Friday, June 29, 2012

Guest Post: Save the Readers! by Leslie Ramey

With increasing technologies and the introduction of ebooks, it is easier than ever to publish a book whether it is quality or not. The sheer number of books published every year does not make finding the right book easy! I don’t know about you, but I can’t count the times that I’ve been sucked into buying a book that I didn’t enjoy one bit! Luckily Leslie and Jessica of Grub Street Reads have come up with a solution! I’m extremely pleased to introduce Leslie of Grub Street Reads: A site designed to help us readers sift through the never-ending supply of books.

Save the Readers!

A Guest Post by Leslie Ramey

Buy My Book ImageThere has never been a better time to be a book lover.

There has never been a scarier time to be a book lover.

With more than 100,000 books born every year through big publishing houses, indie publishers and self-publishing, it can be a daunting task to find the right book to read. At the same time, we now how have access to more books than ever. The ease of self-publishing has given many authors the ability to share their works with the world in ways that would have never been possible just a couple of years ago.

It’s easy to see how overwhelming it can be to pick out a book to read and why it’s more important than ever that we become savvy book buyers. One easy way to do this is to educate yourself. Did you know that many book reviews on Amazon and Barnes and Noble are written by friends or colleagues of the author and may not represent a true unbiased review? I mean, who wants to say anything bad about their friend’s or family member’s book? So, while reviews can be helpful, pay attention to all of the reviews and not just the 5 star ones.

Another great tip is to download a sample of the book. You’ll only get the first 10-20%, but a well written book should be able to suck you in instantly. The samples are like test driving a book. You wouldn’t buy a car without firing up the engine. So check under the cover of your next book before you spend your money. Grub Street Reads Endorsement

There is one more way to tell if the book you are going to buy is up to par - check whether or not it has a Grub Street Reads Endorsement. An endorsement from our company (oh, did I mention that this project is the brain child of myself and my business partner, Jessica Bennett?) can guide you to a book that has met the high quality standards of our evaluation process.

Allow me to give you a brief tour of Grub Street Reads. As book lovers like you, Jessica and I were tired purchasing books that couldn’t sweep us up and carry us away. So, we took the situation into our own hands and developed an evaluation system to determine quality books. All great stories have a few things in common like well-rounded characters, engaging plots and a solid ending that leaves you satisfied or excited about the next book in the series. We took these elements and combined them with a few more key components of good storytelling, and wha-la, our evaluation system was born. Books that meet our evaluation criteria earn a Grub Street Reads endorsement, which is noted by our seal on their cover.

GSR Home Page

We want readers to give some of these unknown authors a shot, and this is one way you can trust that the story you buy is going to be engaging. Now, we don’t guarantee that you will love everything you read from our endorsed book library, because reading is very subjective, and our system aims to be as objective as possible. But we are confident that you’ll meet some great new authors and maybe your next favorite book.

Special thanks to Leslie and Jessica for this awesome guest post! Be sure to check out Grub Street Reads for more info!

GSR Logo

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Ebook of the Week + Giveaway: Beyond the Eyes

Ebook of the Week "Ebook of the Week" is a weekly feature here at Inklings Read. Each week I feature an ebook as well as a giveaway! Ebooks featured in these posts will always be well rated and reasonably priced!

Sometimes, if we're lucky, the author will drop by to say "Hi" with a few words on their book as well. Now let’s showcase Inklings Read’s Ebook of the Week! 

Today, Rebekkah Ford joins us to talk a bit about her title, Beyond the Eyes. I couldn’t be more excited to feature it!

Beyond The Eyes by Rebekkah Ford

Goodreads | Buy It on Amazon

Beyond the EyesPaige knows evil exists in this world, but she never imagined it would want something from her.

After a ghostly voice whispers a haunting message to seventeen-year-old Paige Reed, Paige’s life takes a nightmarish turn. Unwilling to tell her friends about the supernatural occurrences happening in her life, Paige feels more alone than ever–until she meets Nathan Caswell.

Nathan is not only hot, but seems to peer into Paige’s soul, evoking a magnetic energy between them that cannot be denied. But he’s no ordinary guy. He tracks dark spirits, and becomes alarmed when they set their sights on Paige.

And then there are the two power-hungry dark spirits who believe Paige can find King Solomon’s magical ring for them, because when her father was alive, he was close to finding it. If Paige doesn’t comply with their demands, they’ll kill her.

Paige is forced to dig deep into her father’s past and unearths shocking secrets about him and his bloodline. With the past and present colliding, Paige is only sure about two things in her life: she needs to outwit the dark spirits to stay alive, and she’s completely and helplessly in love with Nathan.


Book Trailer



Rebekkah FordABOUT REBEKKAH

Rebekkah Ford grew up in a family that dealt with the paranormal. Her parents’ Charles and Geri Wilhelm were the Directors of the UFO Investigators League in Fairfield, Ohio, back in the 1970s. They also investigated ghost hauntings and Bigfoot sightings in addition to UFO’s. Growing up in this type of environment and having the passion for writing is what drove Rebekkah at an early age to write stories dealing with the paranormal. At one point in her life, she thought she wanted to be a journalist, and although she enjoyed writing articles, she quickly discovered her real passion was writing fiction. Her fascination with the paranormal is what led her to write the ‘Beyond the Eyes’ series. Visit her online and read her blog at http://themusingwriter.blogspot.com

 

Author Interview: Rebekkah Ford

Tell us about Beyond the Eyes. What do you think sets it apart from other YA paranormal novels available today?

Beyond the EyesBeyond the Eyes, is the first book in a three-book paranormal series. It’s written in the POV of seventeen-year-old Paige Reed. Paige receives a cryptic death message from a ghostly voice, which changes her life forever. Bizarre and frightening things begin to happen to her. But then she meets Nathan Caswell. There’s a magnetic energy between them they can’t deny. Paige later discovers Nathan tracks dark spirits, and her life is in danger. Some of them can see a bright light inside her, and they don’t like it. The world Paige thought she knew, is stripped from her even more when two power-hungry dark spirits wants her to find King Solomon’s ring. They believe she can find it because when her father was alive, he was close to finding it. If Paige doesn’t comply with their demands, they’ll kill her. Paige is then forced to dig deep into her father’s past and unearths shocking secrets about him and his bloodline. With the past and present colliding, Paige is only sure about two things in her life: she needs to outwit the dark spirits, and she’s completely and helplessly in love with Nathan.

I think what sets Beyond the Eyes apart from other YA paranormal novels is for one, it’s original. I haven’t yet ran across a story like this before. So hopefully, people will get into this series. And for another, the story is told in such a way that I’m hoping will make the reader wonder if it’s true or not.

Do you know what I mean?

Like, OMG! What if it’s true?

I wanted to write a story that could be believable. Yeah, it’s fiction, but is it really? Also, this first book in the series deals with issues Paige has to overcome before she can step into the next phase of her life. The second book, though, Dark Spirits, is much, much darker.

How long did it take you to finish Beyond the Eyes?

It took me three months to write the rough draft and close to a year to rewrite it.

If you could put together a soundtrack for your novel, what are some songs you would include?

  • Metallica–Enter Sandman
  • Avril Lavigne–I’m With You
  • Lifehouse–Whatever It Takes

What are some of your current favorite books?

  • Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice
  • The Mayfair Witches by Anne Rice
  • The Stand by Stephen King
  • 1984 by George Orwell
  • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

What is your writing/editing process like?

I write every chance I get. I’ll write in the morning before I go to work and when I get home from work. I also write on the weekends and can spend ten hours with no problem at my computer writing.

When did you know you wanted to write?

Well, I always loved books and reading, but I didn’t realize I could be a writer until I was seven. That was when I started writing poems and stories.

Are there any authors out there you look up to? If so, who are they and how have they affected you and your writing?

I grew up reading Anne Rice’s books. I love how she writes and tells her stories. So she totally affected me in my childhood.

J.K. Rowling is an author I totally look up to. I think she’s a genius, and although I don’t know her personally, she seems like a wonderful, down-to-earth person.

Rebekkah-Ford3ABOUT REBEKKAH

Rebekkah Ford grew up in a family that dealt with the paranormal. Her parents’ Charles and Geri Wilhelm were the Directors of the UFO Investigators League in Fairfield, Ohio, back in the 1970s. They also investigated ghost hauntings and Bigfoot sightings in addition to UFO’s. Growing up in this type of environment and having the passion for writing is what drove Rebekkah at an early age to write stories dealing with the paranormal. At one point in her life, she thought she wanted to be a journalist, and although she enjoyed writing articles, she quickly discovered her real passion was writing fiction. Her fascination with the paranormal is what led her to write the ‘Beyond the Eyes’ series. Visit her online and read her blog at http://themusingwriter.blogspot.com

If you’re interested in reading Beyond the Eyes today’s your lucky day!! Beyond the Eyes is the featured ebook at Inklings Read this week. Visit my homepage for more info!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Review: This is Not a Test

This is Not a TestThis is Not a Test by Courtney Summers 
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Release Date: June 19th, 2012
Buy It From AmazonGoodreads
★★★★★
It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.

To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.

But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?
I approached This is Not a Test as I would any other zombie novel: expecting only blood, guts, and horror. I was gravely mistaken... While This is Not a Test does contain the elements mentioned above, there is significantly more to this story. It is emotional, humbling, thought provoking, and original. In truth, it is not the plot that makes this book shine, it's the characters, namely Sloane.

Sloane didn't want to live. She was tired, damaged, and looking for a way out. She was weak and not particularly likeable. Still, I didn't want to see her die. As my dislike for her character grew, I also found that in the process I started rooting for her. I just wanted her to find some peace. Happiness maybe? Thankfully Rhys was there to give her a glimpse of what could be. Rhys' character really impressed me. He maintained a level-head throughout all the madness. Trace on the other hand clashed with Rhys on everything and fed off of the mayhem. I don't think Trace was a bad person, just very hurt. In a way each of the characters in this story was damaged.

As far as setting goes, it didn't really change all that much through the story. Very little of this book occurs outside the school walls. Boring? Not one bit. The tension between the characters alone would have been enough to keep me engaged and reading.

While This is Not a Test makes for a perfect, open-ended standalone novel, I would absolutely love to see a sequel. Ok, scratch that.... I'm DYING for a sequel! If you don't mind a little less gore and a little more emotion in your zombie books, this is definitely for you.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

ARC Tour Signups: Wake by Amanda Hocking

Tour Info

Hi Inklings!! I have a special opportunity for you guys today. I have an ARC of Wake (AUGUST 2012) by Amanda Hocking and I’d like to give you a chance to read it. I’ve already enjoyed it! You can see my review here. If you’re interested in participating in the tour, it’s really simple: Fill out the form below, I send the book to the first person, they send it to the next, and so on. Ideally, I would like to get 5-8 bloggers/reviewers involved. Sign up below and I will contact the chosen ones for more information!

Book Info

WakeWake (Watersong, #1) by Amanda Hocking
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: ARC
Release Date: August 7th, 2012
Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs.  She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door.  He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back.  Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever.  She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove.  They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price.  And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

RULES

  1. US Only.
  2. You do not need to have a blog, but please do have a place where you post reviews.
  3. You must read and send the book out to the next person within 2 weeks.
  4. Let me know when you receive and send out the book.
  5. I'm not specific about when you write your review or how long it takes to write. Please do send me a link when you’ve posted it though!
See! Simple. If you're interested fill out the form below:

SIGNUPS ARE NOW CLOSED! THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Review: Wake (Watersong, #1)

WakeWake (Watersong, #1) by Amanda Hocking
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher/BEA
Release Date: August 7th, 2012
Buy It From AmazonGoodreads
★★★★☆
Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs.  She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door.  He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back.  Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever.  She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove.  They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price.  And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.
Not having read any of Amanda Hocking's books, I was hesitant to pick up Wake. Luckily, I was not disappointed. Wake proved itself to be a fast, engaging read! While I didn't find myself particularly impressed with the characters, I fell in love with the story. Hocking's true skill for storytelling will make Wake hard to put down this summer!

I was surprised to find that Wake has a darker side. I was expecting the usual fluffy summer romance. Not that there's anything particularly wrong with that, but it can get predictable. Wake was something completely different: an intelligent mix of mythology, horror, and a pinch of romance. After moving a bit slow in the beginning, Wake quickly picked up after Gemma's encounter with Penn, Lexi, and Thea on the cove.
 
The three antagonists, specifically Penn, made wicked awesome villains: beautiful yet deadly and easy to hate. Gemma was the perfect counter to the threesome mentioned above! She was passionate, likable, and relatively easy to relate to. Gemma was great, but the character that really stole my heart was Daniel! Daniel was a bit of a bum, living on a boat and all, but he had a fantastic personality. He was such an interesting character that he quickly became my favorite! Honestly, I wish he would have been Gemma's love interest instead of Alex!

While I do wish that the characters were a bit more developed, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment of the Watersong series. Definitely throw this one in your beach bag this August when it releases!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

ARC Giveaway: Throne of Glass

For my second BEA giveaway, I have for you the highly anticipated Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass (<—Rhymes with “Glass!”)!! When I first heard about this one I knew I would have to get my hands on it at BEA.  I LOVE assassin books! Especially ones with a strong female lead (think Grave Mercy!).  I’m super excited that I have an opportunity to give away this ARC to you guys! Please read the rules and enter using the rafflecopter form below.

Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) by Sarah J. Mass
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Release Date: August 7th 2012

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Book Trailer

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Review: Vanish (Firelight, #2)

VanishVanish (Firelight, #2) by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTeen 
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Buy It From AmazonGoodreads
★★★★☆
An impossible romance.
Bitter rivalries.
Deadly choices.


To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?
The Firelight series continues to be refreshing and original with it’s second installment, Vanish. In Vanish, I became much more familiar with Tamra’s character! I liked the change of pace and focus from Firelight. While there seems to be less action in this book, there is much progress in character development!

I’ll be honest and admit that tables have turned in this book! I found myself liking Cassian and Tamra’s characters much more than I did originally! That is a feat in itself as I had developed a deep hatred for them both in the first book. I suppose this change can be attributed to seeing the other dimensions of their personalities. I came to realize that they really aren’t all that bad. On top of that, I actually developed some dislike for Will. I know, crazy right!? I thought so too, but he appeared snobby, possessive, and controlling, even more so than Cassian, in this book! As for the other characters in the novel, I only have one thing to say: F*#% Miram. When you read Vanish you will understand.

While I enjoyed Vanish, I do feel that there was a lot of filler in the story. There were times where I felt things could have progressed a bit faster or been more involved and action-packed. That being said, the conclusion left me craving for more of Jacinda’s story. I have a feeling that the third book, Hidden, will provide the action and epic-ness that I found lacking in Vanish. I’m definitely looking forward to it! I can’t wait to see what lurks behind enemy lines!

Monday, June 18, 2012

YA Kindle Deals Under $5: 6/18/12

Here you'll find some of the best Kindle deals available. Some books are well known and some are hidden gems that I've found, but ALL books below have 4+ star ratings on Amazon. Let's admit it: Mondays can be a little... draining on the soul. So what works better for lifting the spirit than finding some great books for cheap!?
Here are my featured deals for the week:

All of the titles below have 4+ star ratings or are from popular series on Amazon.com.

FREE!


Review & Tour: The Age of Miracles

The Age of MiraclesThe Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker
Publisher: Random House
Format: ARC
Source: TLC Book Tours
Release Date: June 26th 2012
Buy It From AmazonGoodreads
★★★★☆
“It still amazes me how little we really knew. . . . Maybe everything that happened to me and my family had nothing at all to do with the slowing. It’s possible, I guess. But I doubt it. I doubt it very much.”

Luminous, haunting, unforgettable, The Age of Miracles is a stunning fiction debut by a superb new writer, a story about coming of age during extraordinary times, about people going on with their lives in an era of profound uncertainty.

On a seemingly ordinary Saturday in a California suburb, Julia and her family awake to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth has suddenly begun to slow. The days and nights grow longer and longer, gravity is affected, the environment is thrown into disarray. Yet as she struggles to navigate an ever-shifting landscape, Julia is also coping with the normal disasters of everyday life—the fissures in her parents’ marriage, the loss of old friends, the hopeful anguish of first love, the bizarre behavior of her grandfather who, convinced of a government conspiracy, spends his days obsessively cataloging his possessions. As Julia adjusts to the new normal, the slowing inexorably continues.

The Age of Miracles is a somber and insightful look into the end of it all. I began reading filled with hope. That hope was slowly drained. I wanted to see Julia beat the odds and persevere! Instead I got a nostalgic look back on things that we take for granted every single day: a bird, sunlight, grass, etc. It was through Julia’s eyes that I could see just how delicate the balance of our planet is… and just how easily it can all come apart. The greatest thing about this book is the realism! The worst and most chilling part is that we’ve already experienced some of it.

"Haunting." In one word that's how I would describe The Age of Miracles. There were several scenes that left me hopeless for Julia’s world. I compare the feeling, not plot, of this book to the movie The Butterfly Effect, if you've ever seen it. Despite the slowness of the novel, I found it hard to stop reading. The Age of Miracles was not difficult to push through, not uninteresting, just slow at times. I guess that goes with the whole “slowing” of the world thing.

I was going to give The Age of Miracles 3 stars due to the open ending and lack of conclusion, until I realized that’s the whole point! This book is supposed to make you think. It’s supposed to evoke feeling. For that, I give The Age of Miracles 4 stars. Read this if you are looking for an eco-apocalyptic read that is thoughtful and emotional.

*Special thanks to Random House and TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to review this book!*

TLC Book Tours

Click the banner above to see a full list of tour stops!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

SYNC Summer 2012: FREE YA Audiobooks

Hi Inklings! I’m here to let you in on one of the BIGGEST deals of the summer. If you haven’t already heard, there is this great summer program called SYNC! Basically, they offer up 2 free audiobooks each week, one YA and one classic. All you need to participate is an email address and a program called Overdrive, which you may already have if you listen to library audiobooks anyway!

Once you download the audiobooks, you can listen to them whenever! There is no time constraint: you own them. This is one of the greatest deals out there and it is a fantastic opportunity for those looking to try audiobooks. They are offering up some great audiobooks this summer including:

Anna Dressed In BloodDaughter of Smoke and BoneCleopatra's Moon

Anna Dressed in Blood: 07/05/12 – 07/11/12

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone: 08/02/12 – 08/08/12

Cleopatra’s Moon: 07/19/12 – 07/25/12

You heard that right!? THE DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND FREAKIN BONE…. FOR FREE! Be sure to sign up for emails so you don’t miss out on this opportunity. You only have one week to download each title, so make sure you take advantage of this while they are available! This week they are offering up the YA dystopian The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch and the classic Grapes of Wrath! I participated last year toward the end of the program, but I still picked up some great titles!

Interested (YOU BETTER BE)!? Check out the titles available each week and sign up for their emails here: http://www.audiobooksync.com/

Sync Summer 2012

*Image courtesy of SYNC*

Monday, June 11, 2012

YA Kindle Deals Under $5: 6/11/12

Here you'll find some of the best Kindle deals available. Some books are well known and some are hidden gems that I've found, but ALL books below have 4+ star ratings on Amazon. Let's admit it: Mondays can be a little... draining on the soul. So what works better for lifting the spirit than finding some great books for cheap!?
Here are my featured deals for the week:

All of the titles below have 4+ star ratings or are from popular series on Amazon.com.

FREE!


Sunday, June 10, 2012

Signed ARC Giveaway: The Raven Boys

Hi Inklings - I have a special treat for you this week! I just got back from BEA on Thursday and had an absolute blast there. Luckily my sweet/awesome boyfriend went with me, so I was able to snag a few extra copies of things for YOU! For the first giveaway of this week, I have a SIGNED ARC of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater!! After reading the rules below, you can enter using the rafflecopter form at the bottom.

The Raven Boys

The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: Sept 2012

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

Book Trailer

Sunday, June 3, 2012

BEA 2012: Headed to NYC Tomorrow!!

AHHHH!! I’m so excited (and nervous) I can barely contain myself. I. AM. GOING. TO. BEA! Unfortunately, this means I won’t be posting at all this entire week!

I’m looking forward to meeting all of the fantastic authors, publishers, and fellow bloggers there! I’ll be on the floor Tuesday and Wednesday so be sure to say hi if you recognize me :) I’m always looking to make new friends, even if I’m pretty shy. There’s a picture below so you guys can recognize me!

Sarah - Inklings Read

Here’s a tentative schedule for some opportunities to bump into me! Click on the photos to enlarge.

TUESDAY, JUNE 5TH

BEA June 5th 2012

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6TH

BEA June 6th 2012

Hope to see you guys there!!