Blood Bath & Beyond by Michelle Rowen

 

I didn’t realize when I picked up this book that it was actually a spin-off from a previous series. It wasn’t until after a few chapters that I realized the characters were too well established for this to be considered a new series. I’m a stickler for reading books in order so I’m usually really careful but I guess I was fooled by the “First in a new series” stamp on the cover of the book. But quite honestly, I don’t think it’s necessary to read the previous books to enjoy this one. The author describes the characters well enough to fill in the blanks, although it does feel like your missing background information from time to time.

It’s quite audacious to set the “first book” in a series in the wonderful city of Las Vegas. Especially when the two main characters are engaged and have no set date to get married. Thierry is a century old vampire that has just taken a job with The Ring, a secret organization policing the vampire population. His job as a consultant isn’t quite clear but it does involve a lot of travelling and investigating vampire related issues. His fiancé Sarah Dearly, the narrator of the book, is definitely ready to spend the rest of her life with Thierry and she proves it by packing a last minute bag to follow him to Las Vegas. She’s ready to do anything for him, even leaving her established life behind in Toronto.

Thierry’s job in Las Vegas is to investigate a 96 year old vampire child who is entering and winning child pageant shows for a living. Because she’s gaining popularity, Thierry’s job is to convince her to stop the pageant shows in order to keep her vampire status from the human population a secret. The job sounds simple enough except when a vampire serial killer starts murdering one human a day, and Thierry is set up to take the fall for the murder of a fellow vampire after threatening him publicly just the night before. Sarah decides to investigate the separate murders secretly and on her own. Even if by investigating the murders means risking her life, she can’t let her fiancé take the fall for something she knows he didn’t do.

Trouble follows Sarah around. Sarah mentions it multiple times herself and it’s actually quite true. As she investigates, so many things go wrong, like the death of one of her suspects, losing her engagement ring and getting told off by a security guard for letting her “vampire child” run off and cause trouble. Las Vegas is known for it’s eccentric people, and Sarah definitely meets her fair share of them. From a preaching vampire Jesus, to a bar full of vampire hunters and a few crazy characters, Sarah’s investigation is non-stop. Personally, I think Sarah proves herself in this book as a great parter for Thierry. She’s determine to make their relationship work and she goes to extremes to fight for their engagement. She also proves to Thierry and herself that despite all the dangers this life may have, she’s able to pull through on her own, even though the odds are set against her.

I've been to Vegas multiple times and although it's not my favourite city, it is a great place to visit and have fun, no matter what you're looking for. [spoiler]So an engaged couple travels to Las Vegas on business. Sure, Las Vegas is known for gambling, shows, nightlife, etc. But obviously it’s also know for weddings (I've actually been to two!). What better place for Sarah and Thierry to tie the knot? I was waiting for this the whole book. I knew it was coming and I don’t know what was more predictable: the fact that they got married, or that the ceremony was performed by an Elvis impersonator.[/spoiler]

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The writing reminds me a lot of Molly Harper, the author of the “Nice Girls” series. The book is filled with hilarious moments and how-did-she-end-up-in-this-jam moments. Honestly, if I were to continue reading this series, I would probably go back to the original series first before continuing with this spin off. I want to go back and read the events that lead to Sarah’s turning and I want to learn how Sarah and Thierry met and fell in love. The good news is that I have lots of books to keep me entertained for a while.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Immortality Bites Mystery, Library, Michelle Rowen, Obsidian, Paranormal Romance, Penguin, Review, vampires  1 Person left their mark

Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes

Now that Auranos is under the control of the tyrannic King Gaius everything has changed. Enemies suddenly aren't the same, and our youth's focus and missions swiftly reoriented. Everyone, even his own wife and son, want to see the King fall. Will his strong grip and merciless actions be enough for him to keep control?

I am a huge fan of Falling Kingdoms, the first novel in this series, and despite Rebel Spring being a good installment it somehow found itself in the 'not as amazing as the first book' dreaded category. I think the main reason I felt this way is that Rebel Spring is one big transition and there is no clear goal or achievement to reach for this story arc. Yes, there is the ultimate goal of finding the Kindred and defeat the King, but it has become the goal of this series, not an achievable goal for the short term window that is Rebel Spring. All our characters take actions toward this goal, and we get some answers, but ultimately, there no possible victories in this novel and it's slightly disappointing.

Despite its weaknesses, I truly enjoyed reading Rebel Spring. I love the fantastical world Morgan created and the vividness of her characters. Once again, Rhodes blessed us with alternative point of view between multiple characters (including some watchers, the Queen and the King himself) and it definitely adds a richness to the story. I always enjoy seeing how the perceptive on a same situation is different from one character to another, it brings additional depth and nuances to certain key scenes.

Our heroes are faced with interesting situations once again, and I'm afraid to say more deaths awaits them (Morgan couldn't refrain now, could she?). [spoiler]Magnus & Cleo are getting married[/spoiler] and I felt terrible for them, I kept hoping this connection would bring more to their relationship, and I keep my fingers crossed that it will have an impact in the following book. Jonas is more ambitious then ever and he is willing to put aside his feud with Cleo to reach his new objective. He scared me on many occasions and I'll let you discover why! Lucia has a really passive role this time around because she's in a coma most of the novel, but after some shocking revelations at the end of Rebel Spring, my hopes for her are really high and I hope her actions will benefit the 'good'.

Rebel Spring was a great novel and delivers promises of an even better installment. I disliked it's strongly transitional atmosphere (can I even say that?), but overall, it didn't impair my enjoyment. High fantasy lovers definitely want to pick up this series. Magic, mysteries and death awaits you in those pages, and you won't regret jumping on the wagon.

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:56

 Falling Kingdoms, Fantasy, High Fantasy, Magic, Michelle Rowen, Morgan Rhodes, Penguin, Publisher, Razorbill, Review, young adult  5 People left their mark

Falling Kingdoms Tour–Interview with Morgan Rhodes

If you’ve read my review, you know I LOVED Falling Kingdoms, so I’m super happy to welcome Morgan Rhodes for an interview on the blog today!

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

Falling Kingdoms was one of my favorite read this year, how hard was it for you to write high fantasy, as opposed to your previous novels?

Thank you so much! I wouldn’t really say it was “hard” as much as it was a challenge. I have written contemporary paranormal and urban fantasies before this, so I was well-versed in “fantasy.” Taking this fantasy and putting it into a completely imaginary world, plus giving it a medieval flavor, was something that took a lot of forethought, research, and worldbuilding before I even wrote a single word of the plot, but I was definitely up for this challenge!

The lore you created was particularly enticing, how did you come up with the Goddesses idea?

The goddesses (two rival goddesses that represent two elements each – one fire and air, the other water and earth) who existed a thousand years before the events in Falling Kingdoms were an essential part of the worldbuilding – the religion! I wanted to show that one kingdom, Limeros, still worshipped regularly (in fact, it’s kind of forced on them by their king), while the rival kingdom, Auranos, has strayed from religion, mostly due to their easy lives and affluence. This is contrasted with the middle kingdom, Paelsia, which doesn’t worship any deity. The lore of the goddesses in book one is mostly background, but I promise it will play a large part in future books, especially when it comes to the mythology of the immortal Watchers.

I particularly loved how your narration allowed to view each character from multiple perspectives, was it the main reason why you chose third person narration?

Originally, I considered writing the book entirely from Princess Cleo’s POV, but ultimately decided that the world of Falling Kingdoms was a very large canvas to paint on and limiting things to one character’s viewpoint would prevent me from showing readers what is going on in other parts of the story. It became a multiple viewpoint story out of necessity – and I’m glad I went in this direction! I think this definitely sets FK apart from other YA fantasy novels…and in a good way, I hope!

Did you have a favorite character when writing the book?

All of the characters have their merits, but my two favorites to write in Falling Kingdoms (and again in the sequel) are Princess Cleo – since she has a good heart and a brave soul that she’s only beginning to discover…her character arc is more of a roller coaster! Also, Prince Magnus – who is so dark and conflicted and sarcastic, and he likes to ignore my outline and do his own thing. I never know what to expect from him!

Can you tell us a bit about the next novel, Rebel Spring? I’m so anxious to read it!

Well…. it’s book #2 of the Falling Kingdoms series and will be out Fall 2013. What? You want more? LOL! Thing get off to a wild start in Rebel Spring, so even telling you what happens in chapter one would be a mega spoiler. I’ll just say that it picks up the story about three weeks after Falling Kingdoms ends. In Rebel Spring I also introduce a couple new characters who will directly impact the characters readers have already met in ways both good and bad. Also, there will be some unexpected twists which I hope will delight readers – but they also might also be a little bit mad at me. ;)

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

Thank you so much Morgan for taking the time to answer my questions! I can’t wait to get my hands on Rebel Spring!

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 08:16

 Interview, Michelle Rowen, Morgan Rhodes  13 People left their mark

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

Book stats:
Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Razorbill
Release date: December 11, 2012

Series: Falling Kingdoms #1

Source: Penguin Canada

Reviewed by: Tynga

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects’ lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:
Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.
Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.
Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.
Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...
The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

Kingdoms once united are now split by their faith and the state of their land. Auranos is envied for its riches. Limeros is on a decline oppressed by its blood-craving King and its freezing land.Paelsia is worst for the case for its crop-less frozen territories and its citizens dying from hunger. In the middle of it all, are a handful of teenagers, from all three territories, restless in this near-war atmosphere.

What an awesome novel by Morgan Rhodes a.k.a. Michelle Rowen. I was first attracted by the amazing cover, because I'm a sucker for YA high fantasy, but I was hooked from the prologue! Morgan did a brilliant job bringing to the table magic, mystery and powerful writing. Right from the start, I found myself hanging onto Rhodes’ every single word. She skilfully introduced a handful of stunning characters and the way she alternated her third person narration between each character not only allowed us to discover their perspective, but also to see them via the eyes of each teenager. I say it was the work of a genius. I really came to care for each character and was surprised to sometimes be influenced by the narrators point of view.

If I had to pick a favourite character I’d have a really hard time because they were all likeable in their own way. Princess Cleo from Auranos is determined and good-hearted even though she is perceived as a spoiled bitch (his words, not mine) by Jonas. The latter is a peasant from Paelsia, blinded by grief but with good intentions (saving his folks). I really pitied Magnus, the Prince of Limeros, for the way everyone treats him, but I loved the way he protects Lucia, his sister. Lucia is full of surprises and I can’t wait to know more.

The plot progressed at a steady pace, and even though we don’t really know where Morgan is taking us, you can’t help but stay on the edge of your seat, dying from the suspense. I will say, the novel isn’t heavy action, but the slow boiling war in the making is enough to maintain a high anxiety and excitement level.

About two third into the novel the story took a dramatic turn and I got teary-eyed on more than one occasion. The tragic ending was a promise of adventure and the teenagers will need to show strong character if they want to survive what's to come. I am extremely anxious for the sequel, Rebel Spring, and I have no idea how I am going to wait so long!

Original and compelling, this engaging fantasy series will sure please fans of Maria V Snyder and Kristin Cashore!

Read an Excerpt

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 07:49

 Fantasy, Michelle Rowen, Penguin, Review, young adult  4 People left their mark

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

Book stats:
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Paperback: 348 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release date: May 22nd 2012

Series: Nightwatchers #1

Source: Netgalley

Reviewed by: Christine

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

I don't do dangerous.  Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... NIGHTWATCHERS When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising.

Dark Kiss is the start to one of Michelle Rowen's new series released this year. As a huge fan of hers, I was beyond excited to discover this title on Netgalley.

"One Kiss can change your life forever" now that's an interesting premise if I ever heard one. Samantha tries to stay out of trouble ever since she was caught shoplifting. But when her crush asks her for a kiss, she can't say no. Then he leaves her like a discarded toy right after the kiss and she begins to feel a hunger that can't be stilled. Finding out that her life might have changed forever is a shock for her, but that's nothing compared to the secrets that are unraveled about her family, the city and heaven & hell.

Michelle Rowen knows how to weave a story that keeps you hooked. A constant high pace keeps you just as entertained as the romantic tension between Sam and Bishop. There's one twist that ensures that this tension will be maintained for a time to come. I was also very relieved that there is no love-triangle in sight - yet. I'm getting a bit tired of reading about those in YA books.

I also especially enjoyed Michelle Rowen's portrayal of Heaven and Hell, the Good and the Bad in the book. First of all, I found the idea of heaven and hell working together against a common threat very intriguing. Even better is how both Sam and the reader can't be exactly sure which side to trust. Even Natalie, the Source and villain in this book seems to have valid points. Especially as Bishop (who is after all an angel) makes it very clear that he is using Sam and is not really forthcoming about the truth either. Both sides have secrets to hide and Sam has a hard time deciding who to trust. Still, I was impressed that Michelle Rowen doesn't paint the world in just black and white, but mostly in grey.

Sam is an easily likeable protagonist who definitely doesn't deserve what happens to her. Her loyalties are torn and she doesn't act rash and inconsiderate. Carly and Jordan, Sam's best friend and arch foe are a great addition to that cast and their roles are more important that it seems from the start.

I have to admit that I found myself more drawn to Kraven than Bishop. His sardonic, devil-may-care attitude hides another side you only get to see a glimpse of. But I have high hopes to see even more of him and get to the bottom of his mysterious past as well as the very complex history with Bishop.

Speaking of Bishop. He is supposed to be the leader of the team of angels and demons and his inability of doing his job right or at all for that matter, as well as his precarious grip on sanity, is well conveyed. The only thing I was a bit unhappy with was Sam and Bishop's relationship. The time seemed a bit short for them to develop feelings as deep as they have for each other, particularly at their age, as they go from total strangers to soul mates in about a week. There was also an inconsistency in Natalie's plans that kept bugging me.

Michelle Rowen steers clear from some of the over used tropes in the YA genre and delivers a captivating tale in a world full of grey characters and interesting twists. After reading Dark Kiss, the next book in the series Wicked Kiss has been moved to my pre-order list!

Get a taste of the book and read the first chapter on Michelle Rowen’s homepage!

Read More

Posted by Christine at 07:54

 Angel, Michelle Rowen, Review, young adult  3 People left their mark

Book Covers + Shout-out

There have been some amazing covers popping in the last week and I thought I would share them with you! (by release date)

The Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Release date: 12/07/2010

 

I couldn’t find a product description for that one, but this is the final cover. Richelle revealed it this morning. I am so excited about this title and while I want to read it now and know what happens to Rose & Dimitri, I’m really sad that it will be the end of their story.

Thankfully, Richelle is working on another series, set in the same world, with some characters we already know, to be released in 2012. She even said we might see Rose a bit!

 

 

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Release date: 12/28/2010

A family destroyed. A love threatened. An enemy returns.
Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven.
Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot—a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel is put in danger—in more ways than one.
Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her—not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

Once a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

Release date: 12/28/2010

Beware of a kiss under the full moon. It will change your life forever.
Celeste Parker is used to hearing scary stories about werewolves—Legend’s Run is famous for them. But when, after an unnerving visit with a psychic, she encounters a pack of wolves and gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon, she must discover whether his transformation is more than legend or just a trick of the shadows in the moonlight. Brandon may be Celeste’s hero, or he may be the most dangerous creature she could encounter in the woods of Legend’s Run.

 

 

 

Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell

Release date: 12/28/2010

 

 

When Ellie Faneuil first sees Michael Chase, she feels an instant connection. They soon learn that they share more than a powerful attraction: They have powers that are otherworldly. Together they go in search of what they are...and find themselves center stage in an ancient conflict. But will they choose the same side?

 

 

 

Secrets of the Demon by Diana Rowland

Release Date: 01/04/2011

 

 

 

 

No Description available yet, but this is the third book in the Kara Gillian series!

 

 

 

 

Vesper by Jeff Sampson

Release date: 1/25/2011

Emily Webb is a geek—and happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old movies, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for parties. And she definitely doesn’t start fights or flirt with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that…the same night a classmate—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.
The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. With every nightfall, she gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes; she’s also becoming strong, fast, and utterly fearless. Has she been bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is she becoming something else entirely—something not human?
As Emily hunts for answers, she learns that she’s not the only one this is happening to—other teens are changing as well. Who is turning them into monsters, and how many people will they kill to get what they want?

 

Nightshade by Michelle Rowen

Release Date: 02/2011

Jillian Conrad never believed in vampires. But she’s just become a living, breathing weapon against them. Attacked by a desperate scientist, she is injected with a serum that was supposed to act as a deadly poison to vampires. And when the scientist is gunned down in front of her, his secrets die with him.
Declan Reyes was only half-vampire, but he hates them with all his heart. He knows that the poison in Jillian’s veins could finally destroy the undead kingdom. Also, the serum has had an unintended effect, making her blood irresistible to all vampires—including Declan, whose bloodthirsty traits are driven into a frenzy by her.
Driven by duty to protect her and by instinct to crave her, Declan takes Jillian into his shadowy world of blood and battle. But he soon realizes his increasing need for her may be a different kind of hunger…

Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer

Release date: 4/5/2011

 

The last thing Tansy wants to do is move with her family to middle-of-nowhere Texas. But once there, she is immediately drawn into her new home’s disturbing history. Through the lens of her camera, Tansy enters a surreal black-and-white time and finds her life linked to mysterious, troubled Henry, who lived in the very same house and died as a teenager decades earlier. But the more time she spends in the past, the more her present world starts to fade away, and Tansy must untangle herself from Henry’s dangerous reality before her own life disappears completely.

 

 

Teeth Anthology

Release date: 4/5/2011

Sink your teeth into these bite-sized tales exploring the intersections among the living, dead, and undead. The vampires in these stories range from romantic to chilling to gleeful—and touch on nearly every emotion in between. The one thing they have in common? Their desire for blood....

Contributors include:
Genevieve Valentine • Steve Berman • Christopher Barzak • Neil Gaiman • Delia Sherman • Garth Nix • Suzy McKee Charnas • Kaaron Warren • Cecil Castellucci • Jeffrey Ford • Nathan Ballingrud • Kathe Koja • Catherynne M. Valente • Melissa Marr • Ellen Kushner • Cassandra Clare • Holly Black • Lucius Shepard • Emma Bull • Tanith Lee

 

Red Glove by Holly Black

Release date: 4/5/2011

 

 

 

Couldn’t find a product description for that one, but it’s the second book in the Curse Workers series and I really liked the first one and I’m looking forward to Red Glove!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, I wanted to let you know that I offered my ARC of The Ghost & The Goth by Stacey Kade for an ARC tour. There are still a few spots available if you want to join! Please visit Good Golly Miss Holly’s blog for details!

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 12:45

 Bree Despain, Cover, Diana Rowland, Ellen Schreiber, Heather Terrell, Holly Black, Jeff Sampson, Jennifer Archer, Michelle Rowen, Richelle Mead  15 People left their mark

ARC - Demon Princess: Reign Check by Michelle Rowen

Nikki Donovan, Demon Princess, is back--and stuck in a love triangle that's straight out of hell!
Fresh from finding out that she is a demon princess, fighting her aunt for her life, and rescuing her father from being poisoned, Nikki Donovan is looking forward to getting back to her regular high school life. But when Rhys, the handsome king of the faery realm, decides to show up at her school as a "foreign exchange student," Nikki knows this won't be possible. Couple with this a whole host of other problems: there's a new prophecy that claims she will destroy everyone. Her conflicted feelings for Rhys and her boyfriend, Michael, are getting in the way of their relationship. Her best friend Melinda just might be a demon-slayer-in-training, and her old crush Chris might know of her demon side. Throw in a field trip to none other than Hell itself … and Nikki's going to be hoping for a rain check on more than just her homework!

After saving her father from death, Nikki gets to return to her almost-normal-life in Ontario, Canada. Peace won’t last more than a week end though, because Rhys, the faery king, enrolled in her high school to study the possibility of Nikki being a treat to his people. Everyone, demons and faeries alike are determined to shed the light on a prophecy saying Nikki will destroy them all, or end the princess’ life to prevent it.

I’ll start by saying that if you liked the first book, you will also like Reign Check. The tone of the story is as light as the first one, and you also get a fair share of teenage romance. I have to say that some themed addressed in this round were potentially more profound (death, laws, consequences), yet the story felt one-dimensional.  If I had one critique for that book, I would’ve asked for more depth, but maybe it’s because I’m an adult reading a YA story.

That being said, I like that Nikki is trying to take in stride whatever is thrown at her, but she don’t always succeed and sometimes gets her foot in her mouth. It made her more real, and her insecurities sure added to that. Michael (Nikki’s servant/boyfriend) is as lovely as ever and I was happy to see him again. His forbidden relation with the Demon Princess is quite adorable and we get to discover more about Shadows’ abilities. If there is a third book, I would love to get to know them more, along with faeries abilities because we don’t know much about them either. They can use swords, cast glamour but I’m sure there is more than that. I also became quite fond of Rhys in this book and was kinda sad because he pretty much disappeared in the last 120 pages or so, of the book.

I liked the end, but I find myself longing for more. The sum of the two first books happens in a two weeks period, which doesn’t leave room for much growth and I honestly want to know more about this compelling world.

Young adult lovers looking for a light tone cute story will be pleased with this series.

Read the first two chapters

 

Demon Princess series:

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine
Demon Princess: Reign Check

 

Book stats:

Reading level: Young Adult

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (May 25, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0802795498

ISBN-13: 978-0802795496

 

Book Source: Review copy sent by Penguin Canada

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 14:39

 Demon, Michelle Rowen, Penguin, Review, young adult  Leave your mark

Guest Post & Giveaway with Michelle Rowen

 

 

Good Morning everyone!

I’m really happy to have Michelle Rowen with us today! She nicely accepted to let us pry in that head of hers a little, so without anymore babble from me, I’m gonna let her take control!

 

Team Demon or Team Vampire?

by Michelle Rowen

 

You can keep your werewolves.

I think the real battle is between demons and vampires. What’s the contest? Who makes the hottest paranormal romance hero, of course.

Vampires have a running start in this game. They’ve been around seemingly forever, but in my opinion they’ve only really risen to the occasion of being heroic since Anne Rice’s Lestat made readers see that it’s possible for a bloodsucking monster to have a heart and, possibly, a soul. For him to want more than to find out where his next drink is coming from. For him to question whether or not killing humans is necessary to his survival.

Some might argue that in the last thirty years vampires have slowly become defanged. Take Twilight for example. For a movie about vampires, there’s not very much blood drinking going on. More sparkling and angsting.

Time for something a little different, I’d say. Vampires used to be scary, used to be the ultimate bad boy. Is he going to bite your neck or...just neck with you? Vampires used to equal danger, no question about it. Now, it’s a bit different.

Enter the demon. While I see a vampire as a self-hating, solitary dude who feels bad for stuff he’s done in the past and may, possibly, find his redemption in the love of a good woman, a demon isn’t quite that wishy-washy. A demon is the epitome of evil, right? He’s more like a guy who works for an evil company and he doesn’t have a choice in what he does. People look at him and see bad news, no question about it. You expect a demon to be evil and dangerous and a monster...from hell. Not a good place for vacationing. Transylvania’s even a bit more scenic than that.

This, to me, is intriguing. What would make a demon like this change his ways? Change what he really is deep down inside. Change what he’s known for whatever eternity he’s already lived. A vampire is a previous human who was turned into a monster, but a demon can be a so-called monster from day one.

Of course, when we’re talking about romance, both vampires and demons will be changed, no matter what has happened in their past, by the love of the perfect -- or, more interestingly -- non-perfect woman. She’s the catalyst that shakes up their world view and how they see themselves.

I’ve written humorous vampire heroes (although still rather angsty), and in 2011 I’ll be writing much darker vampires (with less angst, more bite). I heart vampires.

But I also heart demons. Or, I heart one demon in particular at the moment. His name’s Darrak and he’s the hero of my new Living in Eden series, starting with THE DEMON IN ME, which just came out at the beginning of May. He was created from hellfire hundreds of years ago by Lucifer himself. Darrak doesn’t bother with angst so much, or at least he didn’t in the past. Lately, though, he’s been having a difficult time after being cursed by a witch. She destroyed his original body and he’s needed to possess humans ever since the Salem witch trials. After all that time’s gone by, he’s now forced to possess my heroine Eden’s body and he can use her psychic energy to help him take solid form during the day.

Darrak’s sexy, he’s mischievous, he’s demonic. And he’s the most fun paranormal romance hero I’ve written to date.

So.....am I Team Demon or Team Vampire? Depends on what I’m writing, personally. Can’t I have both??

Let me know which team you prefer and your favorite hero that represents that team and you’ll have a chance to win a signed copy of THE DEMON IN ME.

Happy reading!

Michelle Rowen

For more info about me and my books, please visit www.michellerowen.com!

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

Thank you very much Michelle for taking to time to enlighten us *winks* It’s greatly appreciated!

Now onto that giveaway!

Michelle Generously offered a signed copy of The Demon In Me!

Giveaway is open to US & CAN

To enter you must answer Michelle’s question in a comment AND Fill The Form!

Ends July 4th, 2010.

FILL THE FORM

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

You can download the four first chapters here =)

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 00:20

 Demon, giveaway, Guest Post, Michelle Rowen, Paranormal Summer Fest  133 People left their mark

Demon Princess Giveaway!

** Oct. 12 Update: Less then 30 entires so far, don't miss you chance to win! **

Alright ladies and gents! I am very happy to hold another giveaway!

To celebrate... my 180 followers (ok odd number, so what =P)

my 100th blogpost...

and of course Demon Princess: Reign or Shine release!

Please be all ears because this is another special giveaway, this one will be easy so make sure to enter!

We're gonna have a caption contest!

Pretty much, you pick either (or both) of these picture and create a silly caption for me!

Rules are easy:

-You must be a follower (click the follow button on the right if you're not already)

- you can enter as many time as you want!

-Open to US and Canada only, sorry!

I will choose my favorite caption on October 17th!

You can't earn entry entries by spreading the word as this is not a draw, but tweets/sidebar/blog post would be greatly appreciated =)

If you wanna learn more about the book you can read my review!

Michelle Rowen also stopped by my blog, make sure to check it out!

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 00:30

 Demon, giveaway, Michelle Rowen  39 People left their mark

Interview with Michelle Rowen, Author of Demon Princess: Reign or Shine

Hi everyone!

I am really happy to introduce you to miss Michelle Rowen, Author of the new young adult series Demon Princess! She is also known for her adult series, Immortality Bites.

As you may know, Demon Princess: Reign or Shine released last Tuesday and to celebrate, Michelle accepted to drop by for an interview!

Enjoy!

How would you describe Demon Princess to readers who haven't heard of it yet?

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine is the first book in a new young adult series about a girl named Nikki Donovan who discovers that the father she’s never met before is a demon king in another dimension, and she’s heir to his throne. Now that she’s turned sixteen she’s going to start manifesting her demonic powers and needs to visit her dad for guidance. It’s a fun, exciting story with some romance between Nikki and the mysterious boy her father sends as his messenger and to protect Nikki from various forces of darkness.

I know you can't give any spoilers but what can we expect in the second book, Demon Princess; Reign Check?

Nikki’s status as a demon princess who’s half human comes to the attention of the ominous demon council in the Underworld who want to meet with her personally and check her out (thus the title Reign Check. Get it? LOL). Also, an otherworldly boy Nikki met in her travels in the first book comes to the human world and enrolls at her school in order to find out exactly how dangerous this half-demon is to his world. Chaos ensues.

How many books are planned for this series?

There is no definite number right now. I’m contracted for the first two books currently, and am very much hoping there will be many more -- I would like the chance to write at least six in order to tell the story I have in mind.

Why did you start writing for YA after writing your Immortality Bites series?

Actually I wrote YA long before I wrote anything else. And I wrote the first draft of Demon Princess back in 2006, so you could say I was writing them at the same time -- it just happened that their pub dates make it look as if one’s starting up just as the other’s ending on purpose, when really it was just a coincidence. I’m still going to write adult books as well. I love having the chance to write in both genres.

What is the most difficult part in the entire publishing progress?

Dealing with the uncertainty of whether or not your ideas are going to appeal to a wide variety of people who need to give the okay for that book to get on the shelves—agent, editor, publisher, and then ultimately the buying public.

And the most exciting part?

I absolutely love hearing from readers who’ve enjoyed my books. It makes the whole process worthwhile. Also, I love it when a story and the characters come to life on the page. It feels kind of like magic!

Now up to some fun and random questions =)

What’s you favorite breakfast?

Three Cheese Omelette with hashbrowns and lots of ketchup. Not the healthiest breakfast, however, so I don’t have it very often. *drools*

Where are we most likely to find you at 11pm ?

In front of the television with my MacBook propped on my lap, usually open to Twitter. Exciting, right?? (No, not really. I know.)

Your favorite perfume?

Donna Karan’s Cashmere Mist.

A bit morbid, but if you had to choose, what would be written on your gravemark?

Michelle Rowen, beloved wife of Robert Pattinson, brought joy and laughter to millions of people through her books. Gone but not forgotten. XOXO

(Tynga: I seriously laughed out loud when I read that answer lol)


I know you like Richelle Mead's books (I LOVE them too!), which of her series is your favorite?

Richelle is an amazingly consistent writer, which means everything she writes is excellent. I’m a fan of the Vampire Academy series for sure and have read them all (and have let Richelle know how I feel about everything and my hopes for future books! Ahem!!), but I just started reading Storm Born the other day and am definitely intrigued by this new world she’s created of fairies, shaman (shawoman?), and shapeshifters.

Last movie you saw on big screen?

I saw Love Happens and I really didn’t like it at all. After seeing the trailer it looked like a fun comedy romance, but it turned out to be a depressing story about grief, unforgiveable parrot abuse, and there was absolutely no chemistry between the leads. Too bad! I was looking forward to seeing it.

What would you consider the craziest thing you've ever done?

I quit a very well-paying job as a graphic designer almost two years ago to write full time. That’s pretty crazy, trust me on that! LOL

If you had to suggest an American a place to visit in Canada, what would it be?

Definitely Toronto! It’s like New York lite. Theater, art, great restaurants, you name it. We have it all!



Thank you so much Michelle for your time, It's greatly appreciated!



You can find my review of Demon Princess: Reign or Shine by clicking the link.

Find Michelle's website here!

And Michelle's blog here!

I loved the book so much that I'll be giving a copy for a lucky winner! Click the link for details!

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 00:50

 Interview, Michelle Rowen  5 People left their mark

Demon Princess; Reign or Shine by Michelle Rowen

"As if trying to fit in at a new school isn't stressful enough, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands—the world that separates and protects us from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious—and surprisingly cute—messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying, and he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her growing feelings for Michael are completely forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew—what's a teenage demon princess to do?" - Book Cover

Nikki lives with her mother and moves from town to town as her mother marries and divorces. Nikki's mom as it her 4th marriage when they move in Erin Heights, Ontario, Canada.

Nikki tries to live an as normal life as the "new girl" can live and it's about to change very abruptly when a strange stalker tries to convince her her father is a demon and she's a half-demon princess. Yeah Right! Crazy much?

Well not so much...

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine was a quick, fun and awesome novel! Michelle Rowen latest release will be a hit I'm sure of it! A special teenage girl, a dark, strange and awesome boy and a fabulous story. What else can a reader ask for?

I read the book in only a few hours, I couldn't put it down! I don't wanna sell the plot but it's nicely built, some characters aren't what they seem and everything unfolds at the very end. I can't wait for the next instalment, Demon Princess: Reign Check, coming out June 2010!

Read the first 2 chapters! (scroll down a bit when get on the page)

Book Stats:

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (September 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 080279534X
ISBN-13: 978-0802795342

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 15:30

 Demon, Michelle Rowen, Review, young adult  8 People left their mark

Teaser Tuesday: Demon Princess: Reign or Shine by Michelle Rowen

**Side note** This is my 100th blog spot YAY! *happy dance*

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
-BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
-Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

Demon Princess releases today !!! If you haven't bought it yet, run and go buy it! It's really great!

Here's my teaser:

"My father was a demon.
A monster with big, black, batlike wings and sharp teeth like something out of a nightmare"

And you think your parents are evil hen? lol

Stay tuned for my review, I will also be interviewing Michelle Rowen soon, and you can expect a giveaway!

For more information about the book, you can check out Michelle Rowen's website.
You can buy the Paperback on Amazon for 9.99$
or at the book depository for only 8,99$ (look often their books often goes for 50% off)

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 11:54

 Michelle Rowen, teaser tuesday  10 People left their mark

Waiting on Wednesday - Demon Princess by Michelle Rowen

This meme is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Here is a book I've been waiting to read for so long, I can't hold myself anymore.

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine by Michelle Rowen

Here's the story of the book, please note that this is from the author website =)

For Nikki Donovan, being a teenager can be hell. Literally.

As if trying to fit in at a new school and navigating the social scene isn't enough stress for her, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands' the world that separates and protects ours from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious (and surprisingly cute) messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying, and that he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her growing feelings for Michael are forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew - what's a teenage demon princess to do?

You can read the first 2 chapters here.

(just scroll down a bit, it's below the description)

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 10:52

 Michelle Rowen, Waiting on wednesday  3 People left their mark