Review: Conspiracy Girl - Sarah Alderson

Everybody knows about the Cooper Killings. There was only one survivor - sixteen year-old Nic Preston.

Now eighteen, Nic is trying hard to rebuild her life. But then one night her high-security apartment is broken into. It seems the killers are back to finish the job.

Finn Carter - hacker, rule breaker, player - is the last person Nic ever wants to see again. He's the reason her mother's murderers walked free. But as the people hunting her close in, Nic has to accept that her best chance of staying alive is by staying close to Finn.

And the closer they get to the truth, and to each other, the greater the danger becomes.

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Review:
Once again Sarah Alderson has hit the ball out of the park with her latest YA thriller and created a story that will have readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Sarah's, I absolutely love her writing style and she is so good at creating heroes that I want to fall in love with so I had high expectations for Conspiracy Girl and I wasn't disappointed.

Nic's life was turned upside down when her mother and step-sister were killed during a home break in, she was the only survivor but only escaped with her life because the burglars didn't immediately realise she was in the house. Since then Nic has lived in fear, she is extremely conscious of her safety and finds it hard to let people close thanks to the media backlash after the murders. All Nic wants is to live in peace but when she once again faces the terror of a break in Nic finds herself on the run and in desperate need of protection. Fate brings her to Finn, a genius ex FBI trainee turned hacker, who now holds her life in his hands. Finn's testimony helped clear the people charged with her mother's murder but he believed in their innocence and has been hunting the real killers ever since. He is the only person who stands a chance of figuring out what is going on but Nic isn't going to find it easy to put her trust in him.

Conspiracy Girl gets off to a high paced start and the action continues throughout as Nic and Finn work together trying to uncover why she is being targeted. Nic initially comes across as quite a nervous character, someone who has taken to hiding from life because of her fear, which I have to say was quite understandable considering everything she has been though, but once she is under pressure she really starts to come into her own. It takes her a while but when she starts to fight back she really impressed me. Finn was easy to love, he is a hacker who isn't averse to crossing into grey areas but the more you learn about him the more you start to see how much good he does. He puts a lot of effort into helping the people around him and the internet is a much safer place thanks to his actions. I loved getting to see his relationship with his grandmother and nieces, they were a really cute addition to the story and I thought they really showed an important side of his character.

The romance between Nic and Finn was really well done, they have brilliant chemistry but their relationship is a slow burner and they take time to get to know each other before anything happens between them. I enjoyed seeing Nic's opinion of Finn change as she learned more about him and I thought they made a great couple. I don't want to say too much about the conspiracy because it's much more fun if you go into the book blind but I thought it was really well written and it raises some interesting questions for readers. It touched on subjects I know very little about but makes you think about the way the world works and how much we take for granted every day. If you enjoyed Sarah Alderson's previous thriller, Out of Control, then I'm sure you'll love this one too and I'm definitely continuing to add all her future books to my "must read immediately" pile.

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster 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:

Cover Reveal & Exclusive Extract: Conspiracy Girl - Sarah Alderson

It's no secret that I'm a HUGE fan of Sarah Alderson, I absolutely adore her writing and she has created some of the hottest YA heroes out there. Any time I get my hands on one of her books it immediately goes to the top of my to read pile and Conspiracy Girl will be no exception to that. Unfortunately we have to wait until February 2015 to get our hands on a copy but I'm thrilled to be taking part in the cover reveal this morning and sharing this exclusive extract with you in the meantime.

First let's have a look at the cover and blurb:

Everybody knows about the Cooper Killings – the Bel Air home invasion that rocked the nation.
There was only one survivor - a sixteen year-old girl.
And though the killers were caught they walked free.

Now eighteen, Nic Preston - the girl who survived - is trying hard to rebuild her life. She’s security conscious to the point of paranoia and her only friend is a French Mastiff bulldog, but she’s making progress. She’s started college in New York and has even begun dating.

But then one night her apartment is broken into and the life Nic’s worked so hard to create is shattered in an instant.

Finn Carter - hacker, rule breaker, player – is the last person Nic ever wants to see again. He’s the reason her mother’s killers walked free from court. But as the people hunting her close in, Nic has to accept that her best and possibly only chance of staying alive is by keeping close to Finn and learning to trust the person she’s sworn to hate.

Fleeing across a snowbound New England, frantically trying to uncover the motive behind the murders, Nic and Finn come to realize the conspiracy is bigger than they could ever have suspected. But the closer they get to the truth and the closer they get to each other, the greater the danger becomes.

To survive she has to stay close to him.
To keep her safe he has to keep his distance.

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information and don't forget to add Conspiracy Girl to your shelves on Goodreads.

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

Extract from Conspiracy Girl by Sarah Alderson

(posted with the author's permission)

After a minute or two of terrifying, heart-stopping silence on the other side of the door, there’s a knock.

‘Hello . . .,’ one of the men calls softly from the other side.

I huddle further back against the wall.

‘Helloooo in there,’ he says again, his voice scraping against the wood. ‘Won’t you come out and play?’

Ninety seconds. Aiden said it would take ninety seconds for the security patrol to respond. Surely it’s been that already? Where are they? I start counting in my head, trying to block out the man’s wheedling pleas, but I only manage to count to twelve before another voice on the other side of the door makes me forget about counting.

‘Nic,’ my mum whispers, her voice hoarse.

I stare at the door, imagining my mum on the other side of it. She sounds so afraid. I imagine her on her knees, her hands pressed to the wood panel, her face just inches away from mine. Is she bleeding? Is she hurt? Are they holding a gun to her head?

‘We’ve got your mommy,’ the man’s voice sings. There’s a pause.‘Your choice,’ he’s gruff again now.

'Come out or we kill her. We already had a lot of fun with your stepsister.’

I launch onto my feet, the razor hanging limply in my hand. What does that mean? What have they done to Taylor? All the blood in my body has been replaced with lead.

‘No! Don’t come out!’ my mum suddenly screams.

I take a wobbly step towards the door. There’s silence on the other side.

‘Nic?’

I stop at the sound of the man saying my name.

‘Nic?’ The man says again, softly. ‘You’ve got until the count of three to come out or we kill her.’

I reach for the door handle.

‘One.’

I put my hand on the lock.

‘Two’

‘Nic don’t do it!’ my mum screams just as the sound of sirens tears through the night, wails bursting in through the broken window. Everything is going to be OK!

The sirens grow louder and louder.

They drown out ‘three’.

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

So what do you think? I LOVE the colouring of the cover and the way you can tell from the look on Nic's face that she's not happy that she needs Finn's help! That extract is a killer too isn't it? How are we going to survive the wait until February to find out what happens next? I'm DESPERATE to get my hands on this book, it's definitely one of my most anticipated reads of 2015!

Have you read any of Sarah's other books? Which one is your favourite?

Review: Out of Control - Sarah Alderson

She's not a witness - she's a target!

An onlooker to a brutal murder, Liva is taken into police protection. But the police station is attacked and bullets start flying - and it's Liva in the gunmen's sights.

With a car thief called Jay, Liva escapes the massacre. Alone in New York, they are desperate to outrun and outwit two killers who will stop at nothing to find them.

When you live on the edge, there's a long way to fall.

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Review:
When the people she is staying with are murdered Liva is taken into protective custody while the police try to figure out who was behind their deaths. Before she can even finish giving her statement the police station is attacked and Liva finds herself in the middle of a gun fight. She escapes with the help of a car thief called Jay but now the two of them have to stay one step ahead of the killers who will do whatever it takes to find her. Can Liva and Jay figure out who the killers are before they end up the last in a long line of victims?

It's no secret that Sarah Alderson is one of my favourite authors, I've devoured all of her books and loved every one of them so I couldn't wait to get started on Out of Control. I think this is her most action-packed book to date, the intensity is high from the very beginning and it doesn't let up until the end, I actually have to thank Sarah for yet another lost night of sleep because I just couldn't put it down!

Liva is a fantastic main character, she is smart and incredibly kick ass. She grew up with bodyguards and has had self defence training since she was a young girl so she knows how to stand up for herself. As a dancer she is physically fit but she is also mentally tough and her ex-military father taught her to use every weapon available to her - not just guns or knives but also her brain. Liva is thrown into a nightmare situation and she comes very close to losing it in the beginning but once her brain has time to catch up with what is going on she really starts to come into her own. She takes control of the situation and starts to make plans to ensure her own safety.

Jay was at the police station after getting arrested for car theft and now they're on the run he's technically a wanted criminal but there is a lot more to him than first meets the eye. I don't want to say too much about his character because it's better for you to discover his secrets for yourself but he was nothing like I imagined he would be and I loved how protective he was of Liva even when she was pretty much a stranger to him. He is the kind of guy who goes out of his way to help others even when that means putting himself at risk and you have to admire that about him.

Out of Control is a fast-paced thrill ride that kept me on the edge of my seat and it has some fantastic twists guaranteed to shock you. Sarah Alderson touches on some very difficult issues in a way that enhances the story without overwhelming it. There is a hint of romance but since the story happens over such a short period of time the characters don't fall madly in love by the end of the book which is something I found much more realistic. Liva and Jay have been thrown together and they have to learn to trust each other quickly, they share some fantastically intense kisses but the focus of the story isn't on them falling in love. Although this story works well as a stand alone I'd actually love to revisit these characters in the future. If you're looking for a pacey thriller with non-stop action, great characters and a fantastic setting then look no further - I can't recommend this one highly enough!

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster 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:

Out of Control Blog Tour: Sarah Alderson talks about human trafficking

I'm a massive fan of Sarah Alderson so I'm thrilled to be taking part in the blog tour to celebrate the release of her newest novel Out of Control. I was lucky enough to get an early copy of the book so I've already had the chance to read it (my review will be posted later today) and trust me it's just as fantastic as all of Sarah's other novels!

I have a fabulous guest post from Sarah to share with you today where she talks about what made her want to include the topic of human trafficking in her story. The main character isn't a victim of human trafficking herself but her father is part of a task force trying to put a stop to it and Liva gets caught up in the crossfire.

About the book:
She's not a witness - she's a target!

An onlooker to a brutal murder, Liva is taken into police protection. But the police station is attacked and bullets start flying - and it's Liva in the gunmen's sights.

With a car thief called Jay, Liva escapes the massacre. Alone in New York, they are desperate to outrun and outwit two killers who will stop at nothing to find them.

When you live on the edge, there's a long way to fall.

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

About the author:
Having spent most of her life in London, Sarah quit her job in the non profit sector in 2009 and took off on a round the world trip with her husband and tutu-wearing daughter on a mission to find a new place to call home. After almost a year spent wandering around India, Singapore, Australia and the US, they settled in Bali where Sarah now spends her days writing and trying to machete open coconuts without severing a limb.

She finished her first novel Hunting Lila just before they left the UK, wrote the sequel, Losing Lila, on the beach in India, and had signed a two book deal with Simon & Schuster by the time they reached Bali.

Since then she has published a further four novels and several short stories. The contemporary thriller The Sound, will be published in the US in May 2014, while Out of Control, a thriller with a focus on human trafficking, will also be released in May in the UK.

As well as Young Adult fiction, Sarah writes New Adult fiction for Pan Macmillan under the pen name Mila Gray. Her first novel Come Back To Me will be out in summer 2014.

Sarah has co-written the Hunting Lila screenplay and is working on several other books and screenplays (multi-tasking is one of her favorite things).

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

Sarah Alderson on why she chose to touch on the subject of human trafficking in Out of Control

About two years ago I was at a birthday party and someone who knew I was a writer came up to me and told me that I needed to write a book about slavery and human trafficking. She worked for the UN and was particularly passionate about this issue having seen first hand the impact that modern day slavery has.

I had read a few books – both non-fiction and fictionalized accounts – of victims of human trafficking and it was a topic I too felt very strongly about though to be honest I also had decided I couldn’t read another book on the topic as it was just too harrowing.

At first I nodded politely and told the woman I’d think about it but in reality I discounted the idea of writing a book on the topic because I didn’t think I had any authority. I wasn’t a victim. I hadn’t worked in the field. I’m known for writing fast-paced thrillers with heaps of romance so I didn’t feel it would be the right topic to tackle.

But then I thought on it some more and decided that actually I had the perfect platform to introduce the issue. I realized I could still write a romantic thriller with lots of action and great characters but that I could also include a powerful message for my readers, who might not ever normally pick up a book on the topic.

Out of Control is a novel about a 17 year old girl called Liva who goes on the run in New York with a car thief called Jay. Her father is the head of a government taskforce looking at tackling gang-related trafficking (this is actually a real taskforce). He also owns a private security firm so Liva has grown up around bodyguards and is pretty kick-ass in her own right.

The story isn’t about a victim of trafficking. I couldn’t do that story justice. But I hope that people read the book and think ‘wow, that was an awesome exhilarating unputtdownable read,’ and then say ‘wow, I want to do something to help tackle this.’

Over 30 million people are enslaved today. Think about that number. It’s almost unfathomable. Yet it’s the sad reality of the world in which we live. Living in Asia has given me a much greater insight into how much poverty there is in the world and how many people are at risk of exploitation.

Human trafficking is the second-largest criminal industry in the world. From prostitution to forced labour to sweat shop workers, slavery takes many forms. It’s very hard to fight, yet if every person were to add their voice to the campaigns to stop modern-day slavery, there is hope that together we could make a difference to many people’s lives and bring about an end to it.

For more information on the issue check out any of these great websites which are full of resources on how to run campaigns or fundraise:

http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
http://www.antislavery.org/english/
http://www.stopthetraffik.org/

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

Thanks for a fabulous post Sarah! It really is terrifying when you sit down and think about how many lives are effected by human trafficking. Thanks for including the sites for more information too, I'm definitely going to check them all out and see what I can do to help.

Make sure you check out the rest of the stops on the Out of Control blog tour, you can find the details in the banner below:

Book Trailer & Cover Comparison: The Sound - Sarah Alderson

I'm a huge fan of Sarah Alderson, I absolutely LOVE her Lila series (Hunting Lila & Losing Lila) but I also really enjoyed her stand alone novel The Sound when I read it last year. Obviously The Sound has been available in the UK for a while now but it is being published in the US next week (on the 13th of May) so I thought it would be fun to share the brand new book trailer with you and have a look at the UK and US covers.



For those of you who aren't familiar with the book here is the blurb:
He is out there, holding his breath as I hold mine. Ears pricked, eyes scouring the darkness. I can sense him there waiting, just a few feet away . . .

When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying fora wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.

What she doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets; falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy; and falling out with a dangerous serial killer . . .

You can Sarah Alderson's website for more information and if you can read my review of The Sound here.

Now let's have a look at the covers:

UK Cover

US Cover

I'm actually finding it really difficult to pick a favourite out of these two covers. I love the colouring of the UK cover - it's just so pretty to look at! - but I think I prefer the beach picture and the girl's dress in the US cover. I also like the US tag line "The truth always comes to the surface . . ."

Which cover do you prefer? What do you think of the trailer? Have you already read The Sound? If so I'd love to know what you thought of it so leave me a link to your review in the comments and I'll come and check it out.

Review: The Sound - Sarah Alderson

He is out there, holding his breath as I hold mine. Ears pricked, eyes scouring the darkness. I can sense him there waiting, just a few feet away . . . 

When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying fora wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.

What she doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets; falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy; and falling out with a dangerous serial killer . . .

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of Sarah Alderson's writing style and particularly loved her action packed (and totally swoon worthy!) Lila series so when I found out she was writing a stand alone thriller / romance set on Nantucket it went straight to the top of my wish list. Once again she has hit the ball out of the park and created a story that will have you hooked from the very first page and reading from the edge of your seat.

After a nasty split from her ex Ren is looking forward to getting away for the summer and a job nannying in Nantuket is the perfect way for her to get out of England. She has dreams of becoming a music journalist so she plans to spend her time off listening to music and working on her music blog, considering how her last relationship ended the last thing she wants is a summer fling. That may change when she catches the eye of not just one but two very sexy boys though. First there is Jeremy, the son of a wealthy family that are friends with the people she is working for, he invites her to hang out with him and his friends and gives her the opportunity to see more of the Island. Then there is Jesse, the local bad boy who everyone keeps warning her away from but won't tell her the reason why, he shares her passion for music and she can't help feeling drawn to him even though she knows she should keep her distance. As if juggling the attentions of two very different boys wasn't enough she also has to try and avoid catching the attention of a serial killer, one who seems to be targeting foreign nannies who are working on the island. What if she becomes the next target?

I've already mentioned how much I love Sarah Alderson's writing style and that was no different in The Sound. I thought Ren was a fabulous character and I loved seeing a British character in an American setting and how uncomfortable she was surrounded by the wealth of the families she came into contact with. She was obviously completely out of her comfort zone and didn't know quite what to make of the rich kids and their attitudes to the locals. I appreciated the fact that she didn't immediately fit in and her clumsiness was highly amusing to watch. She does make mistakes and I was irritated by the way she was drawn to both Jeremy and Jesse but to be honest I think most of us would be flattered by the attention of two hot boys and would find it hard to make a choice between them.

I took an instant dislike to the majority of Jeremy's friends, it was obvious that most of them looked down on Ren and weren't happy to have them as part of their group. I have to say I wasn't a fan of Jeremy either, he came across as far too smarmy and I always worried that he had some kind of ulterior motive. My favourite character would have to be Jesse, I wasn't so sure about him at first because he has quite an attitude problem when Ren first meets him but as you get to know him and learn the reason why he really grew on me. I didn't always agree with Jesse's actions but when you find out exactly what happened I could understand why he did what he did and I think in his situation I'd probably have had a very similar reaction. He is incredibly protective of his family and you can't fault him for that.

I'll admit that there were some things I figured out well before Ren did but there were still a few surprising twists that I hadn't expected. I loved watching her figure out exactly what was happening and the fact that she was brave enough to confront the person she thought was behind the attacks. There is a fine line between bravery and stupidity but it's one I don't think she crossed - particularly considering she took backup with her. The Sound is another great story from Sarah Alderson and one I'm sure fans of her Lila series will love. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster 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: Tormenting Lila - Sarah Alderson

When Lila and Alex sneak off for a romantic weekend away, Lila’s hoping she’ll finally have a chance to work on Alex’s resolve.

But just as things start heating up news reaches them of a serial killer at loose on the island and it isn’t long before their intimate weekend away is interrupted.

A mind reader, a projector, a protective older brother and a serial killer. One of them is going to find Lila first. She's hoping it's the serial killer.

Lila Series:
Catching Suki (Short Story)
Turning Amber (Short Story)
Hunting Lila
Losing Lila
Tormenting Lila (Novella)

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Review:
Tormenting Lila is set a couple of months after the end of Losing Lila and we see Lila and Alex trying to get away from everyone for a romantic weekend. Lila is determined to break Alex's resolve not to sleep with her until her 18th birthday and he is equally determined to resist rather than face the wrath of her brother (and his best friend) Jack. They may be at a stand off when it comes to when Lila will lose her virginity but they are enjoying spending time together as a couple and finally having some space from the rest of the gang. Unfortunately for Lila their peace and quiet doesn't last long and she soon discovers that they aren't the only ones visiting the island.

Alex and Lila have been one of my favourite YA couples ever since I first read Hunting Lila so I'm always excited when I hear there is going to be a new story featuring them. I just can't get enough of the two of them, I have such a huge crush on Alex and I think I'm almost as disappointed as Lila that he won't put her out of her misery LOL. Considering he is so determined not to go all the way he certainly isn't against having some incredibly hot make out sessions while they wait for her birthday though!

I love Sarah Alderson's writing and there is no doubt that I will jump to get my hands on anything she ever writes. What I really enjoyed about Tormenting Lila was the way it introduces us to some of the characters who will star in her upcoming novel The Sound. This new novel is completely separate to the Lila series so you don't have to be familiar with these books to read it but I loved the idea of the characters from both stories meeting in passing. I was already looking forward to reading The Sound but if anything I'm now even more eager to start it and get to know these new characters even better. I have a feeling bad boy budding rock star Jesse is going to be one to watch out for!

My only complaint about Tormenting Lila is that I wanted it to be longer but then that is a common complaint I have about Sarah's stories - I can never get enough of them! Fans of the series are going to love getting this glimpse into Alex and Lila's lives together and I'm hoping we get more of these novellas in the future (I have it on good authority that we're going to get a novella about Lila's 18th birthday and that is one I can't wait to read!!).

Source: Received from the author 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.

Kindle:

Quick Review: Turning Amber - Sarah Alderson

Meet Amber - Thrift Store employee, mood manipulator and human lie-detector - she's forsaken boys (because all of them have one-track minds) until the day she meets Ryder, who has an uncanny ability to make her forget all her previous notions about the male of the species.

But Ryder's mixed up in some seriously dangerous business and not even Amber's ability to deflect raging psychopaths and defuse any situation is going to keep them from being drawn into it.

This prequel short story, published exclusively for World Book Day will delight and thrill fans of Hunting Lila, reuniting them with some of their favourite characters.

Lila Series:
Catching Suki (Short Story)
Turning Amber (Short Story)
Hunting Lila
Losing Lila
Tormenting Lila (Novella)

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Review:
Turning Amber is a free short story that was written for the 2013 World Book Day and is available to read for free by downloading the World Book Day app. The story is set before events in Hunting Lila and it introduces us to the characters Amber and Ryder. Anyone who has already read the book will recognise these characters as part of Demos's group of psy but even though you'll probably enjoy this more if you are already familiar with the characters you could still read this story if you're new to the series.

I love the way Sarah Alderson has given the spotlight to some of the side characters from the series, first you had Suki in Catching Suki and now Amber and Ryder get the chance to shine. Did you ever wonder how Amber and Ryder met each other? How they met Demos and became part of his crew? Do you have questions about their psy abilities? Turning Amber will answer them all and is a great little read. Once again my only complaint was that I wanted more!

Source: Downloaded for free from the Simon & Scuhster website

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.

Quick Review: Catching Suki - Sarah Alderson

The Unit are closing in and Demos needs one of his team to go deep cover.

Enter Suki.

Fashion obsessed, boy-crazy and more than a little kooky, Suki is a mind reader with a special talent for buying shoes and for listening in on private conversations.

Tasked with infiltrating the enemy (namely Jack and Alex) Suki rises to the challenge, leaving a trail of chaos, destruction (and a large room service bill) in her wake.

A prequel to the events of Hunting Lila and including many of the characters from the book, this short story told through Suki’s eyes, will have you laughing out loud and gripping the edge of your seat.

Lila Series:
Catching Suki (Short Story)
Turning Amber (Short Story)
Hunting Lila
Losing Lila
Tormenting Lila (Novella)

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Review:
This is a nice little freebie short story that can be read online for free at the Simon & Schuster website here: http://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/admin_assets/2060_catching_suki_secure.pdf

Catching Suki is set before Hunting Lila but is only around 20 pages long so doesn't give much of an introduction to the series, it also contains mild spoilers for the book so I'd recommend reading Hunting Lila first. It's always nice to get to know side characters a bit better and this gives us an insight into events that occurred before and early on in the time line of the novel from Suki's perspective which was really interesting. This is one of my favourite series and I love Sarah Alderson's writing so if you haven't checked it out yet then I'd definitely recommend giving Hunting Lila a try.

Source: Downloaded for free from the Simon & Scuhster website

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.

Tormenting Lila Blog Tour: Character interview with Alex and an International Giveaway from Sarah Alderson!

I was thrilled when Sarah Alderson invited me to take part in the blog tour to celebrate the release of the latest novella in her Lila series. I was even more excited when she offered me the opportunity to interview Alex who is one of my FAVOURITE YA book boyfriends! I have had a major crush on Alex ever since I first "met" him in Hunting Lila so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get to know him better!

Before I get to the interview let me give you a bit more information about Tormenting Lila. This is a fabulous novella that is set a couple of months after the ending of Losing Lila and of course features our favourite couple Alex and Lila. We also get to see some other familiar faces and meet some exciting new characters which I really enjoyed. I'll be posting my review of the story tomorrow but in the meantime you can check out the blurb below:

When Lila and Alex sneak off for a romantic weekend away, Lila’s hoping she’ll finally have a chance to work on Alex’s resolve.

But just as things start heating up news reaches them of a serial killer at loose on the island and it isn’t long before their intimate weekend away is interrupted.

A mind reader, a projector, a protective older brother and a serial killer. One of them is going to find Lila first. She's hoping it's the serial killer.

Lila Series:
Catching Suki (Short Story)
Turning Amber (Short Story)
Hunting Lila
Losing Lila
Tormenting Lila (Novella)

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

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

Hi Alex, I'm thrilled to welcome you to my blog today. I'm a big fan of both you and Lila and I know I'm not the only one, in fact I'm sure there are a lot of people who will be eager to get to know you a better!

Can you tell us a bit about your family?
My dad is Swedish and my mother is American. My father worked at the Swedish Embassy in Washington as a diplomat and my mom worked in PR. They moved to Stockholm after I finished High School and went off to college.

How did you first meet Jack and Lila?
I met Jack on our first day of first grade. I met Lila a few weeks later I think when I came around to play baseball in Jack's yard.

What is your earliest and / or favourite memory of Lila?
Earliest memory? I do have a very funny memory of her trying to copy Jack and I when we were hanging upside down from a tree in their yard. She wanted to show us anything we could do she could do too. Except she forgot to put on any underwear.

Favourite memory of Lila - now that would be telling. First night we spent together at that hotel in Tulum was pretty special. I liked watching her lighting up Sterling Enterprises too. She kicked ass.

At what point did you realise that Lila was the one for you?
Probably on my birthday. That night at Belushi's when she walked in wearing this blue dress. She - yeah - when I looked up and saw her and she started walking towards me it took every ounce of willpower not to walk towards her and kiss her right there in front of everyone. But I still wasn't 100% sure how she felt. Then that same night I found out she was a psy and for a while I didn't know what to think.

Were you worried about how Jack would react to you and Lila becoming a couple? Did you think it would cost you your friendship and was that a price you were willing to pay?
Absolutely. I mean, Jack's always made it clear to boys that Lila's a no-go zone, even when she was eight. So I knew I was in trouble when she came back and I realised I was falling for her. I thought it might cost me our friendship but I also knew that I wasn't going to let it. Jack blows his fuse but I knew he'd come around eventually. He's just protective of her, but so am I.

How did you feel when you found out about Lila's abilities and now you know about them do they scare you?
She'd kill me if I said they scared me. They did. When she wasn't so in control of them. And don't forget I've been on the receiving end a few times. Now she's much more confident.

What is the most romantic thing you have ever done for Lila and that she has ever done for you?
Dressed up as nurse. Her that is. Just messing. Um, probably whisking her off for a romantic weekend in Nantucket. Though that got interrupted. Other than that we had some pretty memorable times sailing in the Mexican gulf. There are a lot of hidden away beaches. We managed to sneak in some night time skinny dipping.

The most romantic thing she's ever done for me? That would be telling. The valentine's card when she was about seven was pretty cute.

What plans do you and Lila have for the future?
We're just trying to figure out where we're going to be based. San Francisco or Boston. A lot depends on where her parents decide to move to. I'm applying to college and Lila's got a year left of High School.

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions, I hope you and Lila continue to be happy together and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you'll be sharing more of your story with us in the future!

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

Well I hope you enjoyed getting to Alex better. Make sure you follow the blog tour for some more fabulous character interviews. You can find all the posts at the following blogs:

1st July: Feeling Fictional - Interview with Alex
2nd July: Novels on the Run - Interview with Lila
3rd July: Book Passion for Life - Interview with Jack
4th July: The Reader Den - Interview with Suki and Nate

Giveaway Details:

Sarah Alderson is also hosting a fabulous tour wide giveaway that fans of the series are NOT going to want to miss out on! Not only can you win a signed copy of The Sound and a sneak peak of the new X-rated novella about Alex and Lila that isn't due to be published until 2014 but you can also win the chance to be Alex's girlfriend!!! Unfortunately you won't be replacing Lila but Sarah is planning on writing a prequel story set when Alex and Jack were at college and the winner will get to have Alex's girlfriend at the time named after them.

To enter the giveaway you need to go to Sarah's Facebook page HERE and fill in the rafflecopter form.

Review: Shadowed - Sarah Alderson

Fate has won. The realms have been severed...but the fight’s still far from over.

It’s been three months since the devastating battle that closed the way through between this world and the demon realms but Evie’s still reeling from all she's lost.

When news reaches her that a group of Originals is on the prowl in LA and growing in numbers, Evie must decide whether to join the rogue Hunters in a final battle or fight her fate one last time.

The way through might be closed. But that doesn’t mean Evie’s got closure.

Fated Series:
Fated
Severed
Shadowed

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Review:
After the killer ending to Severed I have been waiting months to get my hands on the final instalment to Sarah Alderson's Fated series. I couldn't wait to read Shadowed and find out for sure what really happened to all of my favourite characters, I honestly didn't have a clue what to expect from this book and I was kind of scared to read it in case I didn't like the way things turned out. It's actually going to be really difficult to write this review because I can't say too much about what happened in it without giving major spoilers for anyone who hasn't read the book. I think I'm going to have to keep things quite general because I want you to go into it completely blind just like I did.

One thing I can say about Shadowed is that it kept me on the edge of my seat, I went from shocked to elated, back to shocked, slipped into horrified followed by a taste of relieved before being shocked all over again. Really Sarah Alderson turned my world upside down more times than I can count and she left me reeling with the way things unfolded. No matter what you think is going to happen she will find a way to keep you guessing and that is one of the things I've enjoyed about this whole series.

The Evie we see in this instalment is very different to the Evie we've come to know and love in the previous books, she has been through a lot and her grief has changed her. She is now focused on revenge, she believes that if she can just make Victor pay then it will make her feel better. She is first and foremost a hunter though and when a group of Originals go on a killing spree she knows that she has to join the battle to stop them. It is going to take every resource the rebel hunters have to stop the Originals and that includes their Unhuman allies and even Victor. As much as she hates the idea of working alongside the man who destroyed her family she is grown up enough to put her revenge to one side for the sake of humanity no matter how painful she finds it to do so.

I refuse to mention any other characters in this review - you're just going to have to read the book for yourself to find out who makes an appearance. Shadowed is a satisfying ending to the Fated series, it answers enough of my questions to not leave me hanging but does leave things open enough that further books could be added in the future and I for one hope that we will see more of Evie and her friends somewhere down the line. If you have enjoyed the previous books then you really won't want to miss the conclusion to Evie's journey!

Source: Received from the author 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.

Kindle:

Shadowed Blog Tour: Sarah Alderson's Top Ten YA Reads

I'm very excited to welcome Sarah Alderson to the blog today to celebrate the release of her latest novel Shadowed. Sarah is going to be sharing her top 10 YA reads with us but before she does let me give you a bit more information about Shadowed.

Fate has won. The realms have been severed...but the fight’s still far from over.

It’s been three months since the devastating battle that closed the way through between this world and the demon realms but Evie’s still reeling from all she's lost.

When news reaches her that a group of Originals is on the prowl in LA and growing in numbers, Evie must decide whether to join the rogue Hunters in a final battle or fight her fate one last time.

The way through might be closed. But that doesn’t mean Evie’s got closure.

Fated Series:
Fated
Severed
Shadowed

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

I absolutely love the Fated series and if you enjoyed the first 2 books you're going to love this one too. Now please give a very warm welcome to Sarah Alderson and have a look to see if she's chosen your favourite YA books in her top ten list!

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

Sarah Alderson

My Top Ten YA reads 

by Sarah Alderson

Oh man, this is impossible. Even more so given my books are all in boxes in my dad’s attic so I can’t peruse my shelves pulling out my fave pics. So here goes…

1. Room with a View – E. M. Forster
I read this book when I was 14 and fell in love with the characters, the forbidden romance, the stolen kiss in a sunflower field near Florence. It’s the story of a young girl from a repressed well to do family falling for the artistic, free-thinking working class boy with a tortured soul. Think literary young adult. This book made me study Italian and move to Florence. I didn’t find my George there though alas.

2. If this is a man – Primo Levi
As part of my Italian studies degree, I read a lot of Primo Levi. He’s one of Italy’s most famous writers. It tells of his time in Auschwitz concentration camp and is all about man’s humanity in the face of supreme inhumanity.

3. Wonder – R. J. Palacio
Another book that focuses on humanity and takes a look at how important kindness is. It was one of my favourite reads of last year. It’s middle grade but I think it’s so marvelous everyone should read it.

4. Harry Potter – J.K. Rowling
I’m just about to start reading this series to my daughter and I’ve waited 6 long years to do so. These books will clearly be making the list of best ever books for the next ten centuries. Unless of course you’re a creationist.

5. The Fault in Our Stars – John Green
I cried my way through this book from start to finish and some days I find myself thinking all about Augustus. Great books should make you think and make you feel and this book certainly did that. And it made me treasure every single day that me and those I love are healthy.

6. Lord of the Rings – J. R. R Tolkein
My dad bought me this when I was 12 and I just couldn’t get into it. I read it about 12 years later and fell in love with the world Tolkein created. It really is one of the books I’d take on a desert island (it’s so heavy it could double as a weapon).

7. Daughter of Smoke & Bone series – Laini Taylor
These books simply blew my mind. It’s not just the spectacular world-building or the incredibly real characters or the highly developed plot, it’s the sheer beauty of the writing that gets me with these books.

8. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
I know it’s an oldie but it’s a classic for a reason. It’s timeless and have there ever been two more brave children than Jem and Scout?

9. The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
I’m only going to choose books 1 & 2 though as I wasn’t such a fan of the third. They are truly gripping and very much my kind of book in that they’re very visual and they tackle great themes. I love dystopia!

10. Grave Mercy – Robin LeFevre
I’ve been raving about this book ever since some bloggers in Singapore recommended it to me. It was incredible. Not my usual cup of tea at all but so well written it drew me in.

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

Thanks so much for dropping by Sarah! You've made some fabulous choices, I really enjoyed Wonder, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Hunger Games and Grave Mercy but I haven't read the others so I'll have to add them to my to read pile!

I was trying to think about books that I'd include in my list and I think that I'd add Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma, Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys & Maria V Snyder's Touch of Power series. It really is hard to pick my top ten though!

What do you all think of the books Sarah added to her list? Are they the same choices you would make? Which other books would you include?

Review: Severed - Sarah Alderson

Fate brought them together.
Now it’s threatening to tear them apart.

As the last in a long line of demon slayers, Evie’s destiny is to end the war that has raged for centuries between humans and demons.

Lucas, the half-Shadow Warrior half-human who was sent to kill her, has betrayed his own Brotherhood and his family to fight alongside her.

With an army of unhumans on their tail, Evie and Lucas are forced into an uneasy alliance with a group of rogue Hunters who offer protection and the promise of answers.

As the past is untangled and the dark history of the Hunters revealed, Evie discovers that severing the realms is going to require a lot more than just fighting. It’s going to require a sacrifice – one that only she can make.

…More than realms will be severed.

Fated Series:
Fated
Severed
Shadowed

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Review:
So it's no secret that I'm a massive fan of everything that Sarah Alderson writes and I loved Fated when I first read it last year. At the time I had high hopes for it to turn into a series so I couldn't have been more excited when I found out that Sarah had written two more books about Evie and Lucas. Anyone who enjoyed Fated will be pleased to know that Severed is even better - there is more action, more intrigue, more danger and of course more romance. We also get to meet some interesting new characters at the same time as we're catching up with some of the ones we've already met.

Severed picks up the story just after the ending of the previous book, Lucas and Evie went against everything they were taught in order to be together and are now on the run. It wasn't so hard for Evie to choose Lucas as she has only recently learnt that she is a hunter and she has very good reasons not to trust the people who were keeping secrets from her for her entire life. It has been much harder for Lucas to leave behind the other unhumans that he grew up with though, people who he considers his friends are now treating him like the enemy but he can't walk away from Evie and the feelings he has for her. The two of them aren't strong enough to fight a whole army on their own though and end up turning to a group of rogue hunters for help. There is understandable tension between Lucas and the hunters but they'll have to learn to trust each other if they are going to stop everything that is coming for them.

Evie has been through a lot since she the night she was attacked by unhumans and discovered her hunter heritage, she has been betrayed by the people she should have been able to trust most, she has found with love with someone who is supposed to be her enemy and now she is dropped back into the middle of the action as both sides seem to want something that only she can give them. One of the things I liked most about her in the first book was the way she didn't take what anyone told her at face value, she always went out of her way to verify things for herself and make sure her information was correct. I'm pleased to say that this is something that continues into this book and she has only grown stronger and more determined as she learns more about the supernatural world. Her relationship with Lucas did start very quickly but they spend more time getting to know each other in this instalment and they work really well as a team, ultimately they both respect each other though which is something I think is really important. I do love the romance between them and they make such a cute couple!

I already loved Lucas but I now have an even bigger crush on him than before. He is so caring towards Evie and he constantly puts her needs and safety before his own. It took a lot of guts for him to go against his upbringing and realise that Evie wasn't a normal hunter and he earned my respect for that. Now that we've got to know him a bit better he doesn't have quite such a bad boy feel to him and I think that's mainly because he's no longer keeping secrets from Evie about who and what he is. That doesn't make him any less sexy though and these two have great chemistry. Lucas has a bit of competition when they meet up with the rogue Hunters though, new boy Cyrus seems quite determined to take his place in Evie's affections. Cyrus can be very arrogant and was at times a little overbearing but I loved the way he constantly teased Evie and added a lighter note to the story. As much as he comes across as a bit of a playboy I think deep down he is actually quite a sweet guy and although he didn't overtake Lucas in my affections I did develop a bit of a crush on him too. You're just going to have to read the book to see who Evie likes best though!

Severed is a fantastic follow up to Fated and was full of edge of your seat action. The plot is fast paced and fraught with danger and OMG that ending was a shocker for more than one reason! I literally could not believe what happened and I still can't believe that Sarah Alderson could leave us with that cliffhanger! The only reason I'm going to forgive her is that the third and final book Shadowed is due to be released early in 2013, if I had to wait a whole year to find out what was going to happen next I would have cried. I literally can't wait to get my hands on Shadowed, as soon as I get hold of a copy it will be jumping right to the top of my to read pile because I just have to know how Evie's story is going to end. If you haven't started this series yet then I'd highly recommend reading the books in order but they're a must for any YA urban fantasy fan who likes action packed stories with dangerous demons and more than a little romance.

Source: Received from the author 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.

Kindle:

Review: Losing Lila - Sarah Alderson

Alex and Lila are on the run, desperately trying to stay one step ahead of the Unit. Alex is determined to keep Lila safe at any cost, but Lila's only thought is of finding a way back to California so she can rescue her family from the military base where they're being held.

Lila plans not only to save her brother and mum, but also to completely destroy the Unit and everything it stands for. But that means Lila returning to California alone, and making friends with the enemy - putting herself at risk of losing everything: Alex, her family . . . even her life.

Lila Series:
Catching Suki (Short Story)
Turning Amber (Short Story)
Hunting Lila
Losing Lila
Tormenting Lila (Novella)

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Review:
It's no secret that I was a massive fan of Hunting Lila (that's a quote from my review on the front cover of Losing Lila after all!) so I had high expectations when I picked up this book. I wasn't worried though and Sarah Alderson not only met them she surpassed them - everything I loved about the first book is multiplied in the sequel. Losing Lila is an action packed read full of adventure, a heroine with kick ass psychic abilities and a sexy hero who puts the steam into steamy. Oh boy is the romance to die for!

After the shock ending of Hunting Lila I couldn't wait to see how things played out in this book. Lila and Alex are on the run from Alex's old unit, their former enemies are now their only allies and they're having trouble staying one step ahead of the military. Lila is terrified for Jack and has no idea what happened to him after his capture, she also knows that her mother is being held prisoner and she is determined to find a way of rescuing them both. But it isn't going to be easy to break into a military base and even if they get inside there is no guarantee that they will make it back out again. Even with the psychic abilities of Demos and his crew there is no way of knowing if Jack and her mother are still alive - unless Lila is prepared to risk discovery by going undercover.

Lila has really come into her own in this book, she proves just how much she is prepared to risk for her family and is brave enough to put her own life in jeopardy to rescue them. She has come a long way towards accepting her abilities and is working hard at learning how to use them to their full potential. Lila is willing to fight for what she wants - her family reunited and a life for herself with Alex. She has come to rely on her new friends which is good because she is going to need their help.

Alex is as gorgeous as ever and their connection just sizzles off the pages - it is completely obvious that they are meant to be together. I just can't get enough of Alex and Lila - they really are a swoon worthy couple! I love the fact that although Alex is super protective of Lila and will do anything to keep her safe he also accepts that she has the right to be involved in the attempt to rescue her family. In fact, she is better equipped to deal with certain situations than he is. It goes against all of his instincts to let her face danger without him by her side but he trusts her to do what needs to be done.

Anyone who enjoyed Hunting Lila will LOVE Losing Lila. The story has a satisfying ending and could be left without a further sequel but I'm really hoping that we haven't seen the last of these characters. There are so many directions that the author could take the series in and if I find out she is writing more I will be first in the queue to buy the next instalment. Whatever she comes up with next Sarah Alderson is on my "must buy immediately" list of authors and while I wait for her next release I'll be singing praises for this series from the rooftops.

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster 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:

Cover Reveal: Losing Lila - Sarah Alderson

Yesterday I noticed that Sarah Alderson had posted the cover for Losing Lila on her blog (read her post here). I absolutely loved Hunting Lila when I read it last year (read my review here) so it feels like I've been waiting forever for the sequel - August the 2nd can't come soon enough! Anyway here is the cover:

What do you think of it? I think the strap line "It's time to stop running and start fighting" is awesome. I also love how the cover has so much movement to it, you can practically see Lila running across the page.

Now in case you didn't spot it I just want to show you a quick close up:

Yes, that's my quote on the front cover!!! I've never had a cover quote before so let's just say there was a lot of happy squealing in my house when I spotted it! Since Hunting Lila was one of my favourite books last year it was a pretty appropriate review to have quoted.

Now I'll just have to wait impatiently to get my hands on a nice shiny copy!

Review: Fated - Sarah Alderson

If you can't choose who you love, how do you know who to trust?

Lucas Gray is half Shadow Warrior, half human, and a member of the Brotherhood - a group of assassins tasked with killing the last purebred Hunter on Earth before she can fulfil a dangerous prophecy.  That Hunter's name is Evie Tremain.

Evie is seventeen-years-old, a waitress, and has just discovered she is the last in a long line of demon slayers - and an unwilling participant in a war between Hunters and Unhumans that has raged for the last thousand years.

When your fate is already determined, can you fight it?

Fated Series:
Fated
Severed
Shadowed

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Review:
Evie is just a normal waitress, desperately saving money so she can leave her small town behind and move to New York. That is until she comes under attack from a group of demons (or Unhumans as they prefer to be known). Now she is thrown into the supernatural world, discovering she is the last born Hunter (or demon slayer) and it is her job to protect humanity. Lucas is half human and half Shadow Warrior and he works as an assassin for the Brotherhood (the Unhuman assassins who are set on destroying the Hunters). His latest job is to kill Evie but can he actually go through with it?

Sarah Alderson's debut Hunting Lila was one of my favourite books of the 2011 so although I'm desperate to get my hands on the sequel Losing Lila I was just as excited to read her stand alone novel Fated. I'm going to say it right now - I wasn't disappointed! In fact I think I liked Fated even more which really is saying something! As with Hunting Lila the action in Fated starts on the first page and is pretty much non-stop until the end making it a gripping read.

I loved the world building, Sarah has created a great selection of different types of Unhumans (or demons) that I enjoyed learning about. I'm also curious to learn more about the Hunters and their history. What I liked most is that you get to see things from both Evie and Lucas' points of view so you get to know the characters on each side of the war. It soon becomes clear that neither side is purely good or evil, there is definitely a mixture of good and bad on both human and unhuman sides so it's hard to know which team you should be routing for. You get the feeling that the two sides have spent so many years at war that neither of them really knows why they started fighting in the first place.

Evie is a great main character, she is thrust into the whole supernatural world with a sharp shock when she is attacked and although she takes time to adjust to this new world she doesn't just sit around complaining. She also doesn't just blindly trust what other people tell her, she is determined to do some investigating of her own and make sure she finds out the real truth. If you loved Alex from Hunting Lila you'll love Lucas just as much but in a different way. Lucas is just as protective as Alex was but has more of a bad boy vibe going for him (don't you just love a bad boy?!), the only thing that was missing was a motorbike lol. I loved the way things build up slowly between Evie and Lucas, there is instant lust but not instant love so their connection is much more believable. The tension between the two of them is very well written and although you're made to wait a long time for the kissing scene it is well worth the wait! Yes, I do have a new book crush in Lucas!

Although the story doesn't end on a major cliffhanger there is definitely room for this to be the first installment of a series. When I asked the author she confirmed that she has actually already written a further two stories about these characters but they haven't been contracted yet. I for one am praying that they get picked up by a publisher because I desperately want to know what happens next with Lucas and Evie! My only complaint with Fated is that I wanted more, Sarah Alderson could have doubled the page count and I'd have been happy. If you're looking for a fast paced, action packed paranormal story with a fantastic romance then you need this book. Now I can't wait to get my hands on the author's next book, Losing Lila, it's definitely at the top of my wish list.

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster 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.

Extract: Fated - Sarah Alderson

Today is the release day for Fated by Sarah Alderson and to celebrate Simon & Schuster are letting me share this extract with you.  I read Fated in December (my review will be posted later today) and absolutely loved it so if you haven't already got your copy I suggest you go out and grab one as soon as possible.  Just in case you need a bit more persuading here is the cover, blurb & an extract:

If you can't choose who you love, how do you know who to trust?

Lucas Gray is half Shadow Warrior, half human, and a member of the Brotherhood - a group of assassins tasked with killing the last purebred Hunter on Earth before she can fulfil a dangerous prophecy.  That Hunter's name is Evie Tremain.

Evie is seventeen-years-old, a waitress, and has just discovered she is the last in a long line of demon slayers - and an unwilling participant in a war between Hunters and Unhumans that has raged for the last thousand years.

When your fate is already determined, can you fight it?

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Extract from Chapter 2 of Fated by Sarah Alderson:

The back lot was empty except for the giant metal dumpster just to her right and her dusty old Ford parked a few metres to her left. There was a single light blazing above her head, illuminating the door and the concrete step she was standing on. She headed straight towards the dumpster with the bags in one hand and a tin of coffee grounds in the other – and that’s when she saw him, on the periphery of the shadow line, his coat splayed out behind him.

The hairs on the back of her neck bristled. She drew in a breath and did a quick calculation of the distance between her, the boy and the door.

But before she could figure out where to run to, the boy in the sunglasses stepped forward into the zone of light. She saw that he was a little bit older than her, maybe twenty or twenty-one. He was wearing black jeans and leather biker boots, and a black wrinkled T-shirt with some kind of slogan on it. A part of her brain registered that he looked ridiculous, like an extra from The Matrix, but the other part warned her not to tell him so.

At least not yet.

He stopped just in front of her.

‘Evie Tremain?’ he asked.

She froze, her mouth falling open. How did he know her name? Who the hell was this guy? As she studied him, she suddenly heard a voice in her head start screaming at her to run. She could hear her own heartbeat – it sounded like a horse smashing its hooves against a stable door. Her eyes darted instantly over the lot, looking for her exits.

‘Evie Tremain?’ the boy asked again, impatient now.

‘Who wants to know?’ Evie asked, buying time. The back door was about ten metres behind her or she could try to get around him and head down the side alley and out onto Main Street. She took a small step backwards. The diner was closer.

The Brotherhood,’ the boy replied tonelessly, closing the distance between them in a single stride.

Evie couldn’t rein in the laughter that erupted out of her. ‘The Brotherhood? Seriously? What is that? The name of your deathmetal band?’

The boy – whose face had been expressionless until then – suddenly frowned in confusion, as though he didn’t know how to answer her. The sound of crunching gravel broke the silence. Evie’s eyes flew to the far end of the lot, which was sunk in darkness. Was someone else there? The boy followed her gaze, looking over his shoulder.

Adrenaline pumped through Evie’s body in one giant surge. She dropped the trash bags and took a step back, twisting her body as she moved. She brought her arm up like her dad had taught her, fingers curled into a fist, and in the second that the boy turned back to face her, she smashed it into the side of his head.

The boy’s head spun with the force of the punch, his sunglasses flying across the lot.

‘Hit first, ask questions later,’ she murmured to herself. Her dad had always said it was better to be safe than sorry.

She turned to run back towards the door but the boy lunged for her, shrieking. She raised her arm instinctively, ready to smash it into his face again, but then stumbled backwards letting out a cry. The boy’s eyes were inches from her own, his pupils fixed and dilated. And the thing that had stopped her, and made her stomach scrape the floor, was the colour of them. They were bright, carnation-red and totally unseeing. The boy flailed his head from left to right, as though someone had thrown acid in his face, his outstretched hand groping blindly in her direction.

He’s blind, Evie realised, her thoughts assuming some sense. He can’t see me.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a dark shape wavering behind the boy. It seemed to extend and stretch out, like a timelapse sequence of a shadow lengthening. And then it coiled like a whip and lashed towards her.

Evie dived. She threw herself hard to the left, out of the boy’s grip and out of the way of whatever was coming towards her. She heard a crack as it smashed into the tarmac and another frustrated shriek from the boy.

She staggered backwards, her eyes on the space that had opened up between her and the guy in the coat. The whip or rope or whatever it was was lashing back and forth between them. Evie’s brain refused to process the possibility that what her eyes were actually looking at was neither a rope nor a whip but a tail. There were scales on it and it moved like a rattlesnake. Ropes didn’t look like that.

The boy dropped to the floor now, and started scrabbling around on the ground for something. His glasses, Evie thought, spying them lying cracked in half on the asphalt by her car.

‘Need some help, Caleb?’ A girl’s voice called out from the edge of the darkness.

The boy with blood-red eyes swore at her in reply.

‘If you want help you need to put your tail away and ask nicely,’ the girl added.

The word punctured Evie’s brain like a poison dart. Tail. She tripped backwards, trying to feel for the door behind her. She stumbled on the step, and felt herself bump up against something solid. It wasn’t the door.

She spun around and found herself stepping on the toes of a white-faced boy. A girl in a neon pink minidress stood next to him, smiling surrrrprise.

Evie skittered backwards, letting out a yelp. How many of these freaks were there?

These two weren’t wearing sunglasses and their eyes weren’t red. The boy was dressed in scruffy jeans, bashed-up Converse and a Nix cap. The girl was tall with long black hair, and the bright pink of her dress clashed with the green tinge of her skin.

‘We’ve got this, Caleb,’ the girl in the pink dress called out to the one with the tail, not taking her eyes oF Evie.

‘Well, hurry up, would you, I don’t want to be here all night,’ another boy’s voice answered from the darkness.

So there were more of them over there, Evie thought, panic starting to weave its tentacles around her limbs. How many did that make? Four or five at least.

‘What do you want?’ Evie asked desperately, spinning around to face the girl and boy blocking the back door.

‘We want you, Evie Tremain,’ the girl in pink said, striding forward. She put her hand on Evie’s arm and Evie looked down, as her skin began to burn intensely.

She screamed and, with a final injection of adrenaline and anger, swung the tin of coF ee grounds she was still holding at the girl’s head. The girl let go of her instantly and started yelling.

Evie skittered back out of her way, skidding towards her car, dodging around the boy on the ground with the tail.

With the tail! Her brain screamed at her as though it wanted her to pause awhile and figure it out. But her arm was still burning, as though the bone itself had caught alight, and the skin was blistering and it was all she could do not to faint right there and then. She started fumbling with her one good hand for her car key, buried in the pocket of her jeans, and felt the sob start to burst in her chest.

The boy in the Nix cap was bent double, pointing and laughing at the girl Evie had hit. And the sound of it, the childish hysteria of it, was like a shucking knife opening Evie up. She glanced upwards even as she scrabbled for her keys. The girl was holding the side of her head, screaming and trying to scrape the wet coffee grounds off her face. She spat a gloop of saliva and glared furiously at Evie.

Evie’s fingers closed on her keys. She yanked them from her pocket, watching as the girl and boy moved in on her. She was just prey, she realised. She was completely cornered. There was no way out.

And then the sun came up. Or it felt like it. The whole lot lit up as if someone had flipped on some floodlights. The shadows wiped out and Evie was blinded. She threw an arm up to cover her eyes, trying at the same time to squint for the source of it. She could hear screaming and a hissing noise – the sound of wet meat hitting a flaming grill.

When her eyes adjusted she saw the boy in the Nix cap collapsed on the ground in front of her. He was sizzling and smoking and screaming like a stuck pig. The girl in the pink dress had him by the arm and was dragging him towards the trash container and the thin shadow it made on the ground.

‘Evie?’ a man’s voice yelled, snapping her out of her frozen state.

She looked up. She recognised the voice – the accent. ‘Yes,’ she answered, scrambling to her feet.

‘Get over here!’ he yelled.

She ran towards the source of the light and saw who it was. Victor Lassonde. He was standing there in his suit holding what looked like a torch in his right hand. In his other hand was something that looked remarkably like a gun.

Probably because it was a gun.

Evie jumped behind Victor, clutching at his arm, her heart rattling at a hundred beats a minute. A million questions ran through her head, the first of which was What the hell are you doing here?

She heard herself voice it.

He didn’t answer her.

‘Half-and-half, get the Hunter!’ someone screamed.

Evie looked over Victor’s shoulder. The girl in the pink dress was the one screaming. But who was Half-and-half? And who was the Hunter?

The girl dumped the boy in the Nix cap by the dumpster. He curled up in a tight ball, whimpering and steaming in the shadows.

The girl looked up at Evie, her eyes glinting. ‘The girl’s mine,’ she hissed.

Evie cowered backwards. She felt Victor edging sideways towards the door of the diner and followed his lead. But the girl in the pink dress with the greenish skin was blocking their way to the back door.

Victor had his back to Evie, his gun raking the parking lot in front. Why wasn’t he firing at these crazy people who were trying to kill them? thought Evie. Why wasn’t he aiming at the girl in the pink dress for starters?

Just then the girl lunged towards her. Evie let out a scream, and stumbled as though someone invisible had shoved her. Evie flinched backwards as she heard a gunshot. She watched the girl reel backwards, clutching her arm.

Evie reached for the handle just as a shadow sprang across it. She teetered as though on the brink of a waterfall, sound rushing her ears, goosebumps raking her body. Then whatever it was was gone, leaving only a reverberation in the air that echoed through her body. Evie’s knees smacked the concrete step and she let out a cry, but Victor hauled her upright and flung her towards the door.

Her fingers closed around the handle and she yanked it open.

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

So what do you think?  Is Fated on your wish list or have you already got your copy?