Title: Red
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Genre: YA Paranormal
Length: 251 pages
Release Date: March 10, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-63375-173-6
Imprint: Teen/Ember
Red is the color of Kia Alcott’s hair.
It’s her temper, which blazes hot and always gets Kia into way too much trouble. And it’s the color of fire. Fires that Kia can start…just by thinking about them.
When her latest “episode” gets her kicked out of school, Kia is shipped off to her grandmother, who works for the wealthy Blackwoods. It’s an estate shrouded in secrets, surrounded by rules, and presided over by a family that is far from normal…including the gorgeous and insolent Ethan Blackwood.
Ethan knows far more about the dangers of the forest surrounding the estate than Kia can ever imagine. For this forest has teeth, and Ethan is charged with protecting the outside world from its vicious mysteries.
But inside, even the most vibrant shade of red doesn’t stand a chance against the dark secrets of the Blackwood family…
You can see an EXCERPT HERE
My Review
I am now a huge fan of Ms Harvey! I was not expecting this. Nor was I expecting to fall in love, be full of tears, and become absolutely immersed in this wonderful new world that was created. I was expecting Little Red Riding Hood. But probably not. You see, it's not the big bad wolf you need to worry about. It's grandpa. LOL I am going to try really hard to tell you good stuff without spoiling thing. And you really don't want the spoilers because you'll want to read this one on your own.
Kia is sent to live with her grandma after something crazy happened at school. She doesn't really mean for this to happen. Fire sometimes just comes out. She didn't really mean to burn anything or anyone. She's sassy, full of courage, and she's full of spunk. And sometimes too curious for her own good. So when she goes to her grandma's, who lives and runs the Blackwood's house, things get weird. Because she isn't the only "exotic" thing around. So while trying to adjust to this new world, she meets Ethan. He's a stuck up, rich kid, and his friends are worse. But then she becomes friends with one of his group, and then somehow befriends him. And once that happens there's no going back because you can't unknow something like that.
Ethan is... intense. Or, intriguing... or, maybe a little broken. I'm not sure which word works best but they all work. He's so cold, and put off when he first meets Kia. BUT, he doesn't feel that way really about her, he just really can't tell her how he actually feels. And he needs her to stay away, or better yet, GO away. Ethan is special, and on top of that, he has a duty. Some things the real world should never know. And the Blackwood manor and their role in their world is something no one really knows, understands, or even wants to think about. But he's loyal, and sweet, and kind when he wants to be. I happen to think he is AWESOME!!
I haven't read this author yet, but her world building and plot lines have blown my mind. It's like a fairy tale, but dark, twisted, and fantastically amazing. There was a lot of mystery surrounding the paranormal aspect. The Blackwood Manor, damn it's actually a castle, is so creepy and has the most real feeling. And the forest, well, I don't wanna go in. And the "creatures" well let's just say I have a new respect. I LOVED that it took a bit of learning the characters before we started learning the real stuff behind the paranormals. I want MORE like right now. I can't wait to see what's happening with Kia and Ethan. And after the ending which left me in tears and furious, I know I will now put this one on my must have list. Excellent, that's all I can say! 5 WOLFY PAWS! :) Oh yeah, there's a wolf in here!
Pricing varies by country and can change without notice. Please confirm pricing and availability with your retailer before downloading.
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Title: The Thorn and the Sinking Stone
Author: CJ Dushinski
Length: 313 pages
Release Date: March 10, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-63375-172-9
Imprint: Teen/Ember
Warring families. Forbidden love. And danger they can’t escape…
Daggers. Roses. Cowboys. Boat Men. Survivors of Earth’s Last War, four “families” vie to rule the dreary streets of Rain City through violence and blood. Valencia Hara, Princess of the wealthy Black Roses, is raised in warrior ways with sharpened steel. But she is no ordinary Rose. She is Cursed—tainted with the ability to see seconds into the future…
To avenge his father’s death, Sebastian Leold, of the rival gang Two Daggers, must face off against the Black Princess, he with his dagger, she with her katana sword. Yet a secret from a shared past leaves him unable to kill beautiful Valencia; nor can she kill him. For they once knew each other beyond their blood feud…and they have more secrets in common than they know.
But in a world filled with vengeance and violence, there can be no room for love…
Pricing varies by country and can change without notice. Please confirm pricing and availability with your retailer before downloading.
You can see an EXCERPT HERE
Pricing varies by country and can change without notice. Please confirm pricing and availability with your retailer before downloading.
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My Review
So, I'm thinking we should call this Romeo + Juliet meets Dystopian world. LOL I know it sounds bad, but I just wasn't realizing how much it made me think of that. Rival sides, gangs, families fighting for the same thing on different sides, and their two main fighters have a secret between each other. And we throw in a dystopian setting and we have a great background for a cool new book.
Sebastian and Valencia share the POVs here. They are both fantastic characters on opposite sides. Sebastian had the harder life, gangs, murder, things that are complicated. And the Black Roses killed his father, so maybe some vengeance on the side, but not really revenge. But always, Sebatian's father told him love is more important than hate. He struggles, but he wants to be a good guy. Val is different. Her sister leads the Black Roses. Her life is a little different. And with Sebastian, he teaches her that life can be different. Oh and there's some paranormal, think human DNA mutation type things. Cursed. Gifted. Some call it different things. And the watchment don't like those specialties.
This is an action packed, fast paced romantic journey for our two main characters. I liked the writing style. It also had some humor. I am not sure if there is a second novel, but I will say I hope there is. 4.5 PAWS
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