Fragments of Life

Review: Phoenix (Black City #2) by Elizabeth Richards

2013-05-20T08:54:00.003-04:00

Book Description via Goodreads:

Hardcover, 368 pages (Reviewer's copy: ARC, 350 pages)
June 4th 2013, Putnam Juvenile

Weeks after his crucifixion and rebirth as Phoenix, Ash Fisher believes his troubles are far behind him. He and Natalie are engaged and life seems good. But his happiness is short-lived when he receives a threatening visit from Purian Rose, who gives Ash an ultimatum: vote in favor of Rose’s Law permanently relegating Darklings to the wrong side of the wall or Natalie will be killed.

The decision seems obvious to Ash; he must save Natalie. But when Ash learns about The Tenth, a new and deadly concentration camp where the Darklings would be sent, the choice doesn’t seem so simple. Unable to ignore his conscience, Ash votes against Rose’s Law, signing Natalie’s death warrant and putting a troubled nation back into the throes of bloody battle.

Source: Elizabeth Richards (Thank you!!)

My Thoughts:

The small flicker of fire in Black City strengthened into a burning flame in Phoenix. I was pleasantly surprised at the various changes. First and foremost, the atmosphere. There was a constant hum of rebellion buzzing throughout the novel. In this light, Phoenix was similar to Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons.

Natalie's life was more complicated. She was labeled as a race traitor after having a relationship with Ash. Her mother, the Emissary was in jail. She only had her sister left. Natalie really stepped out of her luxurious life and adjusted to life as a rebel. She actively took part in the rebellion, fighting for a cause that was so close to her heart: the safety and freedom of Darklings. I admired her desire to help put people no matter how much danger she was in herself. Together with Ash and Elijah, Natalie will journey through the dangerous terrain in Phoenix and will face the deadliest discovery of all.

Ash definitely wowed me. He turned into a better version of himself, becoming the face of the rebellion and setting an example for everyone. Contrary to the Ash in Black City, he now had a surge of confidence, determination and fierceness that I found appealing. That, coupled with the fact that he was lethal, will definitely make girls swoon. However, despite these strengths, he was still vulnerable when it came to his heart, when it came to Natalie. In YA novels, I consider it a must for readers to see the vulnerable side of every character. Seeing Ash hurt and ache, echoed in me. I have been emotionally attached to him and Natalie since the first book that despite the almost one year gap between Black City and Phoenix, that attachment was still strong.

Ash and Natalie's relationship was challenged in Phoenix. Although it still remained sweet and passionate, there was an undercurrent of sadness and fear. The author still managed to make it all the more sensual and steamy in an artsy way. Imagine the sensations and the feels from physical scenes in Easy by Tammara Webber. It's that good, only toned down for YA audience.

In Phoenix, I got to know more about a minor character in Black City, Elijah. He was the opposite of Ash in terms of personality and appearance. Elijah was fun, mischievous and less serious. He was an enchanting and mysterious character. I found myself warming up to him because he had a couple of similarities with Puck from the Iron Fey series, who is a favorite character of mine.

The story world broadened in the sequel, from the focused observation of Black City to the nationwide-encompassing rebellion and journey. New characters from different races were also introduced, letting me understand the totality of the population of the story world. The palpable struggle for power and for survival within and against each race was an echo of the power struggle between the Workboots and the Sentry. The heart-stopping action will keep readers enthralled all throughout the chapters.

Phoenix, like its predecessor, had everything I want in a novel: heart-melting and jelly-legs-inducing romance, chaos and rebellion, movie-like action, twists and turns but most of all, it was the author's ability to make me smile, hurt and agonize over every little happening in the book. Jolts and shockers from the past and the future mixed with the adrenaline-fueled rebellion against Purian Rose will satisfy readers who are looking for thrilling reads. Phoenix is startlingly vivid, violent and undeniably fulfilling. Readers will enjoy their journey through the passionate, dangerous, chaotic, blood-splattered story world of Phoenix. I highly recommend this to dystopian and post-apocalyptic readers who are looking for romance and action.

Rating:

5 Cupids = Eternal book love.
I will never, ever, ever forget this book. I highly recommend this!

Cover Reveal: 1816 Candles by Amanda Brice

2013-05-14T12:06:00.001-04:00

Title: 1816 Candles
Author: Amanda Brice
Genre: Time Travel Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Cover Designer: Keith Draws
Expected release date: September 2013
Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

High school senior Lauren is attending a costume ball at Old Town Alexandria’s famous Gadsby’s Tavern. But when she gets bored by the repetitious historical dances, she goes off to explore in the building and something odd catches her eye.

Is it a woman?

When Lauren follows the mysterious person and picks up a snow globe in the room she’s led to, she somehow ends up in 1816, experiencing the actual events of the “Legend of the Female Stranger” she’s heard her whole life growing up. Now Lauren has to solve the mystery of this ghost, find her way back home…and deal with her own emotions when she falls in love with a guy who lived 200 years before her.

About the Author:

As a little girl, Amanda Brice dreamed of being either a ballerina or the author of a mystery series featuring a cool crime-solving chick named Nancy Flew, but her father urged her to “do something practical,” so she went to law school and spent her days writing briefs and pleadings instead of fiction.

But dance and writing have remained a part of her life. Amanda was a member of the ballroom dance team at Duke University, and continues this interest by her obsession with Dancing with the Stars, so it was only natural for her to set a teen mystery series at a dance school.

Amanda is the President of Washington Romance Writers, and is a two-time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart® Award. She blogs once a month or so with the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood. She is also a popular conference presenter, speaking on basic copyright and trademark law for writers.

In her spare time, Amanda enjoys dancing, reading, cooking, traveling, and obsessing over whether Duke will beat Carolina in basketball. Go Devils!

Find Amanda: Website | Facebook

Escaping Darkness Book Blast + International Giveaway

2013-05-10T04:26:00.000-04:00

Hi guys! Today is the start of the Escaping Darkness Book Blast. Stick around and get a chance to win an ebook of Escaping Darkness + The Stone Guardian (any format) + $50 Visa Giftcard later.

Book Description:

She may have spent years in an asylum, but that didn’t make her crazy–just fearless.

Dropped in Moscow with her friends on an impossible mission against underworld forces, Tara is left to her feelings of overwhelming inadequacy. Her boyfriend is a healer, her best friend is “the Guardian,” and everyone else is a powerhouse of awesome strengths. The only thing she has been able to contribute are her memories, which has left her with nightmares of her time spent at the mercy of the evil Sarian–who everyone has gone to fight.

Alone with her emotions, Tara finds herself falling into a city of depravity and corruption. And amidst all this evil is a young man with an agenda of his own, who leads her down a road that will either prove she is a hero at heart, or drag her into a world she’s always feared.

He wants revenge, she wants redemption. And in an underground rings of missing girls and bloody sacrifices, only the fearless can survive…

Review of Escaping Darkness

Purchase: Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

A long time enthusiast of things that go bump in the night, Theresa began her writing career as a journalism intern—possibly the least creative writing field out there. After her first semester at a local newspaper, she washed her hands of press releases and feature articles to delve into the whimsical world of young adult and new adult paranormal and contemporary romance.

Since then, Theresa has been married, had three terrific kids, moved to central Ohio, and was repeatedly guilt tripped into adopting a menagerie of animals that are now members of the family. But don’t be fooled by her domesticated appearance. Her greatest love is travel. Having traveled to over a dozen countries and explored dozens of U.S. states—including an extended seven-year stay in Kodiak, Alaska—she is anything but settled down. But wherever life brings her, Theresa will continue to weave tales of adventure and love with the hope her stories will bring joy and inspiration to her readers.

Excerpt of Escaping Darkness by Theresa McClinton

Giveaway
Open internationally! Win an ebook of Escaping Darkness + The Stone Guardian (any format) + $50 Visa Giftcard.

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