Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan

From Goodreads:
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus' stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

***

Some books just have it, and the Percy Jackson series is one of them.  I had a tremendous amount of fun reading this series.  Rick Riordan created a humorous and exciting set of stories.  I couldn't put the books down.  As soon as I finished one book, I grabbed the next one.  


I've seen a lot of reviews comparing it to Harry Potter, and for a good reason.  It takes an ancient theme (Greek mythology) and brings it into modern times, with modern characters and modern problems.  The entire series engrosses you into the modern world of the ancient Greek Gods.  Percy Jackson was the perfect hero for the series.  He was a little stubborn and spontaneous, which only added to his likability.  No hero can be absolutely perfect, and Percy was just the right mix of passion, adolescence, and wit.  


I loved many characters in the books, and hated the ones that I was supposed to.  It was surprising how much back-story there is in Greek mythology and how many different Gods and monsters they have.  It was fascinating to learn about the ancient civilization and their beliefs while enjoying a good adventure. 


Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Paperback: 1824 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
 Amazon
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The Gentle Let Down.

I feel like my book is pretty successful. I mean, I'm no Stephenie Meyer, and I doubt I ever will be. Let's be honest for a second: I don't want to be her. Even though there is a ton of Twilight Love (myself included), there is a whole stinkin' lot of Twilight hate! I wouldn't want to hear all that bad stuff about my work.

Moving on.

Even though I sell a few copies of The Gifted every month, both Kindle and paper copy, I feel like there is no where to go but up. Being published on Amazon gives me access to readers across the world! In fact, I got my first international payment today, and that felt pretty darn good.

Even though readers practically everywhere can get their metaphorical hands on The Gifted, I still feel like there is so much potential that I'm missing out on by not having my book in stores. Namely Deseret Book, Costco, Seagull Book, Border's, etc.

So, just print off some books and drop them off, right?

Wrong.

Most big name book stores get their inventory from a distributor. The distributor has a contract with the book store, they take care of inventory and pricing and whatever. It's easier that way for everyone.

I sent in my book to a distributor that a lot of authors had personally recommended. I felt like this was it. I didn't even bother shopping around because I just knew this company would read The Gifted and know I was their next best-seller.

After seven weeks of silence on their end, I finally broke the rule and called. You never call! But I called. I should have just known before I called that the answer would be no.

It was a polite no, but it was still a no. They tried to make me feel good about it, but the sting of rejection didn't care how "successful I am on my own."

Now I feel like I'm back to square one. It's OK. I'm just disappointed. I will be moving on though and trying to find a distributor. If I don't find one, I'll just keep writing and maybe someday someone will say, "Hey, this is pretty good. We ought to put this in our store."

Wouldn't that be the dream?

I keep reminding myself that I don't write to make money and become famous (though my neighbor says I'm a celebrity at their house). I write because I have stories that deserve to be told. Pin It

Review: Witch and Wizard by James Patterson

From Goodreads:

The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world?

***

I wanted to like this book, and to tell the truth, I almost did.  I read the sequel, "The Gift", and I attempted to read the one after that, "The Fire".  This book graces a list on Goodreads called "Books You Hate but Read Anyway."  That pretty much sums this series up for me.  By the time I got to the third book, I was just disappointed that I had sat on the library waiting list for 4 months.  It was really not worth the wait.  

The first book was okay.  The story was just getting started and so it was mildly entertaining and interesting.  I quickly got tired of the predictable action scenes where Whit and Wisty get caught in the cross-hairs of The One and manage to narrowly escape.  The main characters, bother and sister wizard and witch, don't seem to have much of an agenda.  They just run around as catastrophic things happen, all the while shouting sarcastic remarks at everyone.  


Teenagers have been given a stereotype of being edgy, cranky, and sarcastic.  This series took that stereotype to the extreme.  While most teenagers do harbor these characteristics, they tend to surface on occasion, not every minute of every day.  I got very tired of the continuously poor attempt of an author trying to connect with a much younger audience.

But by all means, if you have nothing else to do with your time, give this series a try.  You might love it.

On a side note, I absolutely love the covers for the entire series.  They make the books look much better than they are.

Reading Level: Ages 10 and up
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Amazon
Goodreads
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Holy ketchup. I mean catch-up.

Hey everyone!

First of all, my deepest apologies to anyone who still reads this blog. I've been wrapped up in life the last few weeks. We've had some tragedies in the family and in our neighborhood. Then I went out of town for a week. It's not like there wasn't internet way out in the middle of sunny Utah, but I just didn't feel like blogging while spending time with my awesome sister-in-laws. That's right. Us girls got together without our husbands. Now that's real sisterhood.

Now I'm back and I'm crackin' my knuckles, ready to get back to it.

We've had two giveaways end here on Deborah's Books.  All of the winners have been contacted and have responded. If you weren't contacted, you did not win. I'm sorry I didn't do a big announce post. I hope the winners enjoy their prizes. Don't forget to leave reviews on Goodreads or Amazon.

And there are a few of you out there who still haven't read The Gifted. Am I condemning you? No way! I'm just sayin' you might want to get on it. If you really think about it, I'm just looking out for you. I don't want your TBR pile to reach the ceiling, then topple over on you in your sleep. You might get a concussion and have to go to the ER. So I'm trying to keep you healthy. To make that goal a little easier to obtain:) , Amber at Jade Louise Designs is giving away THREE copies of The Gifted. A paperback copy and two Kindle versions. That makes this an international giveaway. Head over, check out her awesome review, and enter to win a copy of The Gifted.

In the mean time...has anyone else been sucked into the Pinterest vortex? I just barely clawed my way out, and I'm now down to spending about 15 minutes on Pinterest a day. That's saying something, considering part of the reason I haven't been around for the last month is because I got lost in there. Wow.



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Shower of Books Giveaway Hop

Hooray for Giveaway hops! You made it. I'm kind of in the middle of this hop, so if you've made it this far, you are quite dedicated.

Thanks to One a Day YA and I Am a Reader Not a Writer for the Shower of Books Giveaway Hop.

Today we have an awesome giveaway brought to you by author T.L. Shreffler. Her debut YA novel, Sora's Quest (Cat's Eye #1), was just released, and she is giving away a Kindle copy to FIVE lucky readers!

Let me give you two reasons you want to enter this giveaway.

Reason number one:

Enticing, no?

Reason number two:

A noblewoman, an assassin, and a soul-stealing necklace....

Sora planned on running away from her wedding, but she never expected to be kidnapped! Dumped into a world of magical races, arcane jewelry and forgotten lore, she finds herself at the mercy of a dangerous assassin, haunted by an even darker past. She yearns for freedom, but he won't let her go -- not when her Cat's Eye necklace is the only thing that can save his life.

But the necklace itself presents a problem. It is an ancient device from the long forgotten War of the Races, and its magic has the ability to steal souls. Can Sora learn to wield its power -- or will the power wield her?

Winner of the SKOW Best Fantasy Award! Find it on Amazon here.


Sounds awesome right? Well, five of you get to experience this amazing title for yourselves. Just enter below.



a Rafflecopter giveaway


(If the rafflecopter isn't working because it hates my guts, just follow this blog and then comment leaving your name and an email address. Thanks.)



The Giveaway will run from April 20 to April 25th. The winners will be announced and contacted via email; you will have 24 hours to claim your prize, or we will have to pick another winner. And then you'll find out that you won and it'll be too late because we'll have already given your book to someone else.

Don't make us do that.

Good luck! And don't forget to check out the other sites below to continue the hop.

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Review: Prince Charming Must Die!, by Isabella Fontaine and Ken Brosky

From the Authors:

On the eve of her 18^th birthday, high school junior Alice Goodenough feels on top of the world. Classes are almost finished. She’s about to start her summer job at the local library, where she’ll be surrounded by all of her favorite books. And she has a wonderful boyfriend.

Then the rabbit shows up. The giant talking rabbit. He has a message:

200 years ago, the Brothers Grimm unleashed their stories upon the world.

Literally.

With the help of a magic pen and paper, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm brought all of their characters to life. The world was a more magical place … for a time. Slowly, the Grimms’ characters began to change for the worse. They became Corrupted. Evil. They didn’t belong in our world, but it was too late for the Brothers Grimm to destroy them.

Only a hero could save the day. Every generation for the past 200 years, a hero has been chosen to fight the Corrupted and rid the world of the Grimms’ fairy tales. To her horror, Alice has been chosen as the next hero. As her 18^th birthday nears, she begins to realize life is never going back to normal. School will never be the same.

As for her boyfriend, Edward … well, he just might be hiding a terrible secret.

***

I was pleasantly surprised by this book.  Judging by the title, I was expecting something a little corny, a little funny, and a little entertaining.  I was more than a little entertained, and the story was much more adventurous and action packed than I had anticipated.  It wasn't a very long book, but from what I understand, another installment will be coming out in a couple of months.  I will definitely be reading it.  

I had only one complaint with the book (other than a few minor typos) and it had to do with the age of the heroine, Alice.  She seemed a little old to be in the 11th grade.  There were also a few inconsistencies  surrounding her.   Sometimes she was dealing with very grown up issues, and other times she was playing tag.  Tag?  And I don't think I've heard a teen use the phrase "we necked" in...well...ever.  

Other than my issue with the age inconsistencies, I really enjoyed this read and I can't wait for the next installment.  Alice is a character that I would love to learn more about and see how she develops over the course of this series.  I would love to find out how and why she was chosen to be the hero of her generation.  I am also interested to see if her newest friend will prove loyal to her, or possibly be her downfall.  

Title: Prince Charming Must Die!

Authors: Isabella Fontaine, Ken Brosky

Publisher: Brew City Press

Release Date: April 25, 2012

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Author Interview and Giveaway!

Today we are very pleased to have Vanessa Morgan with us. She is the author of Drowned Sorrow and The Strangers Outside.

Her upcoming screenplay, A Good Man, will be released on April 15th. It's actually being turned into a French feature film by Radowski Films.

Here is a short blip of her bio, stolen straight from her webpage:

Vanessa Morgan was born May 24, 1975 in Vilvoorde, Belgium. She graduated from Vrije Universiteit Brussel and she first worked as a freelance journalist, a language teacher and a pet supply store manager before becoming a full-time writer. Her native language is Dutch, but she loves to write in other languages such as English and French.

Vanessa Morgan lives in Brussels, Belgium, where she is at work on a French vampire screenplay for Radowski Films and a comic book series starring her beloved cat Avalon.

And on to the interview:

It's great to have you Vanessa. So, tell us about your upcoming release, A Good Man.

A Good Man is a dark comedy with a few horror elements.  I could best describe it as American Psycho with a vampire. Some people have also compared it to the TV-series Dexter.  It's a fun and moving story and it turns the vampire myth completely on its head. It's not the kind of vampire story you've seen before and if you think you know how things will turn out, then think again.

It sounds pretty exciting! Can you tell us a little more about Louis as a character. Is he your stereotypical vampire?

Not at all. Have you already seen an old, Botoxed, self-conscious vampire with arthritis? Probably not. And that's just the beginning. Louis has several other traits that set him apart from 'normal' vampires. He's a funny character, obviously, but he's also touching and even a bit tragic at times.

Is A Good Man the first in a series?

I don't have the intention of turning it into a series, but who knows... Only the future will tell.

This is actually a screenplay. It's being made into a French feature film; will we be able to see it in the states?

Sure. It will be a big production with a French star cast, so it'll be available on DVD and it should make it to the American screens as well.

What made you decide to start writing?

Seeing movies and stage plays that I adored and recognizing something of myself in it. It's all about creating emotions and about sharing something that 'rings true'.

Can you tell us a little more about yourself?

I'm obsessed with my cat, horror movies, tea and spicy food. All the rest is secondary. I've come to a point where writing has become my day job, so that means that I'm fortunate enough to combine my job with everything I love.

When will A Good Man be available to readers and where can we get a copy?

The Screenplay of A Good Man will be released on April 15, 2012 and will be available in all the digital formats such as Kindle, Kobo, Nook etc. It will also be released in French as Un homme bien. The movie itself is still in preproduction, so you will all have to wait a little for that one, but the screenplay is an excellent way to have an exclusive preview.

Where can fans go to learn more about you and watch for upcoming releases?

I have a personal blog at http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com where I post updates about upcoming releases, pictures of book signings and extracts of guest posts. I'm also doing a cute web comic about my cat at http://avalon-lion.blogspot.com.

Vanessa is giving a way a copy of A Good Man to one lucky reader! Enter below, and a winner will be announced on Friday April 20th. You must verify your winning email address within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen. 

Good Luck! (Click the Read More link to enter)

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Review: Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay (Juliet Immortal #1)

From Goodreads:

The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

"These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume."
—Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

**

OK, here comes a long review. Ready?

I have been wanting to read this book for a very long time. I saw it on Amazon and read the interview posted there with author Stacey Jay. I loved her interview and thought, "I've got to read this book!" Because, let's be honest, Romeo and Juliet is a classic, but it's also morbid. They don't call it a tragedy for nothing. I won't mention that I was completely obsessed with it as a teenager.

Anyway.

When my library called and told me they'd bought the book because I requested it, I was ecstatic! I drove over right then and got the book. I finished it 4 days later. The surprising thing was that, while I felt a push to finish and know what was going to happen next, it wasn't all that hard for me to put the book down in between my reading spurts. So, while 4 days seems pretty fast, it's actually longer than I would have expected.

Juliet: Eh...I'm not quite sure how I liked her as a character. If she were a normal person, rather than the heroine of a love story, I'd probably like her just fine. But the fact was she supposedly had 700 years of practice, and all of a sudden it's really hard for her to do her job. What? There was a little bit of light shed on that subject late in the book. For those of you who've read it, it's the comment Nurse makes about the number of shifts she's done. For those of you who haven't read it, read it and you'll discover what I mean.

Overall, I was sort of unmoved by her performance. I didn't hate her, but she wasn't one of my all-time favorite characters. And really, being distracted by a guy...wasn't that what got her into this mess in a first place?

Romeo: Surprisingly, I liked him. Sorta. Kinda. Just a little. He's super complex and totally warped. I'm probably a tad bit biased toward him because I've already started the sequel (called Romeo Redeemed...). But in the end we discover that even though he's a monster, he is still doing what he thinks is best and what will save Juliet. It's like he says, he's always loved her.


Ben: Um, I'm just going to say that I would have totally loved Ben had it not been for one simple thing. The head-over-heels, complete devotion kind of love that abounded seemed way too fast for me. It's supposed to be love at first sight, but that's what got Juliet into this mess in the first place! (Wait...have I said that before?) So really, it's not his fault. As a guy, I liked him. He was awesome. The situation was what make me pull back just a little. However, there was a twist at the end that was totally brilliant. 


The plot was fascinating. It was unlike anything I've ever read before. Two thumbs way up. The pacing was good and I didn't feel any jerks in the storyline (except for with Ariel's "best friend" Gemma. 'Scuze me? What kind of friend....never mind.) A drawback is the amount of blood, guts and gore mentioned in this book. The Mercenaries are the bad guys, and they are way bad guys. They feed (literally) off of killing people and convincing lovers to murder each other. Yeah, ick. There wasn't always a ton of detail, but that's the beauty of a good writer. She suggests just enough to let your mind fill in the blanks. And then, of course, there are the times when she just lays it out on the line and you don't need an imagination to know exactly what's happened.


All in all, if you don't have a weak stomach, this is a very interesting book, worth reading if you've got a gap in your to-be-read pile. I am already reading the sequel and finding it very interesting.


There is heavy violence, sexual references and swearing.

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (August 9, 2011)
• Source: local library
• Amazon
• Goodreads

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