The Forever Song blog tour

• What are your top three book endings (stand-alone or series)?

3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene. Not many books can make me cry. The end of this one did. In an airport. Full of people.

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling. I grew up with Harry, and when his story came to a close, I felt a part of my own life had finished.

1. The Return of the King by J.R.R Tolkien. Okay, honestly, I read this a long time ago
and can barely remember much of the story, but I do remember the very last line, and how it was just the perfect end. When Sam comes home to his family after seeing Frodo off, and says: "Well, I'm back."

• The End: The trickiest/most fun/most rewarding aspects of bringing a series to a close?

The trickiest thing about finishing a series is giving the characters an ending that makes sense, while also satisfying the fans. You know that you can't please everyone, and not everyone is going to like where you went with the story, but the ending should make sense for the characters and the world. I hope that readers close the last book with feelings of both sadness and contentment. Sadness in knowing that the story has come to a close, but knowing that it couldn't have happened any other way.

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

When I'm not writing I can either be found at my art desk making clay figurines, or playing games in front of the Xbox One or PS4. I also take Wing Tsun kung fu and kali (better known as Hit People with Sticks class) several days a week. And I'm on twitter a lot, chatting or just wasting time, so I'm very rarely bored.

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About the book:

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

 

MONSTER. 

 

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the path is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal.

 

The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost— the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie. In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

My Review

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Each tour stop is offering up the winner’s choice of either THE IMMORTAL RULES, THE ETERNITY CURE or THE FOREVER SONG - whichever book of the series you might be missing!

 

There are also 2 grand prizes:

• 1 winner will get a complete set of Julie Kagawa’s books, including The Iron Fey Saga and The Blood of Eden Saga!

• 1 winner will get a $100 gift card from either iTunes, Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

Please enter via the Rafflecopter form. Giveaway is open to US/Canada and ends May 2nd.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About Julie Kagawa

• website |  blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish and the odd eel.

To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dog trainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all-time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian shepherd who is too smart for his own good and the latest addition, a hyperactive Papillon puppy.

Tour Schedule:
Monday, April 7th - Harlequin Paranormal Romance Blog

Tuesday, April 8th - fiktshun

Wednesday, April 9th - The PageTurners

Thursday, April 10st - Booksand Things

Friday, April 11th - Ticket ToAnywhere

Monday, April 14th - TwoChicks on Books

Tuesday, April 15th - Parajunkee

Wednesday, April 16th - Refracted Light Reviews

Thursday, April 17st - Bewitched Bookworms

Friday, April 18th - Mundie Moms

Monday, April 21th - A Book Obsession

Tuesday, April 22nd - The Book Cellar

Wednesday, April 23th - Supernatural Snark

Thursday, April 24st - The Busy Bibliophile

Friday, April 25th - Tyngas Reviews

 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:30

 Guest Post, Harlequin, Julie Kagawa  40 People left their mark

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

After Zeke's death to the hands of Sarren the psychopath, Allie is ready to give in to her own monster. She is ready to give up on humanity, only continuing on  driven by a desire for revenge. Sarren wants to destroy the cure to rabidism the humans discovered and unleash his own virus and wipe the world clean. Grief stricken as she is, Allie don't give a damn about his plan, she only wants to kill him, but along her journey with Kanin and Jackal she will manage to put her hatred aside and embrace her humanity once more.

Poor Allie can't seem to have a break even though, god knows, she deserves one. Loosing the one person she ever loved is seriously threatening her sanity and her befriending Jackal is a proof in itself. Especially after all he has done in the previous installment. Despite that, I think he was my favorite character in this novel. Don't get me wrong, I still love Allie and Zeke, but they were so serious and depressed all the time, Jackal's presence was like a highly entertaining - if deadly- breath of fresh air. His infuriating (to his traveling buddies) comments and barbs were keeping a smile on my face despite the dire circumstances our heroes face.

Julie Kagawa really has a talent to keep her readers on their toes and this novel is no exception. The plot line is once again a linear journey, from New Conviction to Eden but every step of the way is surprising and challenging. It was nice to see the vampire gang walk the steps Allie walked with Zeke and his family back in book one and see how everything changed in less than a year. The stakes are different, friends and foes changed and the objective is even more important.

I know it's gonna sound weird but I loved how disgustingly smart Sarren was. Too bad he is an evil bastard. His plans to destroy  humanity were simply genius and I was seriously wondering how our heroes would beat him. And when they think they are close to success, well they aren't because His Evilness already planned ahead or just won't die! Allie and Kanin had to play smart to defeat him and not everyone survives the final battle to save humanity.

I was really pleased with the conclusion of this installment and of the series as a whole. The end isn't an happily ever after, but it brought a wind of hope that humanity might just survive rabidism and it left me satisfied. Too often author leave a series conclusion too open for my taste, but Kagawa took the right decision when she wrote her conclusion, I think.

Paranormal and dystopian lovers must read this awesome trilogy. It's highly original, engrossing, exciting, with just the right amount of dark humor. I'm sad the series came to an end because I grew fond of its characters, but I feel like each character fulfilled their own destiny.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Blood of Eden, Dystopian, Harlequin, Harlequin Teen, Harlerquin, Julie Kagawa, Netgalley, Paranormal, Review, Vampire, young adult  3 People left their mark

Harlequin Halloween Tour: Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

This year we are lucky enough to celebrate Halloween with a bunch of amazing Harlequin authors! Specifically, Author Julie Kagawa, and her character Zeke are stopping by the blog! This sweet, tough, and disillusioned boy came over to tell us what's the 'Scariest part of being in love'.

 

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"The scariest part of being in love? You mean...other then the fact that the girl I'm in love with happens to be a vampire?" *Laughs* "Well, to be honest, I guess what scares me the most is Allie's belief that she's a monster. Not that I believe she is; I've watched her fight. I've seen her struggle so hard not to give in to her instincts. And she does have that darkness inside her, that drive to kill and feed and destroy like all the other vampires; I'm not so blind to think it isn't there. But I've accepted that part of her, and I know she will continue to fight it with everything she has. It doesn't scare me. She doesn't scare me.

"No, what scares me is that Allie sometimes believes she's nothing but a vicious, soulless killer. And, because she doesn't want to hurt anyone, she'll pull back, shut everyone out. The thing that frightens me most is the thought that, one day, Allie will decide she can't put me in danger anymore, and she'll leave. Walk out of my life forever. But it's all right. Because if that happens, I'll just go after her again. She can push me away all she likes. I won't give up until I convince her that she's not a monster, and that I don't care if she's a vampire and has to feed on humans and only comes out at night. None of that matters to me. When I look at Allison, I don't see a monster, or even another vampire. I fell in love with the girl."

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Zeke is one of the main characters in the Blood of Eden series and here's more about the first book, The Immortal Rules:

A Legend begins.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city.
By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.
Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Enter Julie Kagawa’s dark and twisted world as an unforgettable journey begins.

About The Immortal Rules - Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

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Harlequin is hosting two amazing giveaways for the tour and Tynga's Reviews' readers gets to participate in the Trick giveaway!

Open to Canada & US only.
All you have to do to enter is to fill the rafflecopter form below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About Julie Kagawa:

Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish and the odd eel.

To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dog trainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all-time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian shepherd who is too smart for his own good and the latest addition, a hyperactive Papillon puppy.
website,blog, Facebook,Twitter,Goodreads

 

Follow the rest of the tour!

Monday, September 30th- Cara Lynn Shultz and Spellbound -The Irish Banana

Wednesday, October 2nd  - Cara Lynn Shultz and Spellcaster – Alice Marvels

Friday, October 4th  - Gena Showalter and Alice in Zombieland & Through The Zombieglass – The Page Turners

Monday, October 7th  - Dawn Metcalf – Indelible – Refracted Lights

Wednesday, October 9th  - Rachel Vincent and The Soul Screamers Series -Such A Novel Idea

Friday, October 11th  - Victoria Lamb  and Witchstruck – Book Swoon

 

Monday, October 14th  - Melissa Darnell and Crave & Covet – The Book Swarm

Wednesday, October 16th  - Melissa Darnell and Consume – A Bookish Escape

Friday, October 18th  - Julie Kagawa and The Immortal Rules – Tyngas Reviews

Monday, October 21st  – Julie Kagawa and The Eternity Cure – Bittersweet Enchantment

Wednesday, October 23rd  -Michelle Rowen and Dark Kiss – Books & Things
Friday, October 25th  -Michelle Rowen and Wicked Kiss – Bewitched Bookworms



 

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Posted by Tynga at 01:34

 giveaway, Guest Post, Harlequin, Julie Kagawa, Paranormal  19 People left their mark

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Book stats:
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopian/Paranormal
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release date: April 30, 2013

Series: Blood of Eden #2

Source: NetGalley

Reviewed by: Tynga

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

Leaving Eden, a safe haven where humans aren’t ruled by vampires, and Zeke behind, to rescue her Sire wasn’t a difficult decision to make for Allison. It was a painful one though. After everything she went through along side her human friend, Allie has very strong feelings for him but vampires and humans aren't meant to be together. He is safe now, and Kanin is being tortured by a psychopath. There’s no way she could ignore his call.

Extremely exciting, The Eternity Cure is a sequel that did not disappoint. When I finished the first book, I truly had no idea where Julie Kagawa would take us next, and which characters we’d meet again, and I have to say I am very pleased with her decisions. Allie and Kanin are at the center of the plot line, no surprise there, but *slight spoiler* I did not expect Zeke and Jackal to be present. The latter also held a really big role and he is the biggest surprise of all!

Allie is hanging on to her humanity by the skin of her teeth, fighting her demon every step of her quest, and meeting an old friend along her journey puts her determination to the test. I really loved seeing firsthand how she fights for control and strives to beat the monster down. She almost steps onto the dark side multiple times and I’m seriously wondering how long she’s gonna hold on. Jackal isn’t helping of course, taunting her on every occasion and surprisingly I truly liked him in this book. I hear you all saying ‘say what??’ yes, yes my friends, wait and see for yourself! He embraces his demon side and is proud of it, but his sense of humour and questionable commitment somehow spoke to me. Zeke is sweet as always but acquired a more rugged quality and I loved it. He really broke my heart near the end – twice – and I can’t wait to see the repercussions of his last actions. I was extremely glad we got to know more about Kanin, at last, because he left a strong impression on me in The Immortal Rules and I’m happy to say he lived up to my expectations.

I felt engaged throughout the whole story and the plot line is partly responsible for it. Allie’s journey, to find her sire, save him and then safe the consequences, and Sarren, was very exciting and action-packed. Kagawa threw more than one curved-ball our way, and each one surprised me. You think you know a character and his or her faith, and bam, you’re wrong. I loved that I was kept on the edge of my seat from the first to the very last page. The emotional rollercoaster was sometimes hard to bare and I will blame Julie Kagawa for a new white hair or two.

I thought I would die from suspense after I read the last chapter, obviously I survived, but barely… lol Such cliff-hangers should simply be illegal and I hope I have to chance to get an early copy of Blood of Eden #3 because I don’t know how I will wait this long.

The Blood of Eden series is a very unique one because it blends dystopian and paranormal genre perfectly. Set in a world where humans created zombie-like monstrosity, while trying to find a cure to a virus that almost wiped them off the face of the earth, and Vampires are ruling and treating humans like cattle, the fight for survival is a daily agenda. Julie Kagawa set the bar really high with the first book and the second book was up to par and so i am obligated to insist you give this series a chance!

Read an excerpt

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Posted by Tynga at 05:57

 Dystopian, Harlequin, Julie Kagawa, Review, Vampire, young adult  8 People left their mark

Giveaway: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Thanks to Harlequin I have a super giveaway for you guys, to celebrate the release of The Lost Prince! It’s the first book in Julie Kagawa’s spin-off series, and bloggers are already raving about it!

About the book:

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Giveaway details:

Two (2) winners will each receive a copy of The Lost Prince!

Open to Canada & US

Giveaway ends November 5th, 2012.

To Enter, fill the rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Posted by Tynga at 07:38

 Fey/Faeries, giveaway, Julie Kagawa  47 People left their mark

Julie Kagawa on The Immortal Rules + giveaway!

Julie Kagawa is currently on a blog tour to promote THE IMMORTAL RULES, the first book of an amazing new dystopian vampire series. We're big fans of Julie's work and we're very excited to be the tenth stop on the tour!

Check out the post and then stick around to learn more about the rest of the tour and enter to win a signed copy of THE IMMORTAL RULES!

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Stop #10 – Welcome to the Wilderness

There was no road to follow, at least, not where I had come out. I did stumble upon a few leftovers of human civilization—old houses crumbling under carpets of weeds and moss, a few rusty car skeletons choked with vines—but the farther I got from the city, the wilder the forest became. I’d had no idea it was this big, that trees could just stretch on forever and ever. I met no one in my travels, human or vampire, though the woods were teeming with wildlife, most of which I had never seen before and knew their names only through stories. Fox and skunk, rabbit and squirrel, snakes, raccoons and endless herds of deer.

Please visit Once Upon A Twilight for the next stop on The Immortal Rules blog tour.

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Dying to see what's next? Make sure to check out the other stops on Allie's journey! Click on the icon below to go to the Harlequin page for the initial post and info on the rest of the stops:

Harlequin is offering an amazing giveaway on their site: a Kindle Touch with a one-of-a-kind Immortal Rules skin! Click on the tour banner above or right here to enter to win if you live in the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).

For more information about Julie and her books, check out the Blood of Eden web page or her author website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

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Here's the scoop of THE IMMORTAL RULES:

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

Read Tynga and Jenn's thoughts

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Harlequin is graciously offering one (1) signed hardcover copy of THE IMMORTAL RULES to a lucky reader!

To enter the giveaway, obey the Rafflecopter!

US/Canada only

Ends Tuesday, May 8, 2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to enter the Harlequin giveaway as well!

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To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dog trainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time. Her third novel, The Iron Queen, became a New York Times bestseller and her debut novel, The Iron King recently won the RITA award for best young-adult fiction novel of 2010.

Julie now lives in La Grange, Kentucky, with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian shepherd who is too smart for his own good and the latest addition, a hyperactive papillon.

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Posted by jenn at 08:34

 Dystopian, Guest Post, Harlequin, Julie Kagawa, Vampire  71 People left their mark

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (Double Review)

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Book Stats:
Reading level: Young adult
Genre: Urban fantasy
Mass market paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release date: April 24, 2012

Series: Blood of Eden #1

Source: Review copy from Harlequin

Reviewed by: Tynga and Jenn

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

Tynga’s Thoughts

Set sixty odd years after a nasty virus hit humanity, killing the majority of the race and creating zombie-like monstrosity, The Immortal Rules has everything it needs to grab its readers and keep them into its claws. In this enthralling adventure, we follow the steps of Allie Sekemoto, who tries restlessly to keep herself, and the people she cares about, alive. Growing up in the Fringe, she knows how hard life is and that in this vampire and rabid infested world it’s everyone for themselves, but life has other plans for her.

Let me start by saying that I LOVED The Immortal Rules. Julie Kagawa did an amazing job writing this very unusual vampire and zombie dystopian book. The story is written from first person point of view, Allison’s, and I thought she was one amazing character. I also really like that Kagawa split the book into multiple parts, segmenting each phase of Allie’s story, marking her personal progression at the same time.

Allison Sekemoto, a determined Asian girl, was the perfect hero for this novel. She is disillusioned from the beginning, living in the Fringe of a vampire town, scavenging to find food, hiding from the preying bloodsuckers and trying not to get killed by rabids whenever she attempts a supply run outside the city walls when the times are harder. She sees life in dark shades of grey, not expecting much from life, but secretly hoping for more. She hits a turning point though when she is savagely attacked by rabids and a vampire offers to save her life, making her one of his own, or to cut her misery short, offering her a quick death. Strangely, becoming a vampire made Allison more human, because she was determined to keep her monster at bay, and I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing her determination, her desire to do the right thing and her heartbreaks when she failed. She’s not perfect, far from it, but she fights so hard to be a better person – better vampire – that you can’t help but cheer for her and feel a strong urge to comfort her (even if she’d never let you) when she's down.

Allie wasn’t the only great character though. Kanin, the vampire who turned Allie and taught her some basic vampire survival rules was really mysterious and I found myself immediately drawn to him, even though he is a moody bastard at times. He isn’t center stage in this novel though, and I really hope we’ll discover more about him in the second book. Zeke, a teenage boy Allie stumbles upon in her aimless roaming, turned out to be fantastic as well. He is part of a travelling crew, hoping to discover Eden, a rumored safe place without any rabids or vampires. He is strong, determined, big-hearted and really endearing. He will go through a lot in this novel, and I enjoyed watching him struggle when his beliefs were challenged.

The journey Julie Kagawa take us on was exhausting in the best ways. Allie started as a strong willed human, than became runaway monster and ended up as a body guard. The transition between her states of mind were really smooth and the pace was just perfect. The whole book happens within a couple of weeks window and the time frame Julie set was believable. Most of the book is a very linear journey, toward a mythical goal, yet none of it was boring. Kagawa really made every moment count, not wasting a single word.

I particularly loved how the author chose to focus on humanity even though her world is filled with monsters and Allie is considered a demon by many. In many ways Allie was more human than a lot of other characters she crossed path with and it’s why this book so precious. You can label other people all you want, but what should matter is their actions, not their very nature.

The conclusion, and the moments leading to it, where heart-breaking and heart-warming all at same time. I’m not going to spoil anything, so I will just say that some characters will take unexpected decisions, for better or for worst, and that not everyone will survive this first novel. I’m really excited for the second novel but I’m a bit on the fence because the way this first book ends, I find myself wondering which characters will be part of the second book.

The Immortal Rules was an harsh tale on humanity, and what it really means, in a world filled with violence and monsters. This tale of trust and betrayal showed that the most likely enemy isn’t always the one you should fear the most and that friendships can be broken in the blink of an eye. Kagawa delivers an amazing dystopian story on silver plating and I’m craving for more.

Jenn’s Thoughts

Tynga's done an amazing job of explaining why THE IMMORTAL RULES is the beginning of what promises to be an exciting new dystopian vampire series. I'm going to keep my comments short to (try to) avoid repeating what Tynga's already said.

THE IMMORTAL RULES sucked me in once I started reading it. I started reading it one night before bed, intending to read a few chapters, and ended up finishing it in the wee hours of the morn. Julie Kagawa's created an amazing world and inhabited it with wonderful characters and they are impossible to resist. Here's why:

Allie's humanity only shows once she's become a monster. When she's living as an Unregistered in the vampire city, we see sparks of selflessness but Allie's really in it to survive, no matter what. Don't get me wrong, you'll be rooting for Unregistered Allie in no time but it's when she's transformed and is forced to adapt to her new life that she really shines. We see a new maturity and resolve that make Allie an even more interesting character. She has to face some hard truths as part of her transition from human to vampire, which is tough on Allie but great for the reader. Plus, as you get further into the story, the contrast between Allie and some of the pilgrims looking for Eden are quite striking because the author's done a wonderful job of showing the different shades of humanity and how tragedy and adversity can shape people.

Julie Kagawa's world building is outstanding in this book. The idea of impenetrable vampire cities, where humans are registered as property and are basically treated like cattle, is an interesting spin. It's vampire hoarding at the extreme but it makes a lot of sense in the context of this world. =) She's created a visceral world and I loved how gritty and real it feels just as soon as you start reading. I also love the contrast between vampires and rabids, especially since the main difference between them seems to be that the vampires retain their personalities (as long as they feed regularly) while rabids are animalistic, feral killing machines. The explanation for why rabids exist is really interesting and will definitely play a huge role in future novels, if I'm not mistaken.

I'm also terribly intrigued by Kanin and his role in shaping the society that the book is set in. He's a tough mentor for Allie and we learn a lot about him over the course of THE IMMORTAL RULES. He's in a unique position in vampire society and it will be interesting to see how that plays out over the series.

I'll close off by saying that THE IMMORTAL RULES is an outstanding novel, filled with action, tough choices, and harsh realities. It's dystopian but has some hopeful moments and you'll find yourself rooting for Allie before you know it.

Read an excerpt

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Posted by jenn at 07:42

 Dystopian, Harlequin, Julie Kagawa, Review, Vampire, young adult, Zombies  8 People left their mark

The Immortal Rules trailers

There are currently two different trailers circulating the 'Net for Julie Kagawa's upcoming book, THE IMMORTAL RULES. Which one is your favourite? I prefer the U.K. version but they're both great!

U.K. trailer

U.S. trailer

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Posted by jenn at 08:54

 Harlequin, Julie Kagawa, Trailer, Vampire  5 People left their mark

A Christmas With… Julie Kagawa

First of all, MERRY CHRISTMAS YOU ALL! I really hope you have an amazing time with your friends and family =) Now, I’m really happy to welcome Julie Kagawa on the blog, to chat about her latest release, The Iron Knight!

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1- The Iron Knight is written from Ash's POV, was it harder for you to write from his perspective?

It was a little harder, initially.  I knew Meghan; after three books I knew her voice and her personality and her quirks.  It was difficult with Ash, because he was such a guarded character, and he never was really chatty.  And because he’s lived such a long time, and is an Unseelie fey, he’s done some things in his life that might change how some people view him.  It was actually kind of scary putting his story out there; what will people think now that they know the real Ash?  But I wrote his story as honestly as I could, and I hope they will come to love the Winter Prince as much as I do.

2- The book as been released since late October, what has been the fan's response like thus far?

I think initial reactions have been very positive.  There have been concerns that Meghan is barely featured, but it was impossible, given the circumstances, to have her in the book for long.  And I think Ash surprised some readers with how much dark stuff he had in his past, but he is an Unseelie fey, after all.  If a character is too perfect, has no doubts or conflicts, and doesn't  struggle with anything, that would make for a very boring character.

3- Can we expect any more books in the series?

Meghan and Ash's story has come to an end for now.  But there is a second Iron Fey series coming out next year starring Ethan Chase, Meghan's younger brother, when he is a bit older.  And I'm sure lots of familiar faces will pop in for cameos.

4- The Immortal Rules, the first book in your new Blood of Eden series is due April 2012, can you tell us a bit more about it?

           Sure!  Or, better yet, I'll let Goodreads do the talking. :)

        You will kill. The only question is when.
        In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes         hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter,         permitted to survive.
       Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy         result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.
        Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now.         But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

Now onto some Xmas-y questions:

5- What's a typical Christmas like in the Kagawa family?

        Pretty typical.  We wake up (Or, we're woken up by my youngest sister at 5am), go out to the tree, empty stockings, open presents.  This year, however, everyone will be coming to MY house, and will be bringing new babies and husbands and such, so it should be very interesting. :)

6- How is it different from when you were a kid?

See above scenario.  Also, we don't worry so much about giving presents to everyone (Except the new nephew will probably get a ton).  There will be small gift exchanges, but for the most part, everyone is happy just spending time with each other and eating good food.

7- What's Christmas like in the Faerie Realms?

        I imagine fairly festive.  They fey love to party, after all.  The major gift-giving, however, is reserved for the rulers of the courts: Mab, Oberon, Titania, and all the court fey to try to outdo each other with giving the most elaborate gift.  Enchanted humans and stolen babies are highly favored gifts, another good reason to stay together for the holidays. ;)

8- What could we offer Ash for Christmas?

       Lol, well Ash loves books about history, philosophy, and military strategy, and has quite the collection of old poems, some written by the authors themselves.  If you could find him a copy of an original Sophocles, he'd probably love that. ;) 

        Or you could always give him a sword. :D  

**Drawings by Julie

------------------

If it got you curious, here’s a bit more about The Iron Knight

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

---------------------------

Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.

When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time, but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a real job.

To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time.

You can visit Julie here.

More of Julie Kagawa’s books:

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Posted by Tynga at 06:06

 A Christmas With, Harlequin, Julie Kagawa  1 Person left their mark

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Meghan is now back in Nevernever, in Tir Na Nog, the Winter Court to be precise. Fulfilling her end of her bargain with Prince Ash made her prisoner of the Winter Queen. The worst part though, is that Prince Ash is either ignoring her or being cruel to no end. Her heart is completely broken but now isn’t the time to wallow in self-pity. The Iron Faeries are plotting to destroy both Summer and Winter Court, and their leader, with their war fantasies are making it that much easier. Meghan is the only one who can stop them, and with or without Prince Ash, she is determined to put an end to this insanity.

This second book in The Iron Fey series was even better than the first one for me. Meghan is now more knowledgeable of the faeries  and has more confidence in her abilities, ever though her powers were bound by the Winter Queen. It allows her to be more independent and stand up for herself when in adversity. Her relationship with Ash broke my heart so many times, it was heart-shattering to see them together. The best aspect of the book for me.

Puck also made a return in that book *cheers* and he is as witty as ever. Unfortunately, Ash’s state of mind doesn’t allow much bickering between the two of them, but the few moments they do, it’s priceless =) The relationship between Puck and Meghan will also evolve in this book and I’m not quite sure how I feel about it, I guess we’ll have to see in the next book =)

The quest our three heroes sets on is amazingly eventful. Kagawa keep us on the tip of our toes the whole time, and I honestly never saw coming any of the main events. The things she did to the poor Ash were insane yet awesome. I couldn’t have hoped for a better action-filled, heart-wrenching plot.

The end was deliciously surprising and promising, and I honestly can’t wait to see where the decisions our main characters took will lead them. It’s far from being the end of the road, and I’m anxious to find out how they will navigate their new path.

The Iron Fey series is an extremely compelling and addictive world. Beware because once you’ve started reading it, you won’t be able to stop!

Read an Excerpt

The Iron Fey series:

The Iron King
Winter’s Passage
The Iron Daughter
The Iron Queen

Book Stats:

Reading level: Young Adult

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (August 1, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0373210132

ISBN-13: 978-0373210138

 

Book Source: Big Honcho Media

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Posted by Tynga at 00:14

 Fey/Faeries, Harlequin, Julie Kagawa, Review, young adult  2 People left their mark

Giveaway: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

The big R-day (aka Release day) is here!

Are you guys excited? Do you have plan to raid the bookstore? Have you pre-ordered or are you one of the lucky ducks to already have a copy?

If you answers is none of the above, you are at the right place as I have one copy of The Iron Queen & an official T-shirt to giveaway thanks to Harlequin Teen!

Haven’t started this series yet? You can read my reviews here:

The Iron King
Winter’s Passage (novella)
And I’ve read and love The Iron Daughter, but I haven’t written my review yet. Sorry!

Here’s a bit more about The Iron Queen

The winds of war gather in acclaimed author Julie Kagawa's newest novel.

Meghan Chase thought they’d left Faery behind forever, but pressing matters cause the three exiles to be summoned to war.

A new alliance is made, along with a few contracts, of course, and Meghan, half Summer faery princess, half human, is pressed to choose Fey over her mortal beginnings. Will she abandon her human heart for an iron will that will help her survive? For as Meghan Chase can confirm—in real life, unlike books, faery tales don’t necessarily have happy endings.

"I thought it was over...The impossible choices, the sacrifices of those I loved. But a storm is approaching and they will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Back into a conflict so powerful...I'm not sure anyone can survive it." - Meghan Chase in The Iron Queen

For more into you can also visit the Facebook page!

 

Now onto the giveaway details!

One (1) winner will receive:
A copy of The Iron Queen and an Iron Fey t-shirt!

Open to US & Canada

Giveaway ends Feb 8th, 2011.

The enter FILL THE FORM

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Posted by Tynga at 00:49

 Fey/Faeries, giveaway, Harlequin, Julie Kagawa  17 People left their mark

In My Mailbox - Vlog

Before getting to serious business, I would like to thank The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every weeks =)

 

 

Books mentioned:

For Review:

Taken by the Others by Jess Haines (Thank you Jess!)

Kisses from Hell Anthology (Thank you Harper Collins)

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa (Thank you Big Honcho Media & Harlequin)

Bought:

Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward

How was your week?

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Posted by Tynga at 00:10

 in my mailbox, J.R. Ward, Jess Haines, Julie Kagawa  15 People left their mark

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa + 25$ Visa card winner!

That’s right, it’s time to announce the winner of a copy of The Iron King by Julie Kagawa + a 25$ Visa gift card, courtesy of Harlequin.

(Click here to see original giveaway post)

With random.org I picked a winner out of the 226 entries I received, and the lucky winner is…

Amanda Leigh from Not-Really-Southern Vamp Chick

Congrats girl!

You have 72 hours to contact me (TyngaUF(a)gmail.com) with your mailing info, or I will pick another winner.

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Posted by Tynga at 00:13

 Harlequin, Julie Kagawa, winners  2 People left their mark

August Releases

Here’s my monthly post of releases I’m looking forward to! Once again, August will be full of greatness =) Ordered by release date!

Descriptions from goodreads.com

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Release date: August 1st, 2010

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Death’s Excellent Vacation Anthology

Release date: August 3rd, 2010

The editors of Wolfsbane and Mistletoe and Many Bloody Returns deliver a new collection-including a never-before-published Sookie Stackhouse story.

New York Times bestselling authors Charlaine Harris, Katie MacAlister, Jeaniene Frost-plus Lilith Saintcrow, Jeff Abbott, and more-send postcards from the edge of the paranormal world to fans who devoured Wolfsbane and Mistletoe and Many Bloody Returns.
With an all-new Sookie Stackhouse story and twelve other original tales, editors Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner bring together a stellar collection of tour guides who offer vacations that are frightening, funny, and touching for the fanged, the furry, the demonic, and the grotesque. Learn why it really can be an endless summer-for immortals.

Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine

Release date: August 3rd, 2010

UNNATURAL DISASTER

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin has defeated her longtime enemy and saved the world—again. But at what cost? Standing at the ground zero for the last attack, Joanne, the Djinn David, and the Earth herself have been poisoned by a substance that is destroying the magic that keeps the world alive.

Joanne and David have already lost their powers, but that's just the beginning. The poison that has seeped into the planet is destablizing the entire balance of power, bestowing magic on those who have never had it and taking it at critical moments from those who need it. It's just a matter of time before the delicate balance of nature explodes into chaos, destroying mankind—and every living thing on Earth—with it.

Almost to die for by Tate Hallaway

Release date: August 3rd, 2010

On her sixteenth birthday, Anastasija Parker's present winds up being the shock of a lifetime. When her mom referred to her absentee dad as a deadbeat it was actually half true -- he's a vampire. And a king, no less. A king who wants his daughter to assume her rightful position at his side. But, thanks to Ana's mother, the blood of a witch also runs through her veins....
Too bad vampires and witches are mortal enemies.
With her parents gearing up for an all out brawl over her destiny, Ana's about ready to scream. But things get even crazier when a male witch and a brooding bad boy vampire start vying for her affection. Then the barely leashed tension between the vampires and the witches starts to boil over, and Ana has to figure out once and for all if she wants to become heir to her dad's throne. And deciding your eternal destiny is a pretty big deal for a girl who just wants to get through high school.

Kiss me Deadly Anthology

Release date: August 3rd, 2010

If you can possibly thirst for more mysterious metaphysical accounts of love, Trisha Telep has organized some of the greatest and most thrilling tales of paranormal paramours since The Eternal Kiss. She presents the acclaimed literary talent of thirteen unique authors, creating a collection of stories that will undoubtedly capture the imagination of every soul who dares to read them. Werewolves, ghosts, zombies, vampires, and fallen angels drive the plot of these riveting romances.

Kiss Me Deadly includes the exceptional writings of several authors, including:

• Sarah Rees Brennan (faeries)
• Becca Fitzpatrick (angels)
• Caitlin Kittredge (witches)
• Diana Peterfreund (unicorns)
• Michelle Rowen (demons)
• Carrie Ryan (zombies)
• Maggie Stiefvater (werewolves)
• Rachel Vincent (banshees)
• Daniel Waters (zombies)
• Michelle Zink (gothic ghosts)

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Release date: August 31st, 2010

Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings. But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth.

The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Release date: August 31st, 2010

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Release date: August 31st, 2010

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.
Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.
As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.
His life depends on it.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Release date: August 31st, 2010

Sixteen-year-old Evie's job is bagging and tagging paranormals. Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. But when someone--or something--starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she's worked hard to help become productive members of society, she's got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal.
Normal is so overrated.

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Posted by Tynga at 00:34

 Alexandra Adornetto, Cassandra Clare, Julie Kagawa, Kelly Creagh, Kiersten White, Rachel Caine, Tate Hallaway  12 People left their mark