GIVEAWAY: Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Author: Alexandra Adornetto
Pages: 422
Publisher: Fiewel and Friends
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Bethany and Xavier are even closer since battling Jake Thorn and his evil influence (in Halo) and Beth and her angel siblings must still protect Venus Cove from the Dark Forces.

When a party game – a séance – inadvertently releases Jake from the Underworld, he disguises himself and tricks Beth into taking a ride on his motorcycle. When the highway opens up and swallows them, Beth learns too late that she’s now a prisoner in hell. What happens to angels there? As her archangel brother, Gabriel, her sister Ivy, Xavier, and her best friend, Molly search for her, Beth must weigh Jake’s bargaining for her freedom: one night with him, and she will be released back to Earth.
Can Jake be trusted in this wager? And is he also using Beth to engineer the fall of the archangel Gabriel? Xavier has already lost one love – when Jake tricks him into thinking that Bethany is dead, his grief and anger result in a betrayal that will leave Bethany – and readers – wondering if he is so good after all.

It will be up to Beth to use everything she’s learned about her powers as an angel – and about love – to free herself and those she loves from the clutches of Hades.

Halo series by Alexandra Adornetto

Includes: Halo (#1), and Hades (#2)

Check out this awesome trailer for the series!

Alexandra Adornetto Online

Website ● Facebook 

I have 1 copy of Hades from the publisher to giveaway!

Rules:
-Open US/Can ONLY!

Week long Read-a-Thon

I've decided that this entire week will be my own little read-a-thon. It's not anything official, just something I'm doing. Of course, you're welcome to join in and read along with me! But, I am planning to have some official read-a-thons soon for everyone, and I think they'll be super fun! :)

So, from today through 9/10, I will be on a major reading binge. My goal is to read 6 books in the course of the entire week.

I'll be posting daily updates of my progress. I'm so excited!

Formspring!

What's Your Story now has a form spring! You can ask me anything! :)

In My Mailbox (35)

For Review:
Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
Crossroads by Mary Ting

Purchased: 
Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Won:
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab & swag

Swag:
Released by Megan Duncan bookmarks

Thanks to Flux, Mary Ting, Megan Duncan, and Rachel from Fiktshun!

Weekly Recap

Monday
Back to School: Tips of Juggling School and Blogging

Tuesday
Review: Fateful by Claudia Gray

Wednesday
Review: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Thursday
Self-Published Spotlight (1)

Friday
Review: Witch Song by Amber Argyle

Saturday
Creature Spotlight: Faeries/Fey

Creature Spotlight: Faeries/Fey

Creature Spotlight is a feature where I shine a light on a specific fantasy or paranormal creature that I love reading about, and series or books about them that I really enjoyed.

Today's creature is: FAERIES/FEY

I've always loved faerie tales, and the concept of faeries and fey. I believe that fey have some of the richest mythology and legends out of any other creatures out there, which means that it's very open to interpretation and change. Here are some of my favorite series about faeries.

The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa

Book 1: The Iron King

Book 2: The Iron Daughter

Book 3: The Iron Queen

Book 4: The Iron Knight

I've actually only read the first one, The Iron King, but it was so good that I am already addicted to the characters and the story. It's an entirely new spin on fey, and I love it!

The Faerie Path series by Frewin Jones

Book 1: The Faerie Path

Book 2: The Lost Queen

Book 3: The Sorcerer King

Book 4: The Immortal Realm

Book 5: The Enchanted Quest

Book 6: The Charmed Return

I have read the first 3 books in this series, and I really love it! They're all such a fairytale-esque books, very light and easy to read, but full of action and romance. I definitely recommend these for fans of fantasy.

The Wondrous Strange trilogy by Lesley Livingston

Book 1: Wondrous Strange

Book 2: Darklight

Book 3: Tempestuous

The Wondrous Strange trilogy is SO AMAZING! There aren't words to describe how truly stunning these books are. I'm just so sad that the trilogy came to an end. :(

Are there any faerie books that you've read and really loved? Tell me about them! I'm always looking for more great fantasy books to read!

Have you read any of the books I listed? What did you think of them?

Review: Witch Song by Amber Argyle

Author: Amber Argyle
Pages: 305
Publisher: Rhemelda Publishing
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: ARC
Buy the Book

The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons-but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

Witch Song tells the story of Brusenna--who later renames herself Senna--a young, untrained witch that leaves behind her old life and everything she thought she knew in order to save the witches that have disappeared, including her mother. Senna is the last witch left, and their only hope. Having been ostracized by the people in her village her whole life, Senna is surprised when Joshen, a boy only a few years older than her, wants to help her on her quest. From there, the danger only gets worse as Senna comes closer and closer to facing off against the Dark Witch that is holding the others prisoner, and restoring the seasons to their natural order.

                                                                What I Liked...                                                                             

Witch Song is a great high fantasy book, one that I really enjoyed and read in only one sitting! Amber Argyle had a very eloquent writing style, bringing the imagery to life with vivid descriptions and fantastic world building.

The concept of the witches and how their magic works is definitely one of a kind. The witches have power over the Four Sister: Earth, plants, water, and air. They can control these elements by using their Witch Song. A witch's singing voice is her most powerful weapon.

I loved Senna, although there were times that I wanted to smack her for her ignorance. When she realized what needed to be done, even if she didn't know how to do it, she stepped up and found a way. Joshen is my new YA crush! He's loyal and refused to leave Senna's side, even when she pushed him away. Such a sweetheart!

                                                                What I Disliked...                                                                          

There was a certain part, not yet the ending, but getting there, that I felt was rushed too much. Like, the entire novel was building up to that moment, Senna was preparing herself for that confrontation, and then boom, it's over. That's my only issue, and even then, it's not that big of a deal. Everything wrapped up nicely, despite that rushed part, so I really have no qualms about it.

                                                                      Overall...                                                                                   

If you're looking for a great fantasy read, with nonstop action and a sweet romance, then I recommend Witch Song wholeheartedly. I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

Self-Published Spotlight (1)

Today I'm spotlighting some great self published books that I've read. Self-published books rarely get the exposure that some of them deserve, so I hope that I can get at least one person to check out one of these books and support indie authors! :)

Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray
Pages: 254
Genre: YA Paranormal

About Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale

Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life.

So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed.

Buy the Book

Paperback • Kindle • Nook

Only $0.99 for Kindle and Nook!

I loved Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale more than I can possibly say. It's got a sweet romance, a killer love triangle (literally), and some awesome paranormal elements that all come together with Ramona's witty and vivid writing. A definite recommendation!

Released by Megan Duncan
Pages: 260
Genre: YA Post- Apocalyptic

About Released

After a demon apocalypse kills their parents and everyone they know, 17-year old Abby Phillips, her brother, Carter, and friend, Max flee their home to travel through what has become the wastelands of America. When radio transmissions of a resistance offering shelter and safety cease, Abby is tempted to give up. Struggling to overcome life-threatening obstacles in their dangerous journey, Abby and her companions quickly discover there are much worse things lurking in the dark than they could have ever imagined.

Buy the Book

Paperback • Kindle • Nook

Only $0.99 for Kindle and Nook!

Released was way more intense than I expected! I was actually scared to read it at night, haha. The demons in this novel are blood-thirsty, and to stay alive you've gotta be smart and quick on your feet... and have plenty of ammo. If you like books that will have your heart pounding, then Released is a book for you!

Tempest by Holly Hook
Pages: 284
Genre: YA Paranormal

About Tempest

Life blows for sixteen-year-old Janelle. Ever since moving to Florida, she's been accidentally breaking people's arms just by touching them. And yanking steel doors off their hinges. Then her new crush, Gary, sees her gray spiral birthmark and tells her she's a Tempest. A person who can turn into a hurricane by touching the ocean. Like him. So that's why she feels ready to explode when she's at the beach. As if that's not lousy enough, all Tempests have to become storms once in their lives. It's their secret law...and it's Janelle's turn. And it's not long before the Tempest leader abducts her. Janelle's told that she's destined to become the worst hurricane ever. And now she's the main weapon in the Tempest leader's plot to hold the world ransom. No way can Janelle live with herself if she kills thousands. But using the power she fears most might be the only way out.

Buy the Book

Paperback • Kindle • Nook
Only $0.99 for Kindle and Nook!

Tempest was a really original book! It's not your typical paranormal... no vampires or werewolves in sight! Instead, the mythical creatures in this book are people that have the ability to turn into hurricanes. The problem? Our main character Janelle is the most powerful hurricane in the world, and there is someone that wants to use that power to gain control over the human race. I really loved Tempest!

What about you? Are there any self-published books that you really enjoyed? Tell me about them, so I can go check them out!
And what do you think of the ones I listed? Do they look good?