Book Trailer: Firebird Trilogy - Claudia Gray

I thought it would be fun to highlight some of the books that I have been wanting to read for ages but just haven't found time to get to yet. I have no excuse for not starting Claudia Gray's Firebird trilogy yet, not only do I own the first two books but I've enjoyed other books she's written (Fateful and Defy the Stars)! Add in the fact that this trilogy has such an awesome concept (just watch the video below & you'll see what I mean!) and I should have read it years ago so I'm going to try and bump it up the list now!

Cloud Atlas meets Orphan Black in this epic dimension-bending trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray about a girl who must chase her father's killer through multiple dimensions.

Marguerite Caine's physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite's father is murdered, and the killer—her parent's handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows—including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul's guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father's death is far more sinister than she expected.

A Thousand Pieces of You explores an amazingly intricate multi-universe where fate is unavoidable, the truth elusive, and love the greatest mystery of all.



Has anyone read the series? If you have I'd love to know what you think of it! Leave me a link to your reviews of the first book and I'll check them out.

Review: Defy the Stars - Claudia Gray

A stunning blend of action-packed science fiction and love against the odds. Perfect for fans of the DIVERGENT series.

Noemi is a young and fearless soldier of Genesis, a colony planet of a dying Earth. But the citizens of Genesis are rising up - they know that Earth's settlers will only destroy this planet the way they destroyed their own. And so a terrible war has begun.

When Noemi meets Abel, one of Earth's robotic mech warriors, she realizes that Abel himself may provide the key to Genesis' salvation. Abel is bound by his programming to obey her - even though her plan could result in his destruction. But Abel is no ordinary mech. He's a unique prototype, one with greater intelligence, skill and strength than any other. More than that, he has begun to develop emotions, a personality and even dreams. Noemi begins to realise that if Abel is less than human, he is more than a machine. If she destroys him, is it murder? And can a cold-blooded murder be redeemed by the protection of a world?

Stranded together in space, they go on a whirlwind adventure through Earth's various colony worlds, alongside the countless Vagabonds who have given up planetary life altogether and sail forever between the stars. Each step brings them closer - both to each other and to the terrible decision Noemi will have to make about her world's fate, and Abel's.

Constellation Series:
Defy the Stars
Defy the Worlds (2018)

Visit Claudia Gray's website for more information

Review:
Noemi was born and raised on the planet Genesis, an Earth colony planet far across the galaxy. Genesis was supposed to be a new home that settlers from Earth could locate to now that their planet is practically inhabitable but the colonists have found their own paradise and they aren't willing to let citizens from Earth ruin everything they've worked so hard to create. If there is one thing humans are good at it's stripping a planet of all it's natural resources and destroying it from the ground up and Genesis are determined to stop that happening on their own planet. Genesis have been at war with Earth for years and they've suffered huge casualties, not helped by the fact that Earth have build mech warriors to do their fighting for them. The colonists stand no chance against an army of robots so their only option is to try and destroy the gateway that allows the enemy ships to reach them.

Noemi is on a practice run with the rest of her squadron when they are caught by a surprise influx of enemy ships. When her closest friend is badly injured Noemi is forced to take refuge on an abandoned Earth ship in search for medical supplies. It's not until she boards the ship that she discovers it wasn't quite empty after all. Abel is a mech who was accidentally left behind when his ship was damaged and he's spent 30 years trapped and waiting for rescue. The last thing he expected was for his rescuer to be one of the enemy but his programming insists he follow the orders of the highest ranking human on the ship and as Noemi is the only human on board that puts her squarely in charge. It doesn't take long for Noemi to realise that Abel might be the key to Genesis winning the war against Earth but the more time she spends with him the more she starts to realise that he isn't just an ordinary mech and perhaps there is a flaw in her plan after all.

I have to admit it took me a little while to get fully sucked into this story but by the time I got a few chapters in I was completely hooked. Noemi and Abel are both great characters in their own way, Noemi is fierce and willing to sacrifice anything to save her people while Abel is so much more than a simple robot. Abel is one of a kind, he was built to experience things the way humans do and he grows and learns just like any other person. As she gets to know him Noemi starts asking herself all sorts of questions about what it means to be human and whether a manmade artificial intelligence can actually have a soul. I loved watching these two grow as they got to know each other better, they started out as enemies but gradually learn to respect each other as they work side by side to achieve a common goal. There are hints of a romance which could have been weird but Abel was so human like in his mannerisms that it was easy to forget that he's actually a robot inside.

Defy the Stars is mostly an adventure story though, Noemi and Abel travel to several different planets as they work together trying to stop the war between Earth and Genesis and they meet lots of interesting characters along the way. The story was fast paced and there was always something new happening to keep me on my toes. I don't want to say much more but there are some great twists and this is the kind of story that will stick with you long after you've finished reading because it will really make you think about some of the issues raised. I absolutely love the main characters and its surprisingly easy to ship a romance between a human girl and a mech boy so I can't wait to see how their story continues in the next book!

Source: Received from Hot Key Books in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Fateful - Claudia Gray

All I have to do is make it through this one trip, I think, as I step off the gangplank and finally board the RMS Titanic.

Tess has bigger dreams than being a lady's maid and plans to start a new life as soon as the skip reaches America. But once they set sail Tess finds herself in grave danger. Not just from the ice-cold waters of the Atlantic, but from the two strangers with eyes like wolves who are tracking her every move . . .

One wants her dead, the other wants her heart. The ocean wants them all.

Visit Claudia Gray's website for more information

Review:
Tess has spent years working as a lady's maid to Irene, the daughter of Viscount Lisle and Lady Regina. As much as she likes Irene working for Lady Regina isn't easy and she has plans to leave their service and start a new life as soon as the family arrives in America. She just has to make it through their journey on the Titanic and collect her final wages before she can make her escape. But her voyage isn't going to be all smooth sailing - she has attracted the attention of a dangerous stranger, one who has motives she could never even begin to guess at.

Fateful is one of those books that I have mixed feelings about. I absolutely loved the historical side of the story, it was very easy to picture the scenes unfolding in front of you and I think anyone who has seen the movie Titanic will be able to visualise things perfectly. The story has a great selection of characters and it was interesting to see life at the time from so many different perspectives - you have the daughter of a rich family, her lady's maid and other servants, wealthy passengers both from aristocratic families and those who have earned their money through various trades, a ship's officer and even foreign passengers who are travelling to America to start a new life.

Tess was an interesting character and someone who was likeable and easy to route for. You find yourself wanting to see her succeed in making a new life for herself and escaping from the horrible Lady Regina. I loved the romance that develops between her and Alec, the way it isn't a case of instant love, the way they get to know each other and the way that they both go against traditional society rules in order to spend time together. Things haven't been easy for Alec but he has a lot of support from his father and Tess is willing to stand by her man and look out for him.

My problem was with the werewolf side to the story. I wasn't too sure how I would feel about the idea of adding supernatural characters to the Titanic and in the end I felt that part of the storyline just didn't quite work. It seemed too absurd when taken alongside the seriousness of the Titanic disaster. The ending didn't quite fit the feel of the rest of the story but it has left things open for what could be a very interesting new series. I understand that this is a stand alone book but if Claudia Gray did decide to revisit the characters and show how they are getting on in the aftermath of the disaster I'd definitely want to read more.

Overall I loved this as a historical romance but feel a bit less sure of the supernatural side and think it would have worked better if it had been written as two different books. I enjoyed the story enough to recommend it though - if you love the film Titanic and enjoy paranormal romances then I'm pretty sure you'll like Fateful.

Source: Received from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Publisher Spotlight: HarperCollins - Winter 2011 & Spring 2012 Releases

I thought it would be fun to start spotlighting new releases that different publishers have coming up over the next few months for us to look forward to.  I'm constantly looking for new books to add to my wish list and thought it would be a nice way of spreading the bookish love with other bloggers.  I'm not sure how regular the posts will be yet but I have quite a few lined up already and we'll see how things go over the next few months.  So in the spotlight today we have . . .

HarperCollins have some fantastic new YA releases in the coming months that I'm very excited about reading!  For more information check out the HarperCollins website.

First up we have Muse by Rebecca Lim, this is the 3rd book in the Mercy series.  I have all 3 books on my to read pile and I really must hurry up and get started on this series!  Muse was released on the 27th of October so you can go out and grab your copy now.  Visit Rebecca Lim's Facebook page for more information.

There's something very wrong with me.  When I wake up I could be anyone...

Mercy is thrust into the excessive world of fashion when she awakes in the body of a troubled Russian supermodel, Irina: bitchy, hot-tempered and known to be dabbling in things she shouldn't, Irina is on the verge of a very public breakdown.

Against the glamorous background of opulent Milan, Mercy continues her increasingly desperate search for Ryan to lead her back to her immortal lover, Luc.  But this time Mercy is aware that her memories and powers are growing ever stronger - and she begins to doubt Luc as The Eight reveal more of her mysterious past.  Are Luc's desires as selfless as her own or does he want her for a more terrifying purpose?

Next we have The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon, this is a debut I'm really excited about.  It's nearly at the top of my to read pile so keep an eye out for my review coming soon.  This book was also released on the 27th of October & I'd love to know what you thought of it if it's one you've already had a chance to read it.  Visit Leigh Fallon's website for more information.

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRís.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.





Coming into 2012 we can look forward to Supernaturally by Kiersten White which will be released on the 5th of January.  I really enjoyed the first book Paranormalcy when I read it earlier this year (read my review here) so I'm looking forward to the sequel.  Visit Kiersten White's website for more information.

A lot has changed since Evie escaped from the International Paranormal Containment Agency with her shapeshifter boyfriend, Lend.  She spends her days at school like a normal teenager, eagerly awaiting the weekends when Lend comes home from college and trying not to be killed by overly enthusiastic soccer players in her gym class.

Evie's world, in fact, has become overwhelmingly normal.  And Evie is shocked to realise that normal can be . . . kind of boring.  Then Raquel appears, asking her to help out at IPCA again.  As Evie dips back into her former life, she learns that things are changing in the world of paranormals . . .

Also released on the 5th of January is Stormswept by Helen Dunmore.  I haven't read anything by this author before but I was sold as soon as I saw the cover then after reading the description & finding the story was about a Mer boy I knew it this would have to go on my wish list!  As this is the 5th book in the Ingo series I guess I'm going to have to start at the beginning though so I've got a lot of catching up to do!  Visit Helen Dunmore's website for more information.

Morveren lives with her parents and twin sister Jenna on an island off the coast of Cornwall.

As Morveren and Jenna's relationship shifts and changes, like driftwood on the tide, Morveren finds a beautiful teenage boy in a rock pool after a storm.  Going to his rescue, she is shocked to see that he is not human but a Mer boy.

With Jenna refusing to face the truth, Morveren finds herself alone at the worst possible time.  Because when the worlds of Air and Mer meet, the consequences can be terrible . . .







Dancing Jax by Robin Jarvis is already available in hardback but as of the 2nd of February you'll be able to pick up the paperback version.  Just in time for the release of the second book in the series Freax and Rejex that comes out in hardback on the same day.  For more information you can visit Robin Jarvis' website.

At the end of a track, on the outskirts of an ordinary coastal town, lies a dilapidated house.  Once, a group of amateur ghost hunters spend the night there.  Two of them don't like to speak about the experience.  The third can't speak about it.  He went into the basement, you see, and afterwards he screamed so hard and so long he tore his vocal cords.

Now, a group of teenagers have decided to hang out in the old haunted house.  Dismissing the fears of the others, their leader Jezza goes down into the basement . . . and comes back up with a children's book, full of strange and colourful tales of a playing-card world, a fairytale world, full of Jacks, Queens and Kings, unicorns and wolves.

But the book is no fairytale.  Written by Austerly Fellows, a mysterious turn-of-the-century occultist, it might be the gateway to something terrifying . . . and awfully final.

********************

Five months have passed since the publication of the devilish book discovered in Dancing Jax.  It is on its ninth reprint and tens of millions of copies have been sold in the UK.  The entire country is now under its evil spell.

Yet a tiny percentage of the population have proven to be immune to the words of Austerly Fellows.  With the critical eyes of the rest of the world turned towards Britain, the Ismus decides to send the children for an intensive holiday camp, where they will study the sacred text and learn to embrace it.

But after the holiday is over, the children are told their stay has been extended.  A barbed wire fence is put up around the site.  And it soon becomes apparent that the place is not a camp and the children are not guests.  They are prisoners of war . . .

On the 12th of February you will be able to get your hands on a copy of The Flask by Nicky Singer.  This looks very different to the kind of book I usually read but it sounds like a very emotional story & I'm really curious about it.  You can find out more at Nicky Singer's website.

Twelve-year-old Jess is grieving for her beloved Aunt Edie, and anxiously awaiting the birth of her twin brothers, when she finds a mysterious glass flask hidden in a desk.  The flask is beautiful to Jess, and soon she starts to believe that it contains a magical life-force.  When her half-brothers are born critically ill, Jess becomes convinced that their survival depends on what's happening to the flask . . .

Through Jess's stunning narration, Nicky Singer explores the meaning of life, and the interconnected nature of all things - in a way which is entirely accessible to young readers.

An unforgettable standalone novel from Nicky Singer, author of the sensational, award-winning FEATHER BOY.

I absolutely loved Divergent by Veronica Roth when I read it earlier this year (read my review here) so if you haven't tried it yet then it's a book I would highly recommend.  I have to say I love the new cover for the paperback version that is being released on the 12th of February, the colours are so pretty that I may have to buy a new copy!  Visit Veronica Roth's website for more information.

For sixteen-year-old Tris, the world changes in a heartbeat when she is forced to make a terrible choice.  Turning her back on her family, Tris ventures out, alone, determined to find out where she truly belongs.

Shocked by the brutality of her new life, Tris can trust no one.  And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her.  The hardest choices may yet lie ahead . . . .

She turns to face the future in a world that's falling apart.








Watch out for Slide by Jill Hathaway on the 1st of March, this one sounds really creepy and I'm very curious about it!  Visit Jill Hathaway's website for more information.

Vee Bell hates having narcolepsy.  But collapsing at school is nowhere near as bad as the truth.  When Vee passes out she slides randomly into other people's heads and ends up seeing through their eyes.  So when Vee finds herself in the head of a killer, standing over the body of a cheerleader, she's beyond freaked.

Vee knows that this was no suicide.  And when another cheerleader turns up dead, everyone is a suspect.  Struggling to understand her terrifying and unwanted 'gift', Vee is tangled in a web of secrets, lies and danger . . .

She sees through the eyes of a killer . . .


Now this is one I'm really looking forward to - The 13th Horseman by Barry Hutchison.  Another March the 1st release this has been described as Pratchett meets Python and that just makes it a must read for me.  For more information visit Barry Hutchison's website.

Drake is surprised to find three horsemen of the apocalypse playing snakes and ladders in his garden shed.  He's even more surprised when they insist that he is one of them.  They're missing a Horseman, having gone through several Deaths and they think that Drake is the boy for the job.  At first he's reluctant to usher in Armageddon but does being in charge of Armageddon have to spell the end of the world?

An apocalyptic blend of riotous comedy, heart-stopping action and a richly imagined fantasy adventure.







The 1st of March is a busy day as you'll also be able to pick up a copy of Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress by Sarwat Chadda.  This is aimed at a younger audience than most of the books I read but it looks like a fun story and I like the fact that it is set in India so am looking forward to giving it a try.  You can visit Sarwat Chadda's website for more information.

Ash Mistry hates India.  Which is a problem since his uncle has brought him and his annoying younger sister Lucky there to take up a dream job with the mysterious Lord Savage.  But Ash immediately suspects something is very wrong with the eccentric millionaire.  Soon, Ash finds himself in a desperate battle to stop Savage's master plan - the opening of the Iron Gates that have kept Ravana, the demo king, at bay for four millennia . . .

Breathtaking action adventure for boys of 8-12.  Ash Mistry, reluctant hero, faces ancient demons . . . and comes into an astonishing, magical inheritance.




I love Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series (I read the first 3 books before I started blogging & really need to catch up with the series) and I love well written short stories so I'm really excited about Faery Tales and Nightmares which will be released on the 6th of March.  Visit Melissa Marr's website for more information.

Dangerous promises and beguiling threats swirl together in a dozen stories of enchantments, dark and light, by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr.  Uncanny and unexpected creatures appear from behind bushes, rise from under the seas, or manifest from seasonal storms to sinister intent - relentlessly.  From the gentle tones of a storyteller's cadences to the terror of a blood sacrifice, tales of favourite characters from Marr's Wicked Lovely novels mix with accounts of new characters for readers to fall in love with . . . or to fear.  Lush, seductive, and chilling, Melissa Marr's stories revel in the unseen magic that infuses the world as we know it.

An enthralling collection of short stories featuring favourite characters from Melissa Marr's bestselling WICKED LOVELY series.

On the 29th of March we have the release of my most anticipated book of 2012 - The Rising by Will Hill.  Department 19 is one of my favourite books of 2011 (you can read my review here) so I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!  It's already been a long wait for this so March can't get here fast enough for me.  Visit Will Hill's website for more information.

DEPARTMENT 6 IS THE ARMY.
DEPARTMENT 13 IS MI5.
DEPARTMENT 19 IS ALL THAT STANDS BETWEEN YOU AND THE END OF THE WORLD.

After the terrifying attack on Lindisfarne at the end of the first book, Jamie, Larissa and Kate are recovering at Department 19 headquarters, waiting for news of Dracula's stolen ashes.

They won't be waiting long.

Vampire forces are gathering.  Old enemies are getting too close.  And Dracula . . . is rising.







I already mentioned that book 3 in Rebecca Lim's Mercy series was published in October, the really good news is that we don't have to wait too long for the final book in the series.  Fury will be available on the 29th of March!  Now I love series but I hate the long wait between books so this is great news for me, I'm going to have to get started on these books soon so I'm caught up in time for the last installment.

Everything that has happened to Mercy over millennia has made her who she is.

Love.  Vengeance.  Truth.

Hell Hath no fury like Mercy . . .

Fury is the culmination of the spellbinding Mercy series.

An angel searching for answers, for her destiny . . .














Like a lot of people I'm fascinated by the story of the Titanic so Fateful by Claudia Gray really appeals to me.  This is another March the 29th release and it's definitely on my wish list.  You can visit Claudia Gray's website for more information.

The Titanic is the most luxurious ship ever built, but for eighteen-year-old Tess Davies it's a prison.  Travelling as a maid for the family she has served for years, Tess is trapped in their employ amid painful memories and family secrets.

When she meets Alec, a handsome passenger, Tess falls helplessly in love.  But Alex has secrets of his own . . . and soon Tess is entangled in a dangerous game.  A sinister brotherhood has followed him onboard.  And Tess is now their most powerful pawn.

Tess and Alec fight the dark forces threatening to tear them apart, never realising that they will have to face an even greater peril before the journey is over . . .

A tragic tale about falling in love on the world's most infamous ill-fated sea voyage as heroine, Tess, discovers darker secrets that lie beneath the doomed crossing . . .

So what do you think of the upcoming HarperCollins titles?  Do you already have some of these on your wish list?  Which books are you most excited about getting your hands on?

Free Online Read: Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions edited by Melissa Marr & Kelley Armstrong

A journey may take hundreds of miles, or it may cover the distance between duty and desire.

Sixteen of today’s hottest writers of paranormal tales weave stories on a common theme of journeying. Authors such as Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, and Melissa Marr return to the beloved worlds of their bestselling series, while others, like Claudia Gray, Kami Garcia, and Margaret Stohl, create new land-scapes and characters. But whether they’re writing about vampires, faeries, angels, or other magical beings, each author explores the strength and resilience of the human heart.

Suspenseful, funny, or romantic, the stories in Enthralled will leave you moved.

Description taken from Goodreads

How do you fancy reading some of the short stories from the Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions anthology online for free?  Thanks to Harper Teen you now can!  They have made 4 of the 16 short stories from the anthology available for a limited time on their website.

The stories included in the anthology are (stories highlighted in bold can be read free online - see link below):
Giovanni's Farewell - Claudia Gray
Scenic Route - Carrie Ryan
Red Run - Kami Garcia
Things About Love - Jackson Pearce
Niederwald - Rachel Vincent
Merely Mortal - Melissa Marr
Facing Facts - Kelley Armstrong
Let's Get This Undead Show on the Road - Sarah Rees Brennan
Bridge - Jeri Smith-Ready
Skin Contact - Kimberly Derting
Leaving - Ally Condie
At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show - Jessica Verday
IV League - Margaret Stohl
Gargouille - Mary E. Pearson
The Third Kind - Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Automatic - Rachel Caine

Browse Inside Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions by Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong at the Harper Teen website

Browse Inside this book Get this for your site

If you'd rather purchase the full book you can find it on Amazon UK using the links below:
Paperback / Kindle