Feverborn by Karen Marie Moning

This series has been one of my favourites, however, I had a hard time getting through this book. I thought it dragged on at times, despite having really good scenes. In my opinion, the first five books of this series were the best ones, and lately, the books seem to be coasting.

I was overjoyed when I realized Mac would be the main narrator again, however, I've come to believe that maybe it's time to let other characters, like Jada, shine. Mac and Barrons are without a doubt a great pair but I feel like their story has come and gone. They're great together, don't get me wrong, but I just feel like there's nothing new happening there. I believe it's time for Jada and Ryodan to finally have their own story and hopefully it will come soon.

Speaking of Jada, I'm still a little bit confused about how Dani became Jada. I'm not completely satisfied with Moning's explanation on the transformation, but in a way, I think it was necessary for Dani to become Jada in order to be taken seriously. She spent years in the Silvers, which turned out to be weeks for everyone else. I understand her need to reinvent herself in order to be taken seriously and viewed as an adult, and not just some untrained teen. Now that she's older, hopefully she'll be able to work on whatever she and Ryodan have. Whatever they do have does seems a little bit creepy but I'm curious on how everything will work out.

I'm also curious about this new character, Shazam. I still don't know what to make of him, whether he's real or not. I kept wondering if he was a figment of Jada's imagination, a way for her to cope with everything that's been going on. I think Shazam is a way for her to keep holding on to her childhood, whether he's real or not.

As for the main conflict in this book, it seems there isn't much driving the characters. Sure, the black holes and the Sinsar Dubh are ever present, and I love the fact that Mac, Barrons, Jada, Ryodan and even Christian are teaming up to fight these problems, but I feel Feverborn was missing action. There were some epic scenes towards the end, but the beginning and the middle of the book was filled with filler and repetition.

Personally, I think it's time for Karen Marie Moning to move beyond Mac and Barrons. At this point, her series is coasting and it could definitely benefit from new blood. I would welcome more about Jada and Ryodan, and honestly, I think Christian deserves his own story too. Because of my early addiction to this series, I haven't given up on it yet, however, something dramatic and new needs to happen in order to keep my interest. Here's to hoping the next book will be much better!

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Posted by Tynga at 04:15

 Delacorte, Dystopian, fae, Fever, Karen Marie Moning, Library, Paranormal, Random House, Review  2 People left their mark

Burned by Karen Marie Moning

I'm having a love/hate relationship with this book. There are so many things that I loved about this book, yet it still left me unsatisfied with the direction the series is taking. I never thought I would say this, but after waiting for what feels like forever, Burned has left me disappointed.

First, I love that Mac is back! I really missed her in the previous book, which was all about Dani. Don't get me wrong, Dani can be a fun a quirky character, but personally I think she doesn't compare to Mac and isn't enough to be the main character of a book like she was in Iced. And she's kind of annoying. Originally, what made me fall in love with the series was Mac, and now it seems like the author has added so many point of views, it's hard to understand how it all pieces together. I'm just happy Mac is the (main) narrator again and it feels childish to complain about a few pages and a few chapters dedicated to other characters. However, I'm surprised by how much I like Lor. I did not expect to enjoy this woman loving, sex addicted character as much as I did. I love that were learning more about the mysterious group of Nine and that it's not just about Barrons and Ryodan anymore. I think Lor adds a new depth to the group, however, I'm not sure if I like this new Ryodan.  I guess you can say we see his softer side but it doesn't really work for me because I can only imagine him as a stern and rigid character.

The first half of the novel was kind of slow. As things slowly build up, I expected more out of this novel because of its length, but much of it is just filler. There was no clear antagonist in this novel so that might be another reason why it felt like the book was purposeless at times. It feels like Mac coasted through most of the novel which had me wondering when the real Mac would show up. I was surprised by our introduction to Jada and I'm still a little bit confused about her as a character and what it all means for the rest of the series. I don't want to discuss her too much because that would expose too many spoilers, but honestly I'm still not sure about her as character.

In the past, the heat between Mac and Barrons was enough to get me through anything, but in this novel, it feels like it kind of sizzle out. Their "inactivity" is boring, to say the least, and I expected more from the couple, especially in a novel titled Burned and with such a hot cover. The chapter before the prologue was pretty hot but just a flashback so it felt kind pointless and definitely a tease.

I'm having such a hard time writing this review, I think it's because I've never felt so disappointed by a novel before. Although it wasn't all that bad, my expectations were definitely set too high. I'm hopeful Karen Marie Moning will get back on track with her next book and that Burned is just an unfortunate event. Fans of the series still have to read this novel despite everything. Newcomers to the series will be disappointed and confused despite the glossary at the end of the book (which I thought was a great idea).

As readers, we could have done without Burned and hopefully it was just a way to set up the next great installment in the series.

http://youtu.be/moRdA43d4Nc

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Posted by Tynga at 01:59

 Delacorte, fae, Fever, Immortals, Karen Marie Moning, Library, Magic, Random House, Urban Fantasy  1 Person left their mark

Iced by Karen Marie Moning

I was actually a little bit anxious to read this book. Published over a year ago, I wanted to buy the paperback anyways to match my other books, so even if the hardcover was available at my local library, I kept putting it off. To be honest, as a huge fan of the Fever series, I didn't want to read this first book of the spin-off series and be disappointed. In the other books, the main character of this spin-off series, Dani, wasn't really my favorite person and I didn't know how I felt about leaving Mac behind as the main character for the first time. Despite my apprehension, I ended it up really enjoying ICED, and to my surprise, I even started to like Dani, even with all her faults.

I think my major issue with Dani is the fact that she's a fourteen year old, playing the role of main character in an adult series. Her teenage ramblings and immature stunts can get a little annoying but I think I've started to look past that because she's actually a really funny character. Her spunk and her courage make her a true hero, in the real sense of the word, because with her super-strength, super-hearing, super-vision and super-speed, it makes her look almost invincible. Like any super-hero, she has her faults and vulnerabilities, and one of them is the fact that she's always putting others before herself, and she's always trying to save the world, one person at a time. Going back to the fact that she's fourteen years old, I don't think this book is appropriate for young adults with all the sexual references and the naked men. Sure, some young adults might end up reading it, but I'm just saying.

One issue I had with the book is its pace. The story felt slow at times and the build up seemed very gradual. To be honest, I think some scenes could have been cut out or at least edited without the teenage ramblings that were quite repetitive at times. Despite this, the anticipation was definitely there, and even if it was slow, the story still kept me interested. Sometimes I really appreciate a slow build up because it keeps me in the story that much longer, and in this case, I really didn't mind.

The writing was your typical Karen Marie Moning, with all the humour and sarcasm from her previous books. Dani is like Mac (from the original series) in so many ways, and I think that is a reflection from Moning's writing. I was surprised on how much I enjoyed reading about Ryodan, the mystery man (or whatever he is...) that owns the only bar worth visiting in post-apocalyptic Dublin. Ever since the wall between the human world and the fae world collapsed, everyone has been flocking his club called Chester's; humans for the thrill of interacting with the fae, and the fae to prey off humans.

Dani and Ryodan make an unlikely team and together they investigate the mysterious "ice" attacks that have been killing both fae and humans. And since these icey attacks could be one of the few things that can kill Ryodan, he wants as much help as possible to get to the bottom of it. Even if it means he has to endure Dani's antics. You can really feel the tension between these characters and I think Moning is a pro at describing feelings and developing these scenes, without really naming what's going on between the characters. Obviously a romantic relationship between a fourteen year old and an ancient being (who knows how old Ryodan really is...) would be a little weird but you can definitely tell there's something there. It's actually kind of funny to see how jealous Ryodan can get about Dani being friends with the teenage boy-genius, Dancer, and how he refuses that the half Unseelie Prince/half highlander, Christian be anywhere near Dani. This makes for a complicated love triangle/love-square but oh so interesting.

With everything I've said, it might sound like I didn't enjoy this book, but on the contrary, I think ICED is a great addition to the Fever world. This is just me being critical about something I really liked. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to newcomers, but it's a definite must for all fans of the Fever series. Usually, I'm a huge fan of spin-off series because it's a way to explore a literary world you love, through a different point of view and with new characters. In this case, the story is completely different from the original series, while still keeping true to the original world. Moning fans, add this one to your list!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:55

 Adult, Apocalypse, Dani O'Malley, Dell, Faeries, Fever, Karen Marie Moning, Paranormal, Purchased, Random House, Review  3 People left their mark

Novella November: Into the Dreaming by Karen Marie Moning

I'm a huge fan of Karen Marie Moning's Fever series so I thought I would give her Highlander series a second chance. I read the first book of this series a while back and while I did enjoy it, nothing could compare to her Fever series.  Where her Fever series is dark, complex and frighting, her Highlander series is more on the romantic side, which includes hot highlanders, a fair bit of time travelling and paranormal elements.

INTO THE DREAMING is a light romantic historical novel that features an amnesiac highlander from the tenth century and a current day aspiring author. It's actually quite heavy on the romance and while you don't learn very much about the main characters, for a novella the plot is quite detailed.

An historical paranormal romance is never complete without a devilishly handsome hero and Aedan fits the bill perfectly. He does have a little bit of amnesia (more than a bit, actually) which has made him forget everything about being human, even about love, passion, and sex. The star of the book, Jane, must cure him of his amnesia in order to free Aedan from the Unseelie King and using her "feminine wiles" is the only thing she can think of. Jane is an awesome character and I wish her story could have been longer than a novella. Her amusing banter combined with the incredible passion she shares with Aedan results in a fun a light read, however heavy on the romance.

Karen Marie Moning is best known for her witty characters and her melodramatic humor, and this book doesn't fail in either aspects. I love how her writing style can fit both her romantic historical novels as well as her darker and magical Fever series. The only thing I'm not crazy about, is the price of this novella ($5.99 for the kindle version). It's pretty steep for a novella and I'm not sure everyone would appreciate the story for this price (see Tynga's Soapboxing post for more on this subject). If you purchase the edition with bonus content, you'll get more for your money including deleted scenes from another novel, a failed manuscript proposal and art from the Fever graphic novel. Overall, I'm glad I own the hardcover of this novella with all its bonus content, but mostly because I'm a huge fan of the author. Not everyone will appreciate it, but if you're either a fan of Moning or one of her series, it's worth the price, in my opinion.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:05

 Adult, Faery, Highlander, Karen Marie Moning, novella, Novella November, Paranormal Romance, Purchased, Random House, Review, time travel  Leave your mark

Daring You To Read… Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

For my first Daring You To Read post, I chose the first book in one of my favorite series: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning.

MacKayla, who comes to Dublin to investigate the murder of her sister is a very interesting character. During the course of the series, she changes so much you can hardly recognize her at the end of the series. Jericho Barrons, the other main character is not only sexy as hell, but also a man of so many mysteries. Between him and Mac is so much sexual tension and so many sparks flying you could set a house on fire. Still, they don´t jump into a relationship right away. Because there are a lot of trust issues between Mac and Barrons. And then there´s also V´lane, the equally sexy Fae who also tries to win Mac for his agenda and for himself. Come to think of it, all the characters are multilayered and three dimensional. Each one has his or her own agenda and secrets, but very few of them can be easily labeled as good or evil.

Another reason to read this series is the excellent world building. After I read the first few scenes in Dublin, I wanted to hop on a plane and go there, despite dangerous Fae and all. One of the first things I would visit would be Barrons´ Books and Baubles! Each book adds yet another, more interesting layer to the world Karen Marie Moning has created.

Throughout the books there are always enough mysteries to keep you guessing and just enough answers that you don´t get frustrated while reading. You never know exactly whom to trust, because nobody seems to tell Mac the whole truth. There are numerous twits and turns you won´t see coming, and the parts of how Mac deals with her sister´s death and other events of the book are extremely well written.

There´s one other thing I´d like to mention: you can see just how much effort Karen Marie Moning puts into creating her world if you visit her homepage. Not only has she created a soundtrack for her Fever world. Just a few days ago, Karen Marie Moning announced that a whole Tarot deck has been created by an artist inspired by the Fever world (which is also of some significance later in the books).

You see, there are so many reasons why you should read this book! Darkfever was published back in 2006 and the main story arc ended with Shadowfever, which was released in January 2011. There´s going to be a spinoff with another character from the series set in the same world and word has it that there will be at least two more book featuring MacKayla and Barrons as main characters.

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.
When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….
As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands….

Now, if you´re interested, you can read an excerpt here.

Or purchase it Amazon | Book Depository

Here are all the books in the series:

Want to participate in Daring You To Read? Here’s how:

- You choose a book you’ve read, loved and would dare your readers to read!

- The book you choose must be an older release (at least 6 months ago), because let’s be honest, we’re all quite aware of the latest releases.

- Write your own blog post, using the button and linking back to Tynga’s Reviews, inviting your readers to read your chosen book.

- Come back on Tynga’s Reviews and put your link in the linking tool.

- Browse other bloggers Dare and let them know if you’ve read their featured book, or plan on reading it.

- Super easy and an awesome way to discover that special book who might have slipped off your radar!

Don’t forget to add your own Daring You To Read… post in the linky below.

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Posted by Christine at 00:05

 Daring You to Read, Karen Marie Moning, Random House  8 People left their mark

Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning Giveaway!

Hello everyone!

I was contacted a while ago by the lovely Lisa from TLC Book Tours to be part of the huge promotion for the upcoming release of Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning (January 2011), and I indeed jumped right in! I hadn’t start this series yet but heard so many things that I wanted to read it to =) And I wasn’t disappointed! You can read my review of the first book in the series, Darkfever, here.

Here’s a bit more about the already released books!

Darkfever

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.
When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….
As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands….

Bloodfever

“I used to be your average, everyday girl but all that changed one night in Dublin when I saw my first Fae, and got dragged into a world of deadly immortals and ancient secrets. . . “
In her fight to stay alive, MacKayla must find the Sinsar Dubh—a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over the worlds of both the Fae and Man. Pursued by assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she can’t trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and powerful men: V’lane, the immortal Fae Prince, and Jericho Barrons, a man as irresistible as he is dangerous.
For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them.

Faefever

“He calls me his Queen of the Night. I’d die for him. I’d kill for him, too.”
When MacKayla Lane receives a page torn from her dead sister’s journal, she is stunned by Alina’s desperate words. And now MacKayla knows that her sister’s killer is close. But evil is closer. And suddenly the sidhe-seer is on the hunt: For answers. For revenge. And for an ancient book of dark magic so evil that it corrupts anyone who touches it.
Mac’s quest for the Sinsar Dubh takes her into the mean, shapeshifting streets of Dublin, with a suspicious cop on her tail. Forced into a dangerous triangle of alliance with V’lane, a lethal Fae prince, and Jericho Barrons, a man of deadly secrets, Mac is soon locked in a battle for her body, mind, and soul.

Dreamfever

MacKayla Lane lies naked on the cold stone floor of a church, at the mercy of the erotic Fae master she once swore to kill. Far from home, unable to control her sexual hungers, MacKayla is now fully under the Lord Master’s spell.…In New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning’s stunning novel, the walls between human and Fae worlds have come crashing down.
He has stolen her past, but MacKayla will never allow her sister’s murderer to take her future. Yet even the uniquely gifted sidhe-seer is no match for the Lord Master, who has unleashed an insatiable sexual craving that consumes Mac’s every thought—and thrusts her into the seductive realm of two very dangerous men, both of whom she desires but dares not trust.
With her parents missing and the lives of her loved ones under siege, Mac is about to come face-to-face with a soul-shattering truth—about herself and her sister, about Jericho Barrons…and about the world she thought she knew.

And now the last book in the series, releasing on January 18th, 2011, Shadowfever

MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.

Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister's murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals that have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief, while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh--a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King that contains the power to create and destroy worlds.

In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac, and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.

Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman that haunts her dreams? More importantly, who is Mac and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?

From the luxury of the Lord Master's penthouse, to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover, to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac's journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and make a choice that will either save the world...or destroy it.

Would like to get one copy of Shadowfever?

Easy, just FILL THE FORM

Giveaway is open to US/Canada Only.

Ends September 12th, 2010.

You will be responsible for claiming your prize within 72 hours.

**Please take note that your prize will to be sent you once the publisher have them in stock. Do not expect to have it before January 2011**

For more reviews of Darkfever, and more chances the win Shadowfever, you can stop by the following blogs!

Monday, August 16th:  All Things Urban Fantasy
Wednesday, August 18th:  Jenn’s Bookshelves
Monday, August 23rd:  Rundpinne
Thursday, August 26th:  Savvy Verse and Wit
Monday, August 30th:  Peeking Between the Pages
Wednesday, September 1st:  The Cajun Book Lady
Tuesday, September 7th:  Book Junkie
Thursday, September 9th:  Angieville
Friday, September 10th:  Luxury Reading
Monday, September 13th:  Dark Faerie Tales

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Posted by Tynga at 00:17

 giveaway, Karen Marie Moning  23 People left their mark

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.
When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….
As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands….

Mac used to be a pretty young woman who’s biggest concern in life was which accessories to wear to compliment her Barbie look, but her normal life will go havoc when her sister is murdered on the other side of the planet. Determined to solve her sister’s murder, Mac will end up knee deep into a world she didn’t even know existed.  Her quest will become that much more difficult when her own life becomes at stake. Faeries, Vampires and nameless creatures are out there to get her, will she end up like her sister?

I really enjoyed this book, I had heard many great things about the series, but hadn’t picked it up yet, and now I’m glad I got a chance to! One of the things I appreciated is the atmosphere, even though I know the story is set in the present (Ipods, shiny modern cars, silent alarm systems etc…) I really felt like I was in the 50s with a bunch of Mafia boys ruling town. Karen created a mysterious world just beyond human’s reach and the inhabitant of this realm aren’t exactly boy scouts.  It seems like every character Mac meets is more dangerous than the next, and even thought it’s clear they all play by some rules, our heroine has no idea what they are. She relies on the not-really-trustworthy Jericho Barrons to help her in her quest, and it might lead to her dismay.

The paranormal element is omnipresent in the story, but the mystery aspect took a lead role for me. The goal is to solve Alina’s murder (Mac’s sister) and find the Sinsar Dubh, because even if Mac doesn’t really know what it is, Alina said it was important. The whole mission just happened to be a minefield of paranormal creatures also trying to get their hands on the book. If I had one less positive comment to make, it’s that I was hoping for more romance. There are bits of sexual tension between Barrons and Mac, but nothing major, and I would have liked more. On a positive note, the end hinted that I might just get what I want in the second book, which I am looking forward to!

I would definitely recommend this series, the fifth book will be out in January 2011, so you should have time to catch if you start now!

Read an Excerpt

Fever Series:

Darkfever

Bloodfever

Feafever

Dreamfever

Shadowfever (Jan 2011)

Book Stats:

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Dell (August 28, 2007)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0440240980 

ISBN-13: 978-0440240983

Book Source: Review Copy sent by TLC Book Tours

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Posted by Tynga at 00:11

 Fey/Faeries, Karen Marie Moning, Review, Vampire  2 People left their mark

Giveaways Reminder

Hello guys!

I just wanted to remind you that my 3 giveaways are ending tonight at Midnight EST, click on the book covers to enter the specific giveaways!

Also, I wanted to invite you to drop by on Monday 23rd and Wednesday 25th because I’ll be hosting giveaways for… Hold your breath….

That’s right! Mockingjay and Shadowfever!

 

Have a great week end!

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Posted by Tynga at 00:44

 Cassandra Clare, giveaway, Karen Marie Moning, Leah Cypess, Suzanne Collins  7 People left their mark