, raising an eyebrow. "Oh yeah. Combat training is so gonna work for you."
"I'll take it off to fight," Bobby said defensively. "I just wanna survey Gotham with my cape flapping in the wind."

"Wait. " Bobby pushed in between Violet and me to get closer to the glass. "Vigilantes? You mean like Batman?"
"What is with this kid and Batman!" Violet groaned.
"He's only the most awesome thing ever, " Bobby shot back, glaring at her.

"Oh my god!" Bobby pointed at him. "That dude is supposed to be a vampire hunter, and he's got on a fricking swatch! There is no way these guys are for real!"

"Wait, wait," Bobby interrupted, snapping his fingers. " I've heard that before. That's like what Blade is, right? Wesley Snipes was a vampire hunter, but he was like super strong and badass from being a half -breed." He glanced back at Milo. "You weren't like that when you were human, were you?"
"No , I got my ass kicked all the time," Milo grimaced at the memory of his human self.
"So how come they weren't all like Blade?"Bobby asked, turning back to Ezra.
"Because, it's a movie, Bobby," I said dryly.

Michelle