Night School Fracture is Book 3 in C. J. Daugherty's UNMISSABLE Night School series. Seriously, this series is amazing and if you haven't read books 1 and 2, well, you HAVE to.

For all the believers already on board (and that's A LOT of you), we have some exciting news. Here's a fragment (fractured, get it?) of the Night School Fracture cover – head over to the Camp Bestival Facebook page (where C. J. will be appearing this summer) website to check out the reveal in all its glory!

The post Night School: Fracture – Cover Reveal appeared first on Atom Books.

If you love New York, flapper fashion and everything 1920s, then this is the film for you. This awesome trailer more than reminds us of Libba Bray's epic new novel, The Diviners. If you've not discovered Libba's writing yet, read an extract from The Diviners here.

Then watch this trailer. It's awesome.

The post The Great Gatsby & The Diviners appeared first on Atom Books.

Then you absolutely mustn't miss Loki's Wolves.

Ok, so it's published by our sister imprint Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. And it's technically a children's book. But it's awesome (how could it not be when it's written by two such amazing authors?) and we thoroughly recommend a read.

Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr is out now.

The post Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Marr appeared first on Atom Books.

If I Should Die

In case you've been hiding in a cave for the last couple of years, If I Should Die is the third novel by Amy Plum, following on from Die for Me and Until I Die.

Apart from being the perfect paranormal romance, set in gorgeous gothic Paris, these books also have possibly the most covetable covers we've ever seen. No bookshelf is complete without the collection and we guarantee you'll read them time and again.

To celebrate publication, we've got 5 copies of the book to give away. To be in with a chance of winning, answer this simple question.

Where does author of If I Should Die, Amy Plum, live?

A. Paris
B. Rome
C. Berlin

Pop your answer in the box below, making sure you've read our terms and conditions first!

The post If I Should Die Competition appeared first on Atom Books.

To celebrate, we asked you to send us your celebrity crushes to create the ultimate Diary of a Crush Pinterest board. Dozens of amazing suggestions flooded in with everything from Jonny Depp (yes please) to James May (really?), Ryan Reynolds, Chase Crawford and plenty of eye candy in between.

But are any of them as utterly swoonsome as star of the Diary of a Crush trilogy, Dylan? There's only one way to find out  – grab your copy of the book and get reading!

Ps huge congratulations to Sophie who has been crowned our Celebrity Crush winner and will receive all three books in the trilogy!

The post Diary of a Crush Ebooks available today! appeared first on Atom Books.

If you're organised enough to have started compiling a list of holiday reads, put Rules of Summer straight to the top. No list? Write it Rules of Summer on your hand, stick a post-it on your mirror or add it to your phone because when this book hits the shops on 23rd May, we know you'll want to be the first to read it.

Summer, sun, friendship and love, all wrapped up in a gorgeously romantic package that's perfect for taking to the beach. Still not convinced? Read the synopsis below and start counting down the days til Rules of Summer book hits the shops.

Rory McShane's signed on to be a summer errand girl for a wealthy family with an enormous beachfront mansion. She hopes she'll be able to sneak in some sunbathing too.

Enter Isabel Rule, who's not only up for sunbathing but set on having a breathless summer romance that her family would never approve of. Isabel has decided that this is the summer for taking chances, and she's dragging Rory along for the ride.

But when long-hidden secrets start to surface, their friendship will be put to the test . . .

The post Rules of Summer: The Ultimate Summer Read appeared first on Atom Books.

As the second prince of Archenfield, Jared never expected to rule. But behind the walls of the castle is a dark and dangerous court where murder and intrigue are never far below the surface . . .

Now his older brother is dead. The kingdom is his. And the target is on his back. Can he find the assassin before the assassin finds him?

ALLIES & ASSASSINS is book one in a brand new series from bestselling author, Justin Somper. If you like Christopher Paolini or Brent Weeks, this is the series for you: think Game of Thrones for teens with a unique twist all of its own.

We're hugely excited to welcome Justin Somper to the Atom list, and even more excited to be able to reveal the awesome cover that we've designed to showcase his even more awesome words. Watch this space for more details, competitions and an early review opportunity with The Atomics!

The post Allies & Assassins by Justin Somper: Cover Reveal appeared first on Atom Books.

If you've ever had a crush, unrequited or otherwise, you'll understand the emotional rollercoaster ride than Edie is undergoing in Sarra Manning's brilliant new trilogy, Diary of a Crush.

Rather than asking you to reveal your secret crushes (because secrets are for a reason, right?), we'd like to to celebrate this series with a completely different sort of crush. The celebrity crush. (Have we used the word 'crush' enough yet . . .?)

Email a link to a photo of your ultimate celebrity crush to atom@littlebrown.co.uk by 29th April and we'll create a Pinterest board full of all the weird and wonderful celebrities that Atom readers fancy.

We'll then randomly select one entry to win a copy of all three books. Hunky celebs AND free books . . . what more could you want?

Terms and conditions here.

The post Diary of a Crush appeared first on Atom Books.

But we couldn't spend the whole of 2013 without Sarra by our side. And from what we've heard online, we're pretty sure you wouldn't want to either.

Which is why we're publishing not one, not two but THREE* brilliant books by Sarra Manning this year!
*plus an ebook novella, so basically FOUR

Diary of a Crush started life as  a hugely popular serial in Just 17 magazine. The trilogy went on to sell nearly 40,000 copies in the UK alone and now it's back with a bang, fully updated for the twenty-first century and every bit as heartwarming, funny and fun.

Diary of a Crush: French Kiss, Kiss and Make Up and Sealed with a Kiss are available in ebook from 30th April and paperback from 30th May. An exclusive ebook only, Diary of a Grace, is available from 30th April.

Read more about this brilliant series on Sarra's website here.

The post Calling all Sarra Manning fans! appeared first on Atom Books.

To celebrate all things House of Night – and because who wouldn't want to get their hands on this gorgeous collection of books? – we're giving away the first five books in the brand new cover style to one lucky Atom reader. That's Marked, Betrayed, Chosen, Untamed, and Hunted.

To be in with a chance of winning, answer the question below then add it to the form along with your name and email address (making sure you've read our terms and conditions first).

What is Zoe's surname?

Redbird
Redcat
Redwood

The post Win House of Night Books 1 – 5 appeared first on Atom Books.

Now it's April and publication of If I Should Die is less than a month away.

For a sneak preview of Amy's If I Should Die playlist, click here.

For a couple of teaser snippets of text, click here.

And watch this space for an extract, competition and more!

The post If I Should Die: The Countdown Begins appeared first on Atom Books.

The Enchantress Returns sees Alex and Connor Bailey return to the magical Land of Stories featured in book one, The Wishing Spell. The famed Enchantress has kidnapped their mother so, against the will of their grandmother (the one and only Fairy Godmother), the twins embark on an adventure to save the fairy tale world from the greatest threat it's ever faced.

The cover has been released and we think it looks every bit as magical as The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell. Watch this space for news, competitions and more!

The post Chris Colfer: The Enchantress Returns appeared first on Atom Books.

The Rising

If you haven't yet discovered the thrilling Darkness Rising Trilogy, you're in for a treat. The Rising follows on from The Gathering and The Calling and brings us the deeply satisfying showdown of characters that only the end of a trilogy can do.

To celebrate publication of The Rising, we're offering you the chance to win all three books in the trilogy.

To enter, simply add your details to the box below, making sure you've read our terms and conditions first. And if you're not already signed up to our Atom newsletter, get involved and be the first to hear about news, competitions and more!

The post Win the complete Darkness Rising Trilogy appeared first on Atom Books.

This year, we've got a selection of five fabulous Atom titles to give away to one lucky reader.

Night School: Legacy by C.J. Daugherty
Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger
One Seriously Messed up Weekend by Tom Clempson
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
The Diviners by Libba Bray

To be in with a chance of making all of these awesome reads YOURS, fill in the form below and answer our very simple question:

Where is The Diviners by Libba Bray set?

A. 1920s New York
B. 1960s London
C. The Future

Make sure you've read our terms and conditions first and GOOD LUCK!

The post Win Atom Books for Easter appeared first on Atom Books.

The Rising

We can't believe The Rising marks the end of this amazing trilogy (sob). But more importantly, we can't believe how utterly awesome The Rising is.

In case you didn't believe us (and we know you did, you've read The Gathering and The Calling right?), here's a sneak preview of The Rising. Don't say we don't spoil you (speaking of which, keep your eyes out for a competition, coming soon!).

PS. The Gathering is available on Kindle for £1.99 for a limited period. Grab your copy now!

The Rising: Extract:

I was running through the forest. Running on all fours, huge tawny paws touching down so lightly they seemed to skim the ground. Yet somehow my pursuers were catching up. The pounding of their boots was so close I swore my tail switched against them as I ran.

I couldn’t keep this up. Cougars are sprinters, not distance runners. I had to get into the brush, up a tree, someplace, anyplace where I could hunker down, invisible, until they passed, and then—
A dart hit my shoulder. I reared back, snarling, clawing—

“Maya!”

Hands gripped my front legs. No, not legs. Arms. I saw hands wrapped around my wrists, a familiar face in front of mine—wavy blond hair in need of a brush, blue eyes underscored with dark circles, wide mouth tight with worry and exhaustion.

“Daniel . . . ?”

He released my wrists.

Corey’s voice sounded to my left. “Um, guys? Causing a bit of a scene here.”

I looked around to see strangers staring. A man in a button-down shirt was making his way over, gaze fixed on us. Behind him was a counter stacked with books. In front of me was a computer, while Corey was seated at another beside me.

A library. We were in a library.

The man walked over. “Is there a problem here?” He was looking at me and I wasn’t sure why, until he shot a glare at Daniel and I realized how it must have looked, him holding my wrists as I struggled.

“No,” I said. “We were just . . . goofing around.”

Not the right thing to say in a library. Even Corey—the king of goofing around—winced.

“I’m sorry,” Daniel said. “It won’t happen again.”

As he spoke, he held the librarian’s gaze and kept his voice low, calm. Using his powers of persuasion. With Daniel,
it really is a power. I don’t think the librarian needed it, though. He seemed content to leave us be. But the incident had caught the attention of people around us and, under the circumstances, we really couldn’t afford to make ourselves memorable. So we left. Quickly.

“Well,” Corey said as we tramped down the front steps. “It’s not the first time we’ve had to leave a library. But it is the first time I wasn’t responsible.”

“I was having a vision,” I said. “I can’t control those.”

“Uh, no, Maya. Unless you snore during your visions, you were asleep.”

“I don’t snore.” I looked at Daniel. “Tell him I don’t snore.”

Daniel feigned great interest in the fountain. Corey didn’t ask how Daniel would know if I snored. Daniel and I had been best friends since kindergarten. Though our parents had decided sleepovers required separate rooms years ago, we’d spent the last few days sleeping side-by-side as we trekked through the wilds of Vancouver Island. Not a voluntary hiking trip, either. A helicopter crash had stranded us with Corey and three other friends. That helicopter had been supposedly rescuing us from a forest fire that threatened our town, but it’d actually been kidnapping us. Now, less than a week later, we were in the city of Vancouver, only the three of us left, the others captured by the people we were still fleeing.

“You were exhausted,” Daniel finally said. “Corey and I slept on the ferry. You didn’t. I would have let you keep sleeping . . . but the snoring was getting kinda loud.”

I aimed a kick at him. He grabbed my foot and held it, making me dance and curse. A passing security guard shot us a warning look.

“Holy hell,” Corey said. “It’s a sad day when I’m the responsible one. Speaking of responsibility, I’m going to take the reins of leadership and suggest food. It’s nearly eight. Maya, use that cat nose and lead us to dinner.”

Yes, my dream hadn’t been pure fantasy. I was a shape-shifter. I’d discovered my secret identity about a week ago. Not surprisingly, it marked the point where life went to hell—for all of us.

I wasn’t the only supernatural kid in our tiny town. In fact, Salmon Creek seemed to have been built as a petri dish to resurrect extinct supernatural types. Project Phoenix.

I was a skin-walker, like Rafe and Annie, a brother and sister who’d come to Salmon Creek looking for answers. Daniel was a benandanti—a demon-hunter. As for Corey, we were pretty sure he had powers, too, but we didn’t know what they were yet.

And as for the people chasing us, it was two groups, actually. The St. Clouds—who’d founded our town and Project Phoenix—and the Nasts, a rival supernatural corporation that thought we seemed like valuable commodities. Our friends were now divided between the groups, and we were on the run, trying to find someone to help us get them back. We wanted something else back, too: our parents. They’d been told we’d died in that helicopter crash. I’d been trying very hard not to think about that, what they were going through. I just kept telling myself it would all be fixed soon. It had to be.

We ate dinner in a chain restaurant. It wasn’t one we knew, and we’d stood inside the door for five minutes, going over the menu, feeling like country mice in the city. That’s nothing new. We grew up in a town of two hundred people. Put us in a metropolis of two million, and it didn’t matter that we were private-school educated and wearing the same labels as every other kid—we still felt like hicks.

“This is what we need, guys,” Daniel said after we ordered. “A huge city where we can just blend in and lie low for a few days.”

“I know,” Corey said. “But I feel . . .” He looked around at the other tables and scowled. “It’s the St. Clouds’ fault. All those years of stranger-danger classes, teaching us that no one outside Salmon Creek can be trusted. They did that on purpose.”

“I know,” I murmured.

“Teaching us to be afraid of the outside world so we’d never leave, when the real danger wasn’t out here at all. It was right there. With everyone who was supposed to be looking out for us. Everyone we were taught to trust. Our teachers. Our doctors. Even some of our own parents might have been in on it. Hell, I’m not even sure my mom wasn’t . . .”

He trailed off. I didn’t rush to tell him I’m sure she hadn’t been a willing participant. We’d already been through this. There were no guarantees.

In Corey’s face, bitter and angry, I could find no trace of the guy I’d grown up with, the one who was always grinning, always up to something, never thinking any further ahead than the next party.

I cleared my throat. “So, what did you guys find out while I was sleeping on the job?”

We’d gone to the library to research a name that Rafe’s mother had given him to contact as a last resort. We had no idea if this guy could—or would—help us, but it was our only shot.

“Cyril Mitchell is an unusual enough name. I narrowed it down to the most likely guy—the others were too young. I have a phone number, but that’s it.” Daniel unfolded two notes from his pocket. Scrap paper from the library. He ran his finger down his notes and let out a deep breath. If Corey looked bitter, Daniel looked defeated, and it was just as painful to see.

“It’s okay,” I said. “We call the number. We talk to whoever answers. That’s all we can do.”

One of the toughest parts about making that call was picking a pay phone. Not only are they rare these days, but we wanted one a fair distance from where we’d spend the night. Sure, the risk that someone was tapping this guy’s phone—or that he was working for the people chasing us—was slight. But right now we only trusted one another.
We caught the SkyTrain and found a pay phone. Then I prepared to call the man we hoped was the right Cyril Mitchell.

While Rafe had been captured the first time, he’d found information about another experiment: Project Genesis. The kids who’d been guinea pigs in that one had supposedly escaped, along with their parents. Rafe was sure Mitchell would know more. If we could find those subjects, maybe they could help us.

I pumped five dollars in coins into the pay phone and dialed.

When a woman answered, I asked to speak to Cyril Mitchell.

“Sorry, wrong number,” she said.

I read her back the number I’d dialed.

“That’s right, but there’s no one named Cyril here.”

Before she could hang up, I said, “I really need to get in touch with Mr. Mitchell and this is the only number I have.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t help you.”

My mind whirred, trying to think of something else to say before she hung up. But she stayed on the line. As if she was waiting.

“Do you know any way to get in touch with Mr. Mitchell?” I asked finally.

“No.”

So why aren’t you hanging up?

If Mitchell knew about Project Genesis and Project Phoenix, both top-secret supernatural experiments, maybe he was on the run, too. Maybe this woman was waiting for something—a name, a code word.

But if he’s on the run, why would Daniel be able to find his number so easily?

Maybe it wasn’t the right Cyril Mitchell. Or maybe it was and she could tell I was young and I was scared, and didn’t want to hang up on me.

I took deep breaths and clenched the receiver.

This was our only lead. Our only lead. I couldn’t let it slip away.

“I’m going to leave a message,” I said. “Just in case.” I chose my words carefully. “My name is Maya Delaney. I’m a Phoenix from Salmon Creek, British Columbia.”

I paused. It took at least three seconds for her to say, “I’m sorry, but you really do have the wrong number.” Which told me she’d been listening, maybe even writing it down.

“Just take the message. Please. Maya Delaney. Phoenix. Salmon Creek. He can contact me at . . .” I read off the email account Corey had set up at the library. “Do you need me to repeat any of that?”

A long pause. Then, “He can’t help you, Maya.”

My heart thudded. This was Mitchell’s number. “Can I speak to him? Please?”

“Not without a—” She stopped herself. “He died six months ago. I’m his daughter.”

I took a deep breath. Tried not to panic. “Okay. Can you help? Or can you give us the name of someone who can? Please?”

“No.” A pause. “I’m sorry.”

She hung up.

 

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The Host

Last week, Stephenie was in the UK for an exclusive signing at Waterstones Piccadilly. While we sadly couldn't keep her here forever, we did manage to get some copies of The Host film tie-in edition signed by Stephenie herself.

And today we're giving four away.

The Host stars a character called Melanie – played in the film by Saoirse Ronan – but what is her surname? Put your answer in the box below for your chance to win, making sure you've read our terms and conditions first.

The post Win a signed copy of The Host appeared first on Atom Books.

Fans flocked in from around the country with fans arriving at the front of the queue 12 hours before the event was scheduled to start!

Books were signed, photos taken and we heard some amazing stories about what Stephenie Meyer's books mean to you. One couple even told us that the first date they ever went on was to see Twilight . . . and now they're getting married!

Which got us thinking. What other wonderful Stephenie Meyer stories are there out there?

Have Stephenie Meyer's books help you through difficult times? Did you ever see Twilight on a date? Did Bella's story inspire you to ask someone out or make you a stronger person? Have you been inspired to write your own stories?

Tweet us your Meyer Moment @atombooks #meyermoment. We'll retweet all your stories and on Friday we'll pick a favourite to win a copy of Twilight: The Official Illustrated Guide.

The post Tweet Us Your Meyer Moment appeared first on Atom Books.

Starring Saoirse Ronan it looks set to be as engrossing and epic as the book (well almost, books always win out in our…erm, book) and the hero is pretty darn hot too . . .

In case you haven't seen the trailer, here it is in all its glory. Plus a competition to win one of ten copies of The Official Illustrated Movie Companion, a gorgeous, glossy guide perfect for fans of the book or film.

Simply enter your details in the box below, making sure you've read our terms and conditions first. Good luck!

The post Win THE HOST OFFICIAL MOVIE COMPANION appeared first on Atom Books.

The Diviners

It's also set in glamorous 1920s New York where speakeasies, Jazz babies and flapper fashion are all the rage!

Make like heroine Evie O'Neill and get your own fantastic flapper outfit with our competition to win a £200 shopping spree. To enter, simply head over to our Atom Facebook page.

Good luck!

The post Win a £200 shopping spree with THE DIVINERS appeared first on Atom Books.

For one lucky winner there's the complete Twilight Saga DVD Boxset (literally DAYS of Twilight entertainment) plus a Breaking Dawn goodie bag.

The goodie bag contains  includes all sorts of amazing things including a CD, key chain, t-shirt, bookmark, bracelet and more!

For two runners up we've got another two goodie bags plus DVD to give away.

And for another 3 more lucky readers, we've got a copy of Breaking Dawn Part 2 on DVD.

If you've not yet read the book, you can buy it here, or just jump right in and enter the competition below. All we need to know is the answer to this simple question:

What is the name of Stephenie Meyer's stand alone novel that will be released as a film this March?

The Host
The Help
The Dawn

Name, email and answer in the box below please, making sure you've read our terms and conditions first.

Artwork & Supplementary Materials TM & © 2013 Summit Entertainment LLC. All Rights Reserved.

The post Win The Twilight Saga DVD Boxset plus Breaking Dawn Goodie Bag & DVDs appeared first on Atom Books.

Adrian Mole meets The In Betweeners.

There's no better way to describe One Seriously Messed Up Weekend, the wittily crude, just-the-right-side-of-rude and laugh-out-loud funny second novel from Tom Clempson.

This kind of boysy humour is a bit of a departure from the rest of our list but it has us snorting into our tea. And even if it's not your particular brew we bet there are plenty of brothers and boyfriends out there who'd love to have a read. Scroll down for an exclusive preview of Chapter One.

We've got five copies of the book up for grabs. Simply enter your details in the box below (reading our terms and conditions first), cross your fingers and we'll let you know the winners in a week's time!

*This competition is now closed*

One Seriously Messed Up Weekend Chapter One by Little Brown UK

The post One Seriously Messed Up Weekend competition appeared first on Atom Books.

Stephenie Meyer will be visiting the UK next week, Tuesday 5th March, for a signing at 6pm in Waterstones, 203-206 Piccadilly, London W1J 9HD.

Stephenie Meyer is the author of the phenomenally successful Twilight series, worldwide sales for which stand at 116 million.   She is over to promote the cinema release of The Host, which has sold 1.3 million copies of the UK edition and 3.3 million of the US edition alone.

This will be her first event in the UK since 2007 so we're seriously excited to welcome her over!!

Please go to Waterstones' website for further information.  Due to time restraints, Stephenie Meyer will be signing a maximum of two books per person and will dedicate copies of The Host only.#

For the latest news and information on the event, follow @atombooks on Twitter.

The post Stephenie Meyer UK signing Tuesday 5th March 2013 appeared first on Atom Books.

He's also a rather amazing film-maker, working on projects like 'The Corpse Bride', 'Fantastic Mr Fox' and 'Frankenweenie'.

Today we're sharing a little video he put together to promote One Seriously Messed Up Weekend. It made us laugh. A lot.

Hopefully you'll laugh too although – please don't say we didn't warn you – there are rude words*.

(*If that's not enough to make you watch it, we don't know what is)

The post One Seriously Messed Up Week Video appeared first on Atom Books.

After hours of writing emails and making phone calls to make-believe agents, we finally managed to nail an interview with the star of the upcoming One Seriously Messed-Up Week-End (Tom Clempson’s follow-up to the painfully funny One Seriously Messed-Up Week in the Otherwise Mundane and Uneventful Life of Jack Samsonite, available 7th March), and, since interviews with fictional characters don’t come around very often, we decided not to hold back with the questions…

Atom: Firstly, well done on getting not one but TWO of your diaries published! You must be pleased.

JS: Pleased? Pleased?! Are you kidding? Someone has published the deepest, most intimate, personal experiences of my life! How pleased would you be? Plus, I can’t be sure, but I think they might have even included the embarrassing bits.

Atom: Oh, so… did you get a lot of unwanted attention after the first book?

JS: Attention would have been nice actually. Most people won’t look me in the eyes. Whoever came up with the phrase “any publicity is good publicity” obviously never considered the effects of having people read the truth about what goes on inside your pants.

Atom: Well, maybe you…

JS: Actually, can you delete that last bit? Can you put ‘mind’ instead of ‘pants’? I wouldn’t want people to get the wrong idea about me.

Atom: Absolutely. We’ll do that. Because you’re actually quite an innocent aren’t you?

JS: I AM! Thank you! Yes! People assume, just because there’s ‘boy stuff’ in the books, that I’m some kind of stereotypical ‘lad’, like all I ever think about is girls and… ‘guy’ stuff. But, in reality, I’ve never even kissed a girl! I don’t like cars, I don’t smoke, I can’t play football, I’m no good in social situations and I fall over about 36% more often than other people…

Atom: So you wouldn’t label yourself as a usual, run-of-the-mill, hero?

JS: Those are three words no one has ever used to describe me. Unfortunately I’m none of those things.

Atom: You don’t think you’ve ever done anything heroic?

JS: Umm… [he scratches his head and thinks hard about this]. No. Not unless you consider having trouser malfunctions heroic.

Atom: Well, you seem to have a lot of fans out there who might disagree.

JS: That Meer cat from those insurance adverts also has lots of fans. People are mental. Remember that Crazy Frog song? It went to No1 in the charts. NUMBER ONE! A frog!

Atom: Point taken. But it must be quite exciting to see your name on the covers of books!

JS: It’s very weird. I can’t really get used to it.

Atom: Admit it. It is a teensy bit cool, isn’t it?

JS: [whispers] Yesitisbutdon’ttellanyoneIsaidthat… It would be extra cool if they made a film of them.

Atom: We agree. Who would you choose to play you if a Jack Samsonite film ever got made?

JS: Ummm… I don’t know! Who would be good to play a British teenage nobody who manages to get himself into stupid situations?

[Atom suggests a long list of up-and-coming acting talent who have funny faces (we don’t mention the ‘funny faces’ bit to him though). Samsonite considers these for a long time…]

JS: I was thinking maybe Samuel L Jackson or Bruce Willis. They’re not the obvious choices, but movies can get away with bending reality that way.

Atom: Erm… yeah. Anyway, moving on, what would you say is the best thing about being published?

JS: The best thing that springs to mind is that I almost feel like I’ve achieved something with my life without actually having to do anything.

Atom: And what’s the worst part of being published?

JS: My gran asked me what ‘nob-ache’ is, and if I’m still suffering form it.

Atom: Aaaaaand that seems like the perfect place to stop. Thank you very much for your time Jack Samsonite.

JS: Thank you! How did it go? Did I seem weird? I bet I seemed weird didn’t I? Delete any bits that sound rubbish, if you like. And any weird bits. And obviously don’t include this bit at the end.

One Seriously Messed-Up Week-End is available from Atom on 7th March.

The post An Interview with Jack Samsonite, star of One Seriously Messed Up Weekend appeared first on Atom Books.

What do all of these authors have in common?

Apart from being awesome (obviously), they've all written stories which appear Shards & Ashes, a gripping collection of dystopian stories edited by our very own Kelley Armstrong and Melissa Marr.

Shards & Ashes hits the shops today (19th February). Grab a copy then let us know your favourite story on Twitter @atombooks #shardsandashes.

The post Shards & Ashes Out Now appeared first on Atom Books.

We were inundated with requests from our Atomics reader review programme (aged 12-18 and love books? Sign up here!) and these are the results.

Looks like they loved it as much as we do!

Supernatural mixed with a little James Bond and awesome technology all in the edwardian era. This book hooks you from the start. It was beautifully written and the characters make you wish you were there with them. Sophronia is a young teenager who finds the perfect place for her with a few bumps,vampires and mechanimals along the way. I found the book entertaining and addictive. I can't wait for the next book when I get to see more of Sophronia and her friends.

Isobel

I don't usually read 'steampunk' books but Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger was pleasant surprise. 14 year old Sophronia Temminnick who, after causing worlds of trouble for her mother, is packed off to finishing school. But her school isn't quite what her mother expected. In addition to teaching Etiquette, they're going to train her to be a spy. And possibly an assassin.
This books is funny, full of adventure, with a fantastic world as well as giving a nice perspective to Victorian life. Most of the book's humor is about how women were excepted to behave in Victorian England showing how women status in society has changed from these times.

As well as steampunk this book has a paranormal twist, with vampires, werewolves and flying pirates. This spices up the plot, but i would have liked it to contain more of these paranormal creatures as they was only mentioned a few times during the book.
The book was a nice change from most other YA books as it wasn't based on love but on adventure and solving the mystery which can sometimes get spoiled if romance is added.

The book is a good read and I would recommend it to all who like adventure, steampunk, paranormal and laughs.

Lauren

Having never read a book by Gail Carriger previously, I was unsure as what to expect when this book was described to me as a mixture of ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Gallagher Girls’ series. Both of these series I loved, so I was really excited about getting to read Etiquette and Espionage. Now I have to tell you that they were wrong.

This is because Etiquette and Espionage cannot be described as being like another as it is a very individual book. Carriger wrote in an engaging yet unique style which took me a couple of pages to get used to. I love how she brought such different ideas together like the Victorian era, with werewolves and espionage made it at first an unexpected and then an easy to love read. After reading various typical scenarios in books, Etiquette and Espionage is a breath of much needed fresh air.

I enjoyed Sophronia’s refusal to be a proper young lady, as was expected in the Victorian era because she would have rather taken apart mechanicals than spent hours learning to curtsy. Throughout the book Sophrania is on an adventure and I wish I could have joined her at the Finishing Academy as she went along her lessons, which are much more exciting than mine.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for something different to read after being constantly surround by various books, which end up having the same plot.

Duwa

The post The Atomics review Etiquette & Espionage: Isobel, Lauren & Duwa appeared first on Atom Books.

We were inundated with requests from our Atomics reader review programme (aged 12-18 and love books? Sign up here!) and these are the results.

It is very hard to find a good YA steampunk novel. Fortunately Etiquette & Espionage is one of them. Sophronia Temminnick is not a typical young lady. She would much rather climb trees and tinker with mechanical devices than talk about the latest fashions, which is exactly why after an unfortunate incident involving a trifle, she is shipped off to finishing school. Only, Madamoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality is no ordinary finishing school, it is of course a school for intelligencers or assassins. And so here begins an epic adventure with a floating school, top-hat wearing werewolf, an oblivious headmistress and a camp vampire.

I loved Etiquette & Espionage, it was funny and engaging. At first it was a bit hard to get into due to the fact it was written in a Victorian style so one must expect a few ‘spiffing’s and a few ‘jolly good’s but once you get into it it’s easy to understand. Sophronia herself was a very good protagonist, she is intelligent, curious and cunning which makes for a superb heroine. But of course no story is complete without an antagonist, who in this case is Monique de Pelouse. Monique is your typical mean girl, she despises Sophronia for the failure of her finishing and her demotion but even if demoted she is determined still to be top dog at the academy. Dimity, Sophronia’s first friend at the academy is a riot of laughs thanks to her hideous wardrobe and her ill-timed faints but my favourite character has to be Vieve who is Professor Lefoux’s (teacher of modern weaponry and technological advancements) niece.

This book completely charmed me, I would love to go to school that teaches you how to lie effectively and faint without wrinkling your skirts. Who wouldn’t? Gail Carriger has created an outstanding series that every girl would love and I sincerely can’t wait to read the second book of the series. Fingers crossed Atom releases it soon!

Alyssia

I found this book a great read because of the adventure and action.
This book is more than your average girly book this book is good for tom-boys as well!
Great if you want a light read because it is not too full on and not too long

Emma

When Atom first showed Etiquette & Espionage was up for review, I thought it would be an interesting read. However, I struggled to get into the book myself. This may have been as the main character Sophronia is younger and therefore not as relatable as the book is well written with a brilliant plot.

A school of Etiquette & Espionage is like the dream school for many, like Hogwarts but with a hint of 007 and knife throwing skills, I would recommend the book to young teenagers as they would thoroughly enjoy it!

Emma

The post The Atomics review Etiquette & Espionage: Alyssia, Emma & Emma appeared first on Atom Books.

We were inundated with requests from our Atomics reader review programme (aged 12-18 and love books? Sign up here!) and these are the results.

Looks like they loved it as much as we do!

This is one truly magical novel, and a very unique one at that. I haven't read too many steampunk novels but this one has been catching my eye for a long while. I love the Victorian time period as well so that was a bonus. I was incredibly lucky to be one of the few atomics who received this book to read and review, and I cannot thank the people at Atom enough for giving me the opportunity to read this spectacular novel.

Just look at the cover for the novel? Isn't it beautiful? I love the steampunk feel you get from it as there are cogs in the wallpaper. Gosh I loved this book, the whole premise sounded awesome. A finishing school that secretly teaches their pupils to be spies and assassins.  How freaking awesome does that sound? It really doesn't disappoint. What I also loved about this novel is that it's aimed at the younger teen audience and it gives them one hell of a kick ass heroine who uses her intelligence to solve a mystery. I think there needs to be more female protagonists like this in novels aimed at the younger audience, after all us girls love action and adventure too!

The action starts from the very first page when Sophronia tries to listen to her Mothers conversation while manoeuvring a dumbwaiter, but it slips and drops to the ground floor and chucks her out, ripping her underskirts in the process. Her mother is once again disgraced at her youngest daughters actions and it's the final straw. The unknown guest her mother is talking to just happens to be the headmistress of the Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing School for Young Ladies of Quality. After a quick interview with the women Sophronia is sent off to pack and without a backwards glance her mother sends her off with the stranger.

Things aren't exactly what they seem. Awaiting in the carriage are other pupils and on the journey they are attacked by flywaymen. The headmistress who is actually a student trying to finish, panics and doesn't do anything to save them. It's left to Sophronia's intelligence and years of being a rebel to save them before they are captured. They narrowly escape and finally make their way to the school. Sophronia is shocked to find it's a huge airship and to get on board they have to sit atop a werewolf which leaps upon a hanging platform that will then be cranked up into the ship. Sophie soon begins to realise that this is no ordinary finishing school.

Sophronia is a rebellious young lady who acts less ladylike than her mother wishes. The youngest of all the sisters she's used to being teased and taunted but she has learnt how to use this to her advantage. While her sisters were preparing themselves for upcoming seasons, she was expanding her knowledge and just generally wrecking the house sneaking around. There's no doubt that she is a perfect candidate for this particular finishing school. Sophronia wasn't afraid to get dirty while exploring, she had a very adventurous streak that meant at times you would find her climbing the outer walls of the airship to the decks below, where she would then socialise with those of a lower class. If her mother found out she would be appalled. Sophronia is the only student who didn't know about the darker side of the school before she arrived, she was shocked to see that young ladies were being taught these things. Yes, she has to learn all about her posture and etiquette amongst other normal things but when you learn how to poison your future husband and how to perform all sorts of manoeuvres in a dress, things aren't so bad. She finds that she really enjoys this finishing school and it isn't as bad as it sounds.

The world that the novel is set in is awesome! You have many steampunk elements like mechanimals, airships and even flywaymen, which were all superb by the way. You have paranormal elements with the werewolf Captain and the vampire teacher. You also have the Victorian traditions that are very important in historical novels. The airship that is the school is so vividly described with the many decks, mechanical maid tracks and my favourite, the complex record room. I love reading novels about boarding schools and this one is no different, but this was so much better as there is no others like it. I want to go to this school in all it's steampunk glory. Carriger seems to be a master at writing unique historical fiction and I can't wait to see what she comes up with in the next book.

Etiquette and Espionage is a spectacular novel set in a unique world with some really fun characters. There's plenty of action and adventure that will keep you hooked from the very first page. Just be prepared when you finished this novel, not only will you be craving the next book but you will be on the lookout for airships ready to take you to that particular finishing school.

Annabelle

I thought that the book was brilliant, I couldn't put it down. The start was a bit confusing but the ending was absolutely brilliant
The characters were entertaining and I really hope that the book has a sequel (Editor's note: There most definitely is Bridget!)

Bridget

The post The Atomics review Etiquette & Espionage: Annabelle & Bridget appeared first on Atom Books.

We've listed our current five Atom favourites below but let us know what you'd add to the list for favourite Valentine's Day reads!

1. Twilight. We couldn't make a list of love stories without including this classic so we're kicking off the list with this complete classic.

2. Die for Me. Continuing in the paranormal theme, this wonderfully romantic novel from Amy Plum is the first in a series of three. An unforgettable story, but we'd buy these books for their gorgeous covers alone.

3. Adorkable. Something a little bit different. Less soppy, more real. Romeo and Juliet in a world where blogs are as, if not more, important than boys.

4. Halo. Book one in an incredible series by Alexandra Adornetto. Can love triumph over evil?

5. Wolf Pact. The start of a brand new series by Melissa de la Cruz where only one thing can save werewolf Lawson from the Hounds of Hell – the girl he loves.

The post Valentine's Day Reads from Atom appeared first on Atom Books.

We were inundated with requests from our Atomics reader review programme (aged 12-18 and love books? Sign up here!) and these are the results.

Looks like they loved it as much as we do!

Etiquette & Espionage is an entertaining book, and one that I loved. With the combination of bright personalities and a gripping plot, I was never bored.

Sophronia was an excellent protagonist; she was smart, daring and had an amusing sense of humour. Her best friend, Dimity was at times I thought underused, but was a funny character nevertheless.

My favourite thing about the book was that, unlike with many other young adult books I have read in the past, the main character was not only focused on falling in love. It was refreshing and made for a more enjoyable read to have Sophronia as an independent person from such feelings.

I can’t say I had a least favourite part of the book but towards the beginning I felt it was at times written for a younger reader than myself. Through the rest of the novel though I did not find this and I think people of any age would enjoy the story.

I will certainly be reading the rest of the books in the series and I encourage you to as well, the first one certainly won’t let you down.

Keely

I really enjoyed reading Etiquette & Espionage, I was first drawn to this book because it was recommended for people who liked the Gallagher girls series, although I would say they were quite different. Etiquette & Espionage took me into another world, although it felt like it was set in the past. It also seemed quite futuristic giving it a unique twist.

Etiquette & Espionage also features some of my favourite paranormal creatures which really surprised me and just made the book even better for me. In my opinion Sophronia represents all young girls, she starts off quite the tom-boy and as she grows up she becomes more of a lady.

The book is full of lots of twists and turns which always kept me on my feet, this is definitely my kind of book, jammed packed with action, an old world vibe and it features a  lead female who isn’t afraid to show people what she’s made of. I now find myself wishing I could be in Sophronia’s shoes as she learns to become deadly, I think it would be very exciting. I’m quite sad to have finished the book so soon.

I can’t wait until the second book comes out so I can continue to delve into the deadly world of a finishing school. I’d rate it 4/5 and definitely recommend it for anyone who likes things that are a little different and for anyone who likes historical settings.

Jennifer

As soon as I had read the blurb for 'Etiquette & Espionage', I knew that I wanted to read it straight away.

When I started to read the book, however, I found it really confusing; due to the rapid introductions of many new characters (some of which being robots). But in spite of that, I really did enjoy reading this book and following Sophronia's experience at a so-called 'finishing school'.

With its originality and unsuspected plot twists, it was definitely a really good read. Exciting and unlike any book I have read before, it kept me wanting to know what would happen next in the story, so I guess it was hard to put down- as cliched as it sounds. Definitely recommend if a story like 'Alice in Wonderland' (minus the poetry) crossed with 'Night School', mixed with an element of steampunk appeals to you.

Lesley

The post The Atomics review Etiquette & Espionage: Keely, Jennifer & Lesley appeared first on Atom Books.

Neferet's Curse

With exactly one week to go until Neferet's Curse hits the shops, we can barely contain our excitement. Which is why we've got a little sneak preview for you below.

You're welcome.

Dragon's Oath and Lenobia's Vow, books one and two in the series, are available now.

Neferets Curse Chapter One

The post Read an extract from Neferet's Curse appeared first on Atom Books.

We were inundated with requests from our Atomics reader review programme (aged 12-18 and love books? Sign up here!) and these are the results.

Looks like they loved it as much as we do!

I loved this book. I found  it unique and interesting and unputdownable.

I loved the fact that the story was set in another era especially a time period I love. I also especially enjoyed the details the book had, everything was different and individual and this drew me in even more.  I really loved the characters in this book not just the unique names by the personality they expressed. In my opinion I found this book well written, and inspired story line and just the right amount of etiquette and espionage  and I recommend that you should be read it as you won't be able to put it down.

Lucy

Sophronia is a fourteen year old misfit of the Temminick Bloodline who lacks etiquette and challenges her mother’s patience. I found that the book was hard to get into but I found it easier to read upon Sophronia’s arrival.

I loved Sophronia’s antics and the fact that she was constantly causing mischief, from knocking over a maid and causing trifle to spill all over Mrs. Barnaclegoose and steering a cart, by herself, on the way to Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.  She was my favourite character because of this and the fact that she is engaging, funny and smart.

I loved the juxtaposition of becoming a real lady and learning how to take down a werewolf, a vampire or a crazy man using only a wave of a fan or a flick of a hair clip.

I found that even though the book was written in the third person, I was still able to engage with Sophronia’s character on a personal level and the author left me with no doubts to her thoughts and motives. I also liked the historical feel of the book.

Overall, I thought the book was good but a little different to what I usually read. I thoroughly enjoyed it though, and I’m likely to read the others in the series, upon their release.

Huge thank you to Atom Books for introducing me to a book I’d never thought I’d like.

Chloe

Etiquette and Espionage, is a gripping mysterious adventure about a young un-ladylike Sophronia, who is sent to mademoiselle Geraldine’s finishing academy for young ladies of quality. Although, the ladies sure learn etiquette it comes with a generous helping of espionage!

From the start I was gripped, hooked on by the adventure that followed. The Victorian twist was not really my type, however it suited the genre and theme of this book very well, also the Victorian theme and the adventure goes unusually well than I would have expected!

I also happened to notice the hint of magic and mystery, which was subtle but effective. For example the mechanimals and the un-human beings (I don’t want to give away the magic, you just have to read it for yourself!). The author very cleverly combines the magic into every-day life. It’s not like “whoa! Vampire!! Amaazinngggg!!!!” it’s more “hmm, vampire… oh well! Life goes on!” (Oh no! I just told you, didn’t I!?)

The book is not at all boring, there is always something going on that is arousing curiosity. There is a new expedition in every page, and I mean it! From the start of the book I had a feeling it was going to be a very difficult, Victorian book that I would never understand, and then struggle to write about. However, it was not at all like that! I understood mainly everything and despite the Victorian theme it was pretty easy to read. I recommend this book for all ages not just YA.

Ever since I got the book to review I have been unable to put it down. I love the little touches that the author has included like how the chapters are actually lessons, or the small sarcastic comments. For me it’s the little things that make up a successful book, and this author is definitely on the list! Overall, I think this is a great read, and I will be eagerly waiting for the next book as I felt this one ended too soon.

Tooba

The post The Atomics Review Etiquette & Espionage: Lucy, Chloe & Tooba appeared first on Atom Books.

We were inundated with requests from our Atomics reader review programme (aged 12-18 and love books? Sign up here!) and these are the results.

Looks like they loved it as much as we do!

This book is amazing! When I read the first few chapters I was quite confused  about what was going on because of the world this is set in: The Victorian era with mechanical servants! Though when I was a few chapters in I started to get it and really enjoyed the gripping story.

Without ruining the story, I’ll tell you that this book is based on a tomboyish girl called Sophronia, who ends up in a finish-everything finishing school, and her adventure to do with a prototype.

I would recommend this book to anyone really, my age or older, though I do think it’s rather a girl’s book! I really hope there will be a sequel! A great book through and through.

Isabella

Think 'Gallagher Girls' meets 'Sherlock Homes' passes 'Harry Potter' with a small tinge of 'Night School'. I loved this book. It has absolutely everything. Despite the obvious supernatural elements, I found it extremely relatable! Sophronia is younger than her sisters, she's that child who doesn't necessarily want to follow the path that is set out for her; but one that would be frowned upon by many at the time in which the book is set (of which I'm still not entirely sure). Her mother is one that doesn't approve of her 'differences' and so sends her off to finishing school, little does she know it's not all what can be expected from a normal school.

The book's storyline was well thought out and had many little twists that made you think about some of the character's true intentions, it made you wonder whether they were all they seemed to be. Some parts in the book were pure genius, the idea of 'flyway men' and 'mechanimals' were really a high point. I was strangely addicted to the whole thing and there was never a dull moment in it! The only major issues I had with this book were the unanswered questions I found myself asking at the end but I believe that with this promising start, that that problem could be solved easily with a great follow-up book.

I can imagine this book being read by a wide range of readers, however I would be worried about a younger audience with some of the words being either difficult to understand and/or from a older period of time. I personally loved this aspect of it but I know that some may not be into that sort of book or will find it a hard read. I hope that that doesn't put anyone off from reading Etiquette & Espionage because I found it thoroughly enjoyable and I can't wait to read a sequel. Please just go out right now and buy it!  

Connie

I don't normally read books that are set in the past, but this book was different to the others. The story catches your attention and Sophronia (the main character) is really interesting.

The book has supernatural twists in it, which give the story a good twist.

I really enjoyed the book but i did find it confusing in places but other than that it was amazing.

I would recommend this book to mid teens as that's what the main character is.

Georgia

The post The Atomics review Etiquette & Espionage: Isabella, Connie & Georgia appeared first on Atom Books.

If you missed this incredible 1920s-set novel in hardback, now's the time to dive in and discover the wonderful writing of Libba Bray. Need convincing? Check out just some of the incredible reviews for The Diviners below.

‘Exquisitely crafted… a joy from start to end’
- Heat, Best New Series of 2012

'One kick-ass setting, a cast of brilliant characters, a host of amazing supernatural powers and one creepy-as-hell killer on the loose… rich, complex and addictive – an elaborate web of stories, winding together to create one masterpiece tapestry of a book’ – Guardian.co.uk

‘READ. . .sequined-packed, serial-killer thriller with supernatural overtones, think the Jazz Age meets Twilight – AND it’s the first part of a trilogy’
– Instyle

‘Packed with hilarious 1920s slang, snappy one-liners and intriguing period detail, this is a beautifully-crafted novel with a complex, twisting plot and plenty of creepy moments that will keep readers right on the edge of their seats. Introducing us to an intriguing ensemble cast of characters as well as wonderfully bright and breezy heroine in Evie – and of course, a truly terrifying villain’ – The Diviners is a hugely entertaining adventure that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next instalment
- Booktrust

‘The paranormal meets the roaring Twenties in the scary and posi-tute-ly amazing The Diviners… Better keep the lights on for this one!’
- Bliss

‘The paranormal meets the roaring Twenties in the scary and posi-tute-ly amazing The Diviners… Better keep the lights on for this one!’ Bliss‘Superb… She’s (Evie) posi-tute-ly (as she herself would say) the best heroine to have appeared in young adult fiction in recent years: witty, loyal and brave, she has powers of divination, and also loves escaping from nightclub raids and hanging out with chorus girls.  Intoxicating, suspenseful, dark and funny, it’s a novel that teens (and grown-ups) will drink down in gulps’
- Literary Review

‘My children’s book of the year is, without a doubt, Libba Bray’s fantastically involving The Diviners, which features a flapper heroine and a killer back from the dead.’
- Telegraph Christmas Books of 2012

‘The Diviners by Libba Bray is posi-tute-ly the duck’s quack.  Evie O’Neill is sharp as a tack and with a mouth like Dorothy Parker.’
- Sunday Telegraph

The post Rave Reviews for The Diviners appeared first on Atom Books.

The unabridged audio book of Etiquette & Espionage, read by Moira Quirk, is available now. This recording perfectly captures the brilliantly British finishing school story and brings to life the characters of Sophronia, Mrs Barnaclegoose and many more.

To listen to a sneak preview of the audio book, click here.

Etiquette & Espionage audio book is available now from Audible.co.uk, here

The post Etiquette & Espionage available in audio appeared first on Atom Books.

You're not alone. Thousands of readers have been waiting for the arrival of Neferet's Curse, the third House of Night novella after Dragon's Oath and Lenobia's Vow.

Neferet, the Tulsa House of Night's darkly seductive High Priestess, wasn't always a powerful vampyre. Go back to where it all began in this third instalment where the secret history we've all been waiting for is finally revealed . . .

To celebrate publication, we're offering one lucky House of Night fan the opportunity to win all three books. To enter the competition, simply answer this question then fill in the form below, making sure to read our terms and conditions first.

Which turn-of-the-century city was Neferet raised in?

Coventry
Chicago
New York

*This competition is now closed*

The post Win a set of House of Night novellas appeared first on Atom Books.

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger hits the shops on 5th February! We defy ANYONE to watch the trailer and read this extract without wanting a copy of their very own.

Which is why we've got three fabulous copies up for grabs. Simply enter your details in the box below for your chance to win (making sure you've read our terms and conditions first).

*This competition is now closed*

The post Win a copy of Etiquette & Espionage appeared first on Atom Books.

House at the End of the Street

Now the film is available on DVD and, always up for a scare *cowers behind sofa, peeping nervously out from behind hands*, we're offering you the chance to get your hands on one of 10 copies.

To enter this competition, answer this very simple question, then add your answer and email to the box below (making sure you've read our terms and conditions first).

Please note, you need to be over 15 to enter this competition due to the certificate of the film.

What is the author of House at the End of the Street called?

Lily Blake
Lilly Brown
Lily Lawrence

*This competition is now closed*

The post Win House at the End of the Street DVDs appeared first on Atom Books.

Across the pond they've created this rather fabulous and very British trailer for the book. Well worth a little look…

The post Etiquette & Espionage Trailer appeared first on Atom Books.

Etiquette and Espionage, the first book in a brand new young adult series from Gail Carriger, publishes on 5th February.

Set in the same Parasol Protectorate world as her bestselling adult novels and packed with danger, deceit, spies and steampunk, it's absolutely brilliant.

So brilliant, in fact, that we can't quite put it into words. Instead we've uploaded the first chapter so you can see for yourselves.

Read it, share it, then hot-foot it down to the shops on 5th February to find out what happens next!
Etiquette & Espionage Chapter One

The post Etiquette & Espionage: First Chapter Exclusive appeared first on Atom Books.

Have you seen the awesome trailer yet?

No?!

Watch it now!

The post Through the Ever Night Book Trailer appeared first on Atom Books.

This isn't the kind of book I am usually into reading, but it has certainly changed my mind as this was an exciting and inspiring book. I also hadn’t read the beginning book, so I didn't realise how awesome it was until I read it!

As soon as I picked up Night School: Legacy I was thrown into action from the first page. And it doesn't seem to stop there. C.J. Daugherty kept me guessing as to what was going to happen at every step throughout the book.

Without giving too much of the story away, it is mainly based around Allie's mysterious grandma and her lost brother. She has been through so much all ready but she still seems rock hard.

Overall, this is not the type of story I tend to enjoy reading, but this book has changed that for me and made me realise: Don't judge a book by its cover! Rating = 4/5

Sophie

There are many things I expected to happen in the second book of this series and most of these things did occur. But what happened after each of these slightly predictable events is what truly makes this book amazing.

This type of novel usually focuses on a paranormal boarding school and the oh-so-typical drama of not knowing what creature you really are. The Night School series is like a breath of fresh air for the young adult genre, a boarding school with a secret, that doesn’t revolve around mystical beings. I admit, it takes some getting used to the fact that there won’t be any vampires, werewolves or fairies, but after that, it’s pretty much perfect.

There were some points in this book that made me stop, put the book down and walk away, for fear I’d throw it at a wall and end up creasing a page of a novel that was sure to take pride of place on my book shelf. Allie’s character in the beginning or the first novel was a strong girl with a serious attitude but towards the end she began to lose those admirable traits. In this book she gains back her confidence and her strength, despite losing pretty much everything.

There wasn’t a chapter in this book that didn’t feature SOMETHING important and the fast pace just added to the overall mystery, which still hasn’t been revealed (ARGH) leaving the perfect cliff-hanger with incredible scope for the next novel. Personally I’m a sucker so happy endings and although the end wasn’t exactly sunshine rainbows and bunnies, it was cute, even with the tears.

Only one thing about this novel wasn’t as perfect as I would have wanted the dreaded shape that almost every series in this genre revolves around. The love triangle. Now the novel doesn’t revolve around Allie’s love triangle completely, which I was thankful for because if it had, I would have cried. Literally. But it was present nonetheless and the person creating the triangle was someone I had a preconceived hate for, so that wasn’t in the books favour either.

But I got over it and after ignoring that one (incredibly annoying) person I saw how well written, ordered and gripping the story was. Allie’s indecisiveness with the two men in her life will probably be the only down point to the next novel, but I’ll buy it anyway, just to make sure she ends up with the right guy, and if she doesn’t? Well sucks to be her, she’ll regret it in the end.

Aamina, 16

After reading the first Night School book by C.J.Daugherty, I was filled with eagerness to read the next book in the series, and when it finally arrived on my doorstep on the 7th of December, I could not wait to devour the book.

I finished Night School: Legacy within a matter of hours. The thrilling, fast-paced story captivated my mind and would not unleash me until I had turned the very last page. The story, following the life of sparky Allie Sheridan within the beautiful walls of Cimmeria academy, yet again fulfilled my needs of adventure and romance, combined with my love of private and boarding school novels.

Whilst Allie fell in and out of love, I continued to fall in love with C. J’s characters, especially Sylvain. I personally felt a sense of betrayal along with Allie at certain points in the story, and I shall say no more!

Once I had finished the book, I felt sad and sort of lost, as if I didn’t know what to do now that it was over. Thankfully, the ending indicates that there will be another book released, and I shall wait impatiently for the third instalment of this gripping series! I would recommend this book to friends and families, whether they were teenagers, or adults. It fills all areas of need for a reader, and keeps you wanting more, long after the very last word.

Jessica

What I enjoyed about this book was that straight away it drew me in and I was hooked, I had to keep reading as I had to know the conclusion. The ending held many twists that I was not expecting which was exciting and kept me on my toes.

However sometimes during the story things would become a bit dull and predictable which took away from the enjoyment. This was not often just occasionally.
I felt like I connected to the character of Allie as she is a typical teenager in the sense that she was confused with boys, fell out with her friends and had a lot of work to do for school, all things teenage girls face which just made her more believable and relatable for someone of my age.
I highly recommend this book as it contains action, romance and an unexpected ending.

Shauna, 17

The post The Atomics review Night School: Legacy: Sophie, Aamina, Jessica, Shauna appeared first on Atom Books.

I would recommend this book for a mind blowing read, for its enthusing plot and surprising twists that leave you wanting more!

Ellen, 16

It was so easy to just fall into this book and devour it.

As a lover of both boarding schools and mysteries, this series is one of my favourite combinations of the two. It was well paced, and the transitions into flashbacks were so smoothly done I sometimes didn't even realise it had happened. Not being able to remember many details of the first book, I was worried I would get a little lost, but I was reminded so easily of previous events that everything made sense from a little way in. This book has managed to give me back the book bug after a dry spell, so I really do love it!

Kate, 17

I have somewhat mixed feelings about this book…

On one hand, when I finished the book, my initial thought was, ‘That was pretty good! …I think I liked that even more than the first book!’ (Then again, it should probably be taken into consideration that it has been a long time since I read Night School and I can’t much remember it or how I felt about it…)

On the other hand, then, after some reflection, my second thought was that I couldn’t actually recall much significant actually happening in the book. It just seemed a bit to me like there wasn’t a lot going on with the plot throughout most of the book and that we spent most of the time just….waiting.

I felt like the majority of the book was spent watching Allie prepare for the end of the book – when, supposedly, the big action would finally come into play – with a few odd mini bits of action thrown in just to keep the reader’s  attention span from drifting off completely.

However, although I had some issues with the plot, what I really liked about Legacy were the characters. It was great to see Allie getting a chance to develop as a character as she faced more challenges; I realise this may seem a little contradictory of me – first I say it was somewhat dull ‘watching Allie prepare’, then I say ‘it was great to see Allie getting a chance to develop’, but I suppose what I mean is that it was good to see her character developing…but we needn’t spend most of the book on it…

The love triangle present in the first book is still here, and although I know some people are against them, I don’t mind them, in fact I advocate them, if they are portrayed well! You could define a ‘good’ love triangle as one that evokes enough feeling in its readers for them to divide into ‘teams,’ and I’m sure readers of Legacy will be agonising over who they think Allie should be with – Carter or Sylvain? I have to say, in Night School I was definitely all for the mysterious, brooding Carter, however, during Legacy I found myself rooting for Sylvain.

All in all, although I felt it could have been better, I enjoyed Legacy and still definitely would read any future books in the series! I am sure that anyone who loved Night School will not be disappointed by its sequel.

Catherine, 15

The post The Atomics review Night School: Legacy: Emma, Kate, Catherine appeared first on Atom Books.

Rift, the prequel to Andrea Cremer's Nightshade series, is available in paperback.

Rise, the follow up to Rift is available for the very first time. Read an extract here.

Through the Ever Night, the sequel to Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, publishes with a gorgeous new cover look. Read an extract here.

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The strength of the plot is helped by the fact that it is fast paced and flowing which makes it easy to read and soon you can’t put it down.

The main character Allie is my favourite character because is she full of personality and her witty, sarcastic comments combined with her equally sarcastic outlook on things really makes the book and breathes life into the story.

The aspect of romance in the book is written with originality which made it even more engaging and, at times, a bit heart-breaking because you really connect with Allie, believe in her situation and want it to work out. The complicated love triangle, between herself, Cater and Sylvain, draws you in and captures your emotions as much as it does Allie’s. One of the best things about the romance is that it blends with the plot and is part of the overall story instead of a separate side story.

Overall, I would rate this book as a 10/10 – it is funny, witty and engaging. It is a definite must read and I would recommend it to anyone!

Summer, 15

After having read the first book in the Night School series by C. J. Daugherty, I was eagerly anticipating the next one in the series; Night School Legacy. It did not disappoint!

Night School Legacy picks up shortly after the ending of Night School, with the main character, Allie, running from Nathaniel’s people. The novel then moves to the main setting, Cimmeria Academy. Allie is then faced with a series of life threatening challenges and to make things worse, someone close to her is secretly working for Nathaniel. Throw in a lot of boy trouble and girl drama and you have an adventure filled, action packed book, that keeps you interested the entire way through.

This novel leaves you on edge and continuously questioning. A truly compelling, page turner. Night School Legacy keeps you hooked until the very last page and leaves you keen for the next book. Definite must read!

Jamie, 17

After reading 'Night School' I was really looking forward to finding out how the story continued and what would happen to Allie, but after reading 'Night School Legacy' I feel a little disappointed. Ok, so we find out more about what happens in Night School and who Lucinda and Nathaniel are, but I still feel there are many questions left to be answered. Maybe these are to be answered in a future book but I just feel the storyline wasn't quite as exciting as the first book.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, as it was well written but I did get a bit annoyed at the rivalry between Carter and Sylvain. Can't Allie just make up her mind? Overall, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first, but it does continue the series well. If you are thinking of reading this book but haven't yet read the first one I would suggest reading it as some things may not make sense without prior knowledge.

Chloe, 15

The post The Atomics Review Night School: Legacy: Summer, Jamie, Chloe appeared first on Atom Books.

If you were a fan of Allie and Carter in Night School then you defiantly have to read Legacy. If you are team Sylvain he is not out of the picture either. During this book I saw a new side to Carter and got an insight to some of the other characters feelings. There is a new character Zoe, who at first I took a dislike to, but as the book progressed I grew fond of her.

In Legacy there is more mystery, comedy and romance than ever. There are surprises along the way that I did not expect: some good and some that I didn't like but that just made me keep reading. I really enjoyed this book and anyone else who liked Night School will LOVE Legacy. Even if you weren't blown away by the first book in the series, trust me, you will be with Legacy!

I have to give this book five out of five stars, it is one of the best books I have read this year and the only disappointment is that it had an ending.

Thank you to Atom for giving me the chance to review Legacy and to C.J. Daugherty for writing this amazing series. I am now counting down to the next book!!

Lucy, 14

Having not yet read the first book I did not know what to expect, so I borrowed the first from my local library. I thought that it would be a struggle to fit reading the two books into the month, but in fact I found it very easy. As soon as I started reading I was hooked on the books and I couldn't put them down.

The story line and plot really grabbed my attention, it pulled me in and I couldn't leave it alone. It seemed to me that it was C. J. Daugherty's style of writing that kept me interested, along with interesting characters. The only flaw I could find about the characters would be that personally I found them hard to relate to. I would recommend this book to any teenage girl, who likes the stereotypical female teenage book

Brittany, 15

Having read the first book, I was really looking forward to reading the next one. I wouldn't say that this one was as good as the first one, but it is still worth a read. I didn't feel it had much of a storyline. I read the book really quick, but when I got to the end, I felt that I had read a lot of pages, but the storyline hadn't really progressed. The story was quite like the first book. However there are some parts of the book that are quite funny, and there was plenty of action. I think the explosive start really made me want to read on, as it really set the scene for what to expect from the rest of the book.

Alice, 16

The post The Atomics Review Night School: Legacy: Lucy, Brittany, Alice appeared first on Atom Books.

There's really only one word to describe this book and it’s AMAZING!

It really is one of the best books I've ever read, I thought Night School was great but this is far better. To anyone who's thinking about reading this series or book I recommend you pre-order it quickly, I think a lot of young people would really enjoy the way C.J. Daugherty tells the story. The way she writes is just incredible: she had my mind wondering over all the possibilities of what was going to happen. I liked the way she made Allie's character become more alive.

This book really is intriguing, I just couldn't put it down, I had to keep reading more and more because I wanted to find out what happened. It was just one of those stories you cannot stop reading. Thank you C. J. Daugherty for been an amazing writer.

Abbey, 18

Daugherty starts the book at a run and never lets up. It is a real page turner and I was disappointed when it ended!

You can really relate to Allie, the main character, and you feel as if you know her and her friends.
The story ends with a bang and leaves you wanting more.

If you like intrigue and fast-paced books with a hint of romance read this – you won't be disappointed!

April, 17

I enjoyed this book as much as the first. I felt the author kept the plot exciting and to the point, nothing was over played like many books I have read in previous months.

For one, the love stories seem just right. They are just like the stories of a teenager in love, with twists and turns and relationships problems. The new characters are amazing, and I feel that Allie has grown up a lot with the problems she will face in this novel.

For one thing, I think that it is a page turner, but it is action packed with a lot of secrets that were not told in the first book revealed.

It is a perfect new book for Christmas, in my opinion, and I would definitely recommend this to a friend, which I have.

This is a perfect book.

Gemma, 18

The post The Atomics Review Night School: Legacy: Abbey, April, Gemma appeared first on Atom Books.

Now Atom are all set to publish her first ever young adult Finishing School series. Set in the same Parasol Protectorate world, Etiquette and Espionage is book one in a brilliant new series filled with dancing and dresses, danger and deceit, spies and steampunk.

'The perfect steampunk version of Harry Potter' – Marie Lu, author of Legend

Watch this space for an exclusive chapter sampler, competitions and more!

*If you haven't heard of steampunk, where have you been hiding? But seriously, if you haven't heard of it, click here for the lowdown. Our pleasure.

The post Etiquette & Espionage: YA series from Gail Carriger appeared first on Atom Books.

The film tie-in edition publishes tomorrow so get ahead of the game and read the book where it all began now. The Official Illustrated Movie Companion is also available, well worth buying for the eye candy alone. Wondering what we mean? Watch the trailer below . . .

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In case you've been living in a cave for the last few weeks, Legacy, Book 2 in C.J. Daugherty's BRILLIANT Night School series is out now. You may have already got your hands on a copy, but what we've got on offer is even better.

Enter your details in the box below (making sure to read our terms and conditions first) and you could be in with a chance of winning one of five SIGNED COPIES of Legacy, plus a limited edition branded tote bag.

What are you waiting for? You've got to be in it to win it so enter now!

*This competition is now closed*

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