Title: Order of the Dimensions Author: Irene Helenowiski Publisher: self-published Publication Date: September 14th, 2012 Format: Paperback My Rating : 3/5 stars ( C-) Blurb: When Jane Kremowski first began her graduate studies in physics at Madison State University in Wisconsin, little did she know where her work would take her. Now, she is embroiled in a multitude of dimensions all leading to different outcomes. She and her colleagues therefore must act wisely in order to take and keep away the Order of Dimension from falling into the wrong hands for the sake of her loved ones. My Review: I received a copy of Order of the Dimensions from the author in exchange with an honest review. This book is the first in the Order of the Dimensions Trilogy. This book took me to another world, where all my fantasies of seeing what happen in alter universes/dimensions came true during the days I was reading it. Imagine that there is a device that can transport you to another dimension, a place were you gain control of not losing a family member, or a place where you rule the WORLD. Yes, It gets dangerous when the device falls in the wrong hands. Which happens, a lot ! You get to see what happens in many dimensions, which is shaped according to what the one in controls wants. Although , the premise of the story is way more than just appealing, I had some problems with the writing style. The author seems to be into describing the way the conversation is going instead of how the characters are dealing with the situation. The Emotions in this book play a huge part, but being described in just a single or couple of words does not serve it any good. There is a thing that was a bit confusing, like when does the person remember if he/she was from another dimension. However, this was such an interesting read that I was barely able to put it down.I am looking forward to start book 2 soon . Irene told me that the writing style is different in the last two books, which is great because the series has such a great premise and the the writing style will add up to the entire book quality I give this book 3/5 stars and a C- according to my own rating scale.
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Today is the cover reveal for Sceadu by Prashant Pinge. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. Sceadu by Prashant Pinge Genre: Fantasy Age category: Young Adult Release Date: 10 November 2014 Blurb: You can find Sceadu on Goodreads. Excerpt: About the Author: I grew up in the quiet and beautiful neighbourhood of Shivaji Park in Mumbai, India. My schooling happened at the famed Bombay Scottish School where I was a rather conscientious student while my college years were spent at D. G. Ruparel College. I completed my bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Purdue University with a brilliant semester at the University of New South Wales. I followed it with a master of science in management from Lancaster University, a post graduate program in management from Indian School of Business, and a post MBA master in international management from Thunderbird School of Global Management. And yes, there is a simple explanation to all this. I love campus life. I started my professional career as an engineer at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Once the monotony got to me, I returned back to join our family business in Mumbai, where I have been ever since. More recently, I have settled in the role of a consultant in my own marketing and branding firm, Media Panther. My foray into the world of writing happened in 2003 after I had a dream that compelled me to stumble out of bed and put pen to paper. But that book is yet to be written. In the meantime, I happily string words together in my quest for Nirvana. In my spare time, I enjoy collecting old coins, reading fiction, indulging my creativity (I have recently written and produced a short film, Freedom of Expression), travelling to exotic destinations, watching movies, and listening to music. I am also keenly interested in the subjects of psychology, mythology and ancient history. I live with my wife and son in Mumbai. You can find and contact Prashant here: - Website - Book Page - Author Facebook - Book Facebook - Goodreads - Google + There is a tour wide giveaway for the cover reveal of Sceadu. These are the prizes you can win: 3 e-copies of Sceadu for a chance to win enter the rafflecopter giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway Title: Puppet Author: Pauline C. Harris Publisher: Patchwork Press Publication Date: October 24, 2014 Format: eARC My Rating: 4/5 stars ( B) Blurb: Penelope lives in a world of advanced technology but many claim society has yet to catch up. Marionettes have advanced in the form of robots; lifelike creations remote controlled to perform super human tasks. When Penelope makes a deal with Jed, a marionette-obsessed scientist, she doesn’t fully realize what she’s getting herself into. In order for Jed to take her away from the orphanage she lives in, she must first agree to undergo his experiments and tests, ultimately creating something no one ever dreamed possible; the first living marionette. My Review: I received an e ARC copy of puppet from Patchwork press via Netgalley in exchange with an honest review. Puppet is a retelling of the classic Pinocchio. The author finds such an exquisite and unique plot filled with advanced technology & action and weavers it perfectly with many Pinocchio aspects. It took me a bit to see the Pinocchio resemblance,but once i saw it, there was no going back. It is magnificent ! I loved how the author kept going back and forth between the life she gave away, and was what she signed up for really worth it. The Self discovery journey is mind blowing,especially when everyone seems to control you , except for you. I think the romance element was a bit rushed. There were literally no signs to show that those two certain characters both had feelings for each other. Also, there was that one description that was repeated way more than it needed to convey the message. However, this was definitely an enjoyable read, a perfect retelling, and a great self discovery story. I gave Puppet 4/5 stars and a B according to my own rating scale. We're thrilled to help reveal the cover for MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN by Courtney King Walker! Check out the cover below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments. MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN by Courtney King Walker | Lands Atlantic Publishing Release Date: March 13, 2015 Hidden somewhere in the fog of the San Francisco bay lies Blue Rock Island, home to the bay area’s two best-kept secrets: Bell’s Bluff, the old, abandoned prison on one side of the island, and the Night Train, a mysterious train ride on the other. When twelve-year-old Molly Pepper receives a secret invitation promising a night of magic and adventure aboard the Night Train, she is skeptical. In her experience, most promises prove too good to be true. The fact that she lost her mom is proof enough. Still, Molly gives hope another chance. Together with her loyal friend, Noah Wonderly, they sneak out of the house and follow a string of clues leading to the Night Train. But when the train stops at Bell's Bluff, Molly discovers the real reason she was invited. There, she starts to wonder if hope and magic not only fix broken promises; but make you believe in them again. What do you think of the cover?Be sure to add MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN to your TBR on Goodreads! About the AuthorWebsite | Twitter | GoodreadsCourtney King Walker grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area building rocket ships and rafts out of cardboard, hoping to make it the moon or at least Niagara Falls. But a trip across the border to Tijuana was as exciting as it ever got, so she decided writing about adventure was the next best thing. She now lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and four children, and still dreams of flying to the moon. Her YA debut, ON THE FRINGE, was published in 2011 by Lands Atlantic Publishing. Giveawaya Rafflecopter giveawayTitle: To Make a Witch (Sword of Elements #1.5) Author: Heather Hamilton-Senter Publication Date: October 1st 2014 Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Synopsis: At her old school, Lacey found herself on the wrong side of a conflict between Celtic gods. Making a new start in an exclusive boarding school in New Orleans, she hopes to forget that she was once on the verge of becoming a powerful witch—and everything she has lost since then. When a gruesome murder occurs in the very heart of Westover Academy, Lacey senses a connection between it and the desecration of the tomb of Marie Laveau, the Voodoo queen. Haunted by a trauma in her past and the resulting OCD, Lacey must solve the mystery before she becomes the killer’s next target. Circumstances beyond her control may once again make Lacey McInnis—cheerleader, scholar, and all-around good girl—a witch. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23157847-to-make-a-witch AUTHOR BIO: Heather grew up in a family where books of myth and legend were used to teach the ABCs and Irish uncles still believed in fairies. Raised with tall tales, she has always told stories too- first as an actor and singer, then as a photographer, and now as a writer. Heather lives in rural Ontario, Canada happily raising three children ranging in age from 6 to 18 with her biggest fan, her husband Steve. Author links: http://www.heatherhamiltonsenter.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-Hamilton-Senter-author/317288951753170 https://twitter.com/HeatherSenter www.heatherhamiltonsenter.com Title: Tin Lily Author: Joann Swanson Publisher: Cranky Owl Books Publication Date: July 6th 2014 Genre: YA, Psychological,Thriller Format: eARC My Rating : 2/5 stars ( D+) Blurb: Just because you survive doesn’t mean you’re alive. One moment fifteen-year-old Lily Berkenshire is sitting in her bedroom, favorite song blaring through her earbuds, history book open on her lap. The next, her alcoholic father is shooting and killing her mother. Then he’s pointing the gun at Lily and pulling the trigger. Click. He’s out of bullets. My Review: A story packed with emotions , psychological events, and lots of fine description that; however, was not able to influence me or touch me deep inside. I think that author is really good with describing and painting a beautiful portrait of events. However, our main character, Lily was supposed to be hollow in the beginning, just like a tin. She is a person who has no room for fear or love, so how can such a person notice and embrace such descriptions. The thing that I really liked in this book was lily's cat, Binka. The way the author gave her human traits was interesting and surprisingly true. Cats actually do that in reality . I think the concept of this story is really good, but for some reason I was not able to connect with it. I think it was a bit bland for such a topic and I was definitely expecting it to affect me deeply. There was a bit of humor every here now and then, which helped me get through the book. I really loved this quote though : "If we forget, we might do the same thing. If we remember, we can work hard to be something different." _Lily I liked how the book recommend other book titles, I love it when authors do that. I give this book 2/5 stars and a D+ according to my own rating scale. Olivia, time is almost over due."
I open my eyes to see how gloomy this place is. Hearing a voice no matter how serine, without seeing a figure frightens me. My right arm starts throbbing and the walls of darkness start spinning around me. I hold my right arm closer to my chest and my fingers run over a scar on my wrist. A shadow suddenly appears right in front of me. The face is covered , but from the unusual hair style hanging outside the hood I can tell that she is a woman. She reached for my right hand and electricity sparks in every inch of my body. I feel like I have zero gravity and suddenly I can't feel the ground holding my legs. I was flying, no, levitating ! The wind suddenly starts blowing, as if it was generated from this supernatural electric spark. The hood covering the Shadows face is slightly moved to uncover half of her face. Her eyes are purple , and her black lips reveal the following words "Remember Olivia, the past is not what it seems to be" She let goes of my hand and the city of nothing I was in starts being sucked into this gigantic black hole. Gravity pulls my numb body along and I am entrapped between screaming out of terror and shouting out my questions . I decided to give it a shot and shout " Who are you ,why do you look oddly familiar , and what do you mean by vague past" . I feel like I have been thrown out as the black hole sucks me in , and I end up falling on my bed. I sit up straight and look through the window to spot the moon ruling the sky. I wipe the sweat droplets on my forehead and try to make sense of the dream I just had. The door slams open and I see the worried look on my mother's face as she runs toward me to hold me in her arms. "Did you have another bad dream, Olivia?" she asks. "I guess so, but I can't remember anything" I had to lie to her. My mother goes mad when I bring up anything mystical. I always seem to let my imagination get the best of me, in other words, I get lost in the fairy tale stories and end up thinking it was real. My dreams always give me a reason to do so.The frown on my mother's face is still there, so I draw a smile and reassure her that I am okay. She finally sighs , kisses me goodnight, and leaves my room. As soon as the door is shut, I tip toe to my door and wait until I hear my mom shutting her bedroom's door. I run back to my bed , sit on the cold porcelain floor, and roll under my bed. I start exploring the edge of my bed which is almost glued to the wall with my hands, knocking every second until I reach it. An area that feels hollow . My fingers runs over a small hole. I whisper Got you as I pull the wooden piece and uncover a small note book and a small pen. I have been keeping track of my strange dreams ever since I learned how to write, and before that, I used to draw anything I could remember from my dreams. However, during that time I did not have a place to hide all of these things. My mother used to burn them in the fireplace and tell me that I should never think or be fascinated by the magical Realm. She finds magic stupid and vague, but the only thing that I have towards it is curiosity . I start recording what I saw in my dream, and then start going through my previous entries. I have been having a theory, and I have awaited this day to prove it. On the first of July, I always get to see an extra feature of the Shadow. The creepy thing is ,the first of July is actually my birthday. This year, I saw her Purple eyes, which is such an exquisite feature. I have never seen a person with purple eyes before. At least, not a regular human being . Last year, I saw her blue bangs. There must be some kind of a logical explanation that links between my birthday date and the revealing of a new feature of the shadow. I return my note back to its secret place and go back to bed. The sun will rise soon and I want to be ready for my 15th birthday party. I wake up to the sound of my singing mother and my 2 years old sister. I smile as they approach me and I try to fix my hair because I know that my mother will suddenly take a picture of me, and she does. I blow the candles on my birthday cake and give each of them a huge kiss. I wish dad was here today; He passed away last year after giving me the best present ever. My very own Horse; he named her Fidel. I still remember the day he was gone. I was sitting beside him while the doctor took my mother outside their room to tell her that there is nothing to do to save him from the plague. Dad's last words were the most bizarre thing that I have ever heard. " Olivia , Fidel is no ordinary horse. She is bound to you in ways you could never imagine. She is and always will be loyal to you. Take her with you wherever you go, and she will always guard you. Do not tell your mother that I read you fairy tales; she gets very upset when such subject is brought up." I started sobbing in a low voice because I don't want to upset him. I just want him here with me as much longer as possible. "Don't cry dear child, you have such a great future ahead of you. Take this" He hands me a necklace with the a strange looking pendant. It looked like a sailing hook where one half was wrapped with spines, and the other was coated with eye-catching violet color. "Wow, these look expensive dad. It is lovely, thanks .You did not have to get them." Tears are now raining down my cheeks. "Only the best for my daughter, I know that I won't be here next year, but I wanted to give you an early 15th birthday gift. Remember, with time the truth will be revealed, and no matter what happen, promise me that you face what you may have always feared." He stops talking, stops breathing, and his eyes shut down. I remember crying for weeks after his death. I remember trying to analyze what he told me. I wrote it down , read it, and still I could not understand anything. "Olivia, you can't be serious. It is your 15th birthday and you are still in bed" Selena shouts outside my window room. My mom heads towards our porch door, and welcomes Selena with a warm hug. Selena marches to my room, grabs my cake plate, and finishes it up herself. "Um, hello, birthday girl here. Should not I be the one eating the entire cake" I say with a laugh. She places a hand on her hips while scanning my closet , then grabs my old ripped jeans with a pick blouse to go with it. "That is because you are slow like hell. Now got get ready, you and I will pick up Patrick , then go to the Carnival" I start stuttering."The Ca-ca –r, sorry did you just say the Carnival ?" The Carnival tickets are so expensive and none of us can actually afford it. "Yes , is not that amazing. We have been all saving for this for a while now. Patrick, your mother, even your father and I have been planning for this day for two years now". I can't believe they have done all of this for me, and ,my sweet father, he did not just give me an expensive necklace and a unique horse, but also a day to remember at the Carnival. "Can I go too", my sister Rosie is pulling my mother's dress. "Sorry dear, you are too young to attend. But do not worry , I have planned a couple of fun activities for you and me to do today" mother says as she reaches out and carry her. After I get dressed, we ride Fidel, go to Patrick's house, and from there we head to the Carnival. A giant guy stamps our right wrists, and let us enter. He looks so weird; I don't think that it is normal for a person to be that huge. His beard is braided and his head is shaved and tattooed . Apparently , no one else notices anything weird about him, so I just keep my superficial comments to myself. We start admiring all of what is around us, from acrobatic to magic "Trick" shows. I must be hallucinating, cause every time I look a person in the eye, that person appears to have purple eyes for just a second. I stop and take a deep breath; I should not let my imagination affect my reality. Patrick and Selena walk towards me with concern. "Are you okay," Selena asks. "Yea, I am fine. It must be my Asthma acting out " "Oh, that must be from all of the people smoking and grilling out here. Let us climb that hill. Its peak touches the skies, so the breeze must be refreshing." "Sounds great " I say and we all start walking towards the hill. I prevent making any eye contact with anyone and try to focus. There is a fine line between my imagination and reality, and today is not a good time to cross it! As we reach the peak, I forget about everything and just enjoy my time with my best friends. But being me, happiness only lasts for so long. I suddenly trip over a small rock , and I start rolling down the hill. The weird thing is that I can hear my screams, but I don't hear anyone holler behind me. I finally reach the flat ground, but I am still rolling quickly from the speed I was falling from. Nausea overwhelms me and there is nothing that I can do to stop myself rather than wishing to bump into something. Prayer answered, I let out a groan as I crash into one of the wooden sticks holding a small tent. Luckily for its owner, the tent does not collapse, but for me, my right arm hurts a lot. I am unable to stand up because the sky and the ground seem to be collaging into one thing. My head is till spinning and having a throbbing arm does not help. A tall woman emerges out of the tent, and I catch her staring at my chest. I look down to see that the necklace my dad has given is exposed. I was wearing it under my blouse; it must have jumped out when I was falling. "What a lovely pendant, where did you get it from" she asks. "It was a gift from my father. Sorry for bothering you ,I just fell from up there and my friends must be on their way to help me." "I do not see anyone, why do not you come in and I will help you with your arm". I look behind me, and I see that they are no longer standing on the hill. Where did they go and why did they leave me. This lady seem nice, but by how she dress, I think she is a seer. She is wearing shades to cover her eyes. I heard they have funny looking eyes. Her aquatic hair rolls down until her hips with perfect waved ends. I hesitate before asking, but then I go for it. "Are you a Seer?" A genuine smile forms on her lips, she gives me her hand to help me up and says " Yes, now come in, I have a lot to tell you Olivia." I know that I kind of guessed that she was a seer, but still, hearing a name from here startled me. This is either a dream, or a concussion effect cause last time I checked, seers exist only in stories. The inside of the tent is huge, and I see her noticing my astonishment of what I see. She answers me before I even ask her. "A wizard once owned me a favor, and I cashed it out on this. An infinite protected space on a small piece of real land." She walks toward me holding a piece of metal that looks just like my pendant. "This looks just like my pendant; is this some kind of a symbol or something ?" She does not answer me. She walks to the counter, sterilizes the metal, and asks me to give her my wrist. I give it to her out of curiosity , and watched her place it on my right wrist. As soon as it touches my skin, electricity flows into my entire body and I get this sensation that feels so familiar . The room is suddenly so dark and my body goes cold. I hold my right arm and fingers runs over a scar. How could this be possible? She suddenly approaches me and I take off her shades. Oh shit, she has purple eyes. This could mean that I have either lost my mind, or aged a year overnight. I do not make the same mistake of wasting time , I say what is in my mind directly . "I think I have seen you in my dreams before, but you look kind of different." She releases a smile that I think she has been holding for a while."Because it is not me. She is a seer, but not me" My wrist has a tingling feeling. I look at my it and I see the symbol engraved on it. " Your dreams have a meaning, and their messenger is someone that you know very well. You are no ordinary child, dear. You are supposed to bring back the light. There is a reason why you have skipped that last few fights. You were left here to be our guide." I take a moment to admire the poetic music, then burst in laughter. "I am sorry, but this sounds like bullshit to me. I know that what is going on with me is not normal, but I am definitely not a guide to anyone. My horse Fidel is actually the person who brought me here. She knows the streets better than I do." " You have no clue of what you are, come with me I want to show you something." She guides me into a corridor that seems to be endless, each side having an infinite number of doors. She stands in front of one and opens it. I suddenly see the woman from my dreams, holding a beautiful baby, and crying in her husband's arm. I stand gaping, this cannot be real, this man looks just like my dad. But instead of a bald head, his hair was brown like mine. He also wore a crown. The seer closes the door and takes me into her arms. I am sobbing and I do not know why; remembering my dad always make me cry, but who is that woman with him, and where is that baby. "You are a daughter of a royal wizard and the highest Seer of all time, who is also my teacher. All seers have purple eyes and aquatic hair, this is why I looked oddly familiar to her" I am still speechless, so she carries on explaining. "A few of us know about this earth, even though we co exist together, any excess from either worlds should happen through a portal. Each door represents a different timeline or dimension, which is guarded by yours truly. 14 years ago, an wicked witch took our beautiful land and destroyed it. She was so powerful that no one could stop her. As a seer , your mother knew that was going to happen a couple of years before this happened and the only one to stop her was going to be an offspring of a Seer and a wizard. She went to the king, your father, and they decided to get married for the sake of our land. " "So I was brought here to live away from the chaos in the name of fixing everything later" I ask as Fidel suddenly merges into the tent and stands beside the Seer "Olivia, I am sorry , but we are running out of time . I will send you to our Physic, he has the knowledge of almost everything . He will be training and preparing you. " "What, no I still have a lot to ask. Where is my real mother, whom was I staying with all this time? I bet she is worried right now" I do my best to get answers. " Just like we inhabit this world, we can also inhabit bodies. The reason no one came after you is because you never left that place. The real Olivia is back in control of her body, and you now look like a child of a wizard and a seer." I stare at the mirror to see my long wavy brown hair and my purple eyes. I ride my horse and we enter the portal. This might all be a dream, but I ride Fidel, and into the portal we walk. I may not be a hero , but I am curious ! Title:The Scorch Trails ( The Maze Runner #2) Author: James Dashner Publisher: Delacorte Press Publication Date: October 10th, 2010 Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi, YA Format: Paperback My Rating: 5/5 stars ( A) Blurb: Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch. There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die. The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them. Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off. There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive. My Review: The sequel of The Maze Runner keeps up with the level of mystery and thrill, but in a different way. It picks up right from where The Maze Runner ended, which is great. I Found it much easier to get into because I was already invested in the story and I was trying to figure out Wicked and all the crazy things that were happening. Not only that the element of love is added in the second book, but also it is a Love triangle. This story is about extreme manipulation with emotions and believes, and James Dashner was able to involve me with what Thomas went through. It might not be highly action packed like The Maze Runner, oh man, but the feels it gives you is phenomenal ! Every couple chapters left me humming the intro of Macklemores' Thrift Shop, which goes something like What What What , What What What? The Only thing that kind of annoyed me was how much Thomas passed out and slept in this book, probably about 20 times ! I really enjoyed the Scorch Trails and I gave it 5/5 stars and an A according to my own rating scale. Freedom ?
Tell me how do you plan on being free And I will show you how it might turn out to be You seem to be lost in the tales of knights Thinking that you might guide us into the light But these things don't happen overnight No matter how much you work or fight You don't have to believe me But freedom isn't what it seems to be If you want to free your soul Speak the truth, and fight for us all Into the dungeon you will be thrown Out of site, in a place unknown But if you take the advice from the three wise monkeys Where silence and ignorance are your main Keys You might live to enjoy the light But cowardliness and weakness will live inside Tell me how do you plan on being free And I will show you how it might turn out to be You don't have to believe me But Freedom isn't what it seems to be I finally posted a book review today. I think my last one was over a week ago, which is a while. I have been preparing my stuff because I back in school. I can't believe that I am in 3rd year of college ! I mean, was not I taking my SATs like 3 years ago ???
I am definitely not thrilled with this semester's courses, which is almost the hardest semester that I am going to have during my 5-6 years of college. This means that I would not be able to post reviews like I have been the past month. However, reading, writing, and reviewing books are my number 1 passion , and I am going to try my best to do them as much as possible. So, I have decided to cut my posting to at least 1 post per week, which is probably going to be a book review. I am also planning on posting a story that I have started writing here and on watt pad. I would be posting it in the fashion of episodes where an new episode would be released every 3 weeks. The first episode should be up very soon. If you are interested check out the synopsis of episode 1 of The Seer's Call here: http://www.wattpad.com/61030913-the-seer%27s-call I am also Kind of paranoid by the idea of that I am turning 20 soon. As in I have lived 20 years, which makes me wonder what have I accomplished in my life so far. One of my goals in life is to become a writer, and starting blogging and reviewing books 1.5 years ago was a great start. But how about starting a novel before turing 20 and ACTUALLY finishing it before 2015, would not that be great? I think Nanowrimo would be the perfect solution, especially that it begins as soon as I am done with my midterms. That way I would have enough time to finish a first draft. I really hope to stick up to all of these goals I am setting. I am writing this post to try to commit myself to doing even much more than these things.Perhaps we could discuss that later. What does back to school mean to you, as in how is it affecting all the over stuff you want to do? Is anyone else panicking :D ? |
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