One of the things I love the most about Melissa Giorgio‘s Smoke and Mirrors series is that she has shorter books about new characters about to appear in the main series, so you really get to feel for the new people before they show up in the main narrative. This is the second such book in the series and wow, look at this cover!
In a world where magic is real and dragons are extinct, the people of Meradell are keepers of a great secret: Dragons live. Highly protective of these magnificent creatures who were prosecuted relentlessly during the old wars, the Meradellans promised two hundred years ago to never betray them. But even though the ancient beings live peacefully, the magic is dying, and no new dragons have hatched in nearly three hundred years.
At fifteen years old, Nerine is in awe—and just a touch envious—of her older sister’s bond with one of the majestic beasts. When her sister’s dragon—the last one to hatch in the mountains—might become a mother herself, Nerine wonders why her sister should have all the glory. Setting off with her best friend, Nerine climbs the mountains in hopes of glimpsing the hatchlings.
What she encounters there is nothing she imagined or expected, and a disastrous chain of events brings about both the worst and best moments of Nerine’s life. Now she must learn to heal her heart and look to the future if she hopes to save both the dragons and herself.
Featuring a new cast of characters, Run and Touch the Sky is the penultimate book in the Smoke and Mirrors series by author Melissa Giorgio.
We’re months away from the release of THE WHISPERING ECHOES, Book 3 in the Smoke and Mirrors series by Melissa Giorgio! This just might be my favorite of the series… Not that the others weren’t amazing, but this one has. THE.BEST.DRAGON.SCENES.EVER!
A thousand years ago, the old wars came to a halt when the world’s three most powerful and dangerous magicians were trapped inside a prison stone. The stone has remained safely locked away inside the city of Dusk… until now. The cunning sorceress Aeonia has stolen the stone and Irina, Leonid, Vernen and their friends are desperate to track her down before the stone starts whispering to Aeonia with false promises of power.
But the journey isn’t easy. After a chance encounter with magic-hunting knights Claudette and Emile Borde that has unexpected consequences, Irina soon discovers the world outside of Dusk is nothing like she imagined. But to give up means to doom the world, and Irina will do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening. When a series of dire events forever changes the travelers, Irina will be forced to make a sacrifice which she’s not sure she’s capable of.
With more magic and danger than ever, the third book in the Smoke and Mirrors series will leave readers breathless as they race to read the explosive final pages.
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See how well it goes with the rest of the series?
If you’ve yet to check out Smoke and Mirrors, start with the first book, THE FADING DUSK, today! It’s free on Kindle Unlimited.
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In the gritty city of Dusk, seventeen-year-old Irina makes her living as the street magician Bantheir’s assistant. The job isn’t glamorous, but she loves the crowds, the shows, and most of all, the illusion of magic. But Irina’s world is shattered the night she is arrested and charged as Bantheir’s accomplice to murder—murder by magic.
Real magic, the kind that’s been forbidden since the old wars.
Irina finds the idea of flashy showman Bantheir using actual magic to kill someone laughable, but she’s the only one who sees how ridiculous the claim is. But how can she convince everyone Bantheir is innocent when they’ve already made up their minds? Desperate, Irina must decide who she can trust to help her win her freedom. Is the surly, handsome Captain Leonid telling the truth when he says he believes Irina is innocent, or is he just using her to get to Bantheir? What about Aden, the sweet soldier and longtime fan of Irina’s who claims he’s on her side?
Irina said she wanted to know the truth, but when she stumbles across a dark secret that changes everything, will she be strong enough to survive?
A few years ago, I started a tradition of listing all of the books I’ve read (not including manga or graphic novels, of which I’ve read a lot!) as a sort of memento of the fictional worlds I’ve been to throughout the year. I don’t keep my Goodreads profile updated with all of these reads because I don’t feel right doling out public criticisms of books as an author myself. This year, I decided to include the client books I’ve read as well (but only revealing the names of the books that have been announced, of course) because they should certainly count toward my total!
I know there are a few days left in the year, but I’m only halfway through a long book, so I won’t be reading any others!
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater – started in 2015
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – started in 2015
A Madness So Discrete by Mindy McGinnis
There Once Were Stars by Melanie McFarlane
Watched by Sharde Richardson
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Why Is This Night Different From All Other Nights? by Lemony Snicket
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell (novella)
Life and Death by Stephenie Meyer
Winter by Marissa Meyer
The Whispering Echoes by Melissa Giorgio
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling and Jack Thorne
Spinning Thorns by Anna Sheehan
What Doesn’t Kill Us by Stephanie Henry
The Story of Us by Stephanie Henry
C-Vac by Stephanie Henry
Book by client
The Descendants and the Missing Guardian by Melanie McFarlane
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Book by client
The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
Book by client
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
By the Icy Wild (Mortality Book 3) by Everly Frost
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas (still reading into 2017)
Tricks can be fun, but TREATS are way better. And this contest gives you a chance to win a ton of treats in the form of signed books, ebooks, candy, book swag and more from 13 authors!! We know…it’s kind of SPOOK-TACULAR!
So WHAT WILL YOU WIN??
A creepy-awesome black canvas tote bag with a cool skull on the cover, filled with each of the books noted below as well as bookmarks and other great book swag. You will also win all of the treats that the author’s list on their pages PLUS a bunch of other candy treats all in a black plastic cauldron. You’ll even get the cute little plastic skulls shown in the prize photo.
LIST OF PARTICIPATING AUTHORS and their AWESOME BOOKS!
Amy McNulty – NOBODY’S GODDESS (advanced paperback)
Kiran Oliver – DAYBREAK RISING (ebook)
Dorothy Dreyer – SCARE ME TO SLEEP (Kindle ebook)
Jodie Andrefski – THE SOCIETY (signed paperback)
Julia Ember – UNICORN TRACKS (paperback)
Julie Reece – THE ARTISANS (signed paperback)
Nina Rossing – FJORD BLUE (signed paperback)
Pat Edsen – BEYOND YOUR TOUCH(signed paperback)
Pintip Dunn – FORGET TOMORROW (signed paperback)
S.A.Larsen – MOTLEY EDUCATION (signed paperback)
Suzanne van Rooyen – OBSCURA BURNING (Releases 11/10 ebook)
Vanessa Barneveld – THIS IS YOUR AFTERLIFE (Kindle ebook)
Vicki Weavil – FACSIMILE (signed paperback)
SO HOW DO YOU SNAG THE LOOT YOU MAY BE ASKING ABOUT NOW, RIGHT?
It’s simple, and you don’t even have to dress up and walk in the cold, door to door, to get the goodies. Visit each of the THIRTEEN participating author websites. You will find the name of the candy/treat they are giving away, as well as what BOOK they are offering as part of the PRIZE PACK! Be sure to write down the name of the treat, you’ll need it later. Each author will provide a link to another author website on the hunt. (We are making it nice and easy so you don’t get lost in the dark) =)
Have fun reading all about the books each author is giving away in the prize pack, plus any other tricks and treats the authors may have in store for you.
When you have collected the names of all 13 author “TREATS”,head on over to complete the Trick or Treat Hunt Page Google Forms doc and enter the correct treat next to the corresponding author name.
You can enter for BONUS chances to win via the Rafflecopter found on each author’s website, by doing things like following them on Twitter or following their Goodreads page, or tweeting about the Hunt!
The contest runs from Friday October 28th, 2016 through Midnight, October 31st, 2016 (EST)
Winner will be announced November 1st.
Contest is US only. Thank you for your understanding.
For my part of the hunt, I am giving away a copy of NOBODY’S GODDESS!
For my treat prize, I’m throwing in one of my favorites: HELLO PANDA COOKIES (CHOCOLATE BISCUITS).
To continue on the hunt, be sure to head on over to Julie Reece’s blog. She is the author of several YA novels, and for this hunt she is giving away a signed copy of The Artisans.
But before you head out, don’t forget to write down the name of my treat, and enter to win via the rafflecopter below. Feel free to leave a comment telling me YOUR favorite Halloween treat for another entry. Remember, you can tweet daily about the contest for another chance to win. Happy hunting, and good luck!! Thanks for stopping by my blog! =)
The wait is finally over! You can finally get your hands on the Kindle version of THE BURNING CHAOS by Melissa Giorgio right now! 😀
Two months after Bantheir’s betrayal, Irina is learning how to live in a world where magic is not only real, but a part of her everyday life. As a spy for Parnaby, the shadowy president of the city of Dusk, Irina has to pretend Parnaby’s manipulation magic worked on her and she doesn’t remember his horrifying proclamation about Vernen. If her friend, brought back from the dead by an ancient source of magic, begins to show even a hint of magic, Parnaby will kill him without hesitation.
When a mysterious woman named Aeonia confronts Irina, she threatens to tell Parnaby everything Irina is hiding from him if Irina doesn’t steal a magical artifact from the president’s mansion. Knowing she’s the only one who can protect Vernen, Irina agrees to Aeonia’s demands, but she wonders if this ultimate betrayal will destroy her newfound happiness with Leonid—and get her killed in the process.
With elements of magic, mystery, and murder, The Burning Chaos takes readers on a dangerous journey through Dusk, introducing them to new characters and reuniting them with old favorites. Can Irina stay one step ahead of everyone and save Vernen? Or is she doomed to succumb to the magic she once loved but now despises?
I’m the editor for this series and I can’t express how much LOVE I have for it! If you enjoy magic and mystery, romance and adventure, pick it up today!
Long-time blog readers know that I’m the beta reader and/or editor for my best friend and fellow YA author Melissa Giorgio‘s books. Her most recent release, THE FADING DUSK, was book one in her latest series, a YA fantasy with a touch of Victorian-era flair, Smoke and Mirrors. Now it’s time for the AMAZING cover reveal for book two!
Two months after Bantheir’s betrayal, Irina is learning how to live in a world where magic is not only real, but a part of her everyday life. As a spy for Parnaby, the shadowy president of the city of Dusk, Irina has to pretend Parnaby’s manipulation magic worked on her and she doesn’t remember his horrifying proclamation about Vernen. If her friend, brought back from the dead by an ancient source of magic, begins to show even a hint of magic, Parnaby will kill him without hesitation.
When a mysterious woman named Aeonia confronts Irina, she threatens to tell Parnaby everything Irina is hiding from him if Irina doesn’t steal a magical artifact from the president’s mansion. Knowing she’s the only one who can protect Vernen, Irina agrees to Aeonia’s demands, but she wonders if this ultimate betrayal will destroy her newfound happiness with Leonid—and get her killed in the process.
With elements of magic, mystery, and murder, The Burning Chaos takes readers on a dangerous journey through Dusk, introducing them to new characters and reuniting them with old favorites. Can Irina stay one step ahead of everyone and save Vernen? Or is she doomed to succumb to the magic she once loved but now despises?
The snow! The fire! This whole cover is just… jaw-dropping!
NOBODY’S GODDESS is only 99¢ for a limited time! It’s available on Kindle, Nook and Kobo at that price. If you’ve already enjoyed it (thank you~), please consider buying one as a gift for a friend! (Kobo sells internationally at that price, I’m pretty sure, but unfortunately, it looks like the price is exclusive to the U.S. for Kindle and Nook.)
This is the first time this book has been on sale for so cheap! With the release of the second book in The Never Veil Series in less than a week, there’s never been a better time to see what my YA romantic fantasy series is all about.
If you haven’t read Melissa Giorgio‘s The Fading Dusk, you really should! Not only is it full of magic and adventure, but the sequel is coming out this summer.
…But this post isn’t about the sequel. It’s about a surprise novella in the Smoke and Mirrors series, one that’s both a perfect introduction to the world for new fans and a must-read for people who already love the world and its characters. (Although it’s largely about new characters!)
Today is the cover reveal for Melissa’s upcoming novella, By the Morning Light! It’s simply beautiful!! Add it to your Goodreads list today!
For Claudette and Emile Borde, living in the city of Ayres and working on their parents’ farm has never been enough. Influenced by stories of the past, in which magic was real and the dragons still lived, the siblings have always dreamed of leaving their city behind and embarking on their own adventures. But as squires training to become full-fledged knights, they must renounce magic, for it was magic that nearly tore the world apart during the old wars.
When the carnival comes to the city, Claudette meets Aeonia, and the two become fast friends. But Aeonia is no simple girl playing at fortune telling—she can wield magic, and it’s both breathtaking and volatile. Torn between upholding her duty as a squire and keeping a secret for her friend, Claudette must decide where her loyalties lie. Is this the adventure she’s always craved, or is she dooming her city and her loved ones by remaining silent?
Another year just flew by! It was my big YA debut year, too, and although I don’t feel like my life has changed drastically, I’ve been floored by the readers who’ve taken the time to reach out to me–thank you! I hope it’s just the start of a longer book writing career.
The past couple of years, I’ve posted a list of all the books I read (not including graphic novels and manga, of which I’ve read many) on this blog to celebrate New Year’s. Why do I do this and not post every book I read on Goodreads? I feel weird publicly assigning grades and criticizing other people’s novels as an author, especially since if I don’t love something, it might just be my own tastes, you know? This is a way for me to celebrate how much I’ve read each year.
Split Second by Kasie West
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Monk and the New Lieutenant by Hy Conrad
The World We Live in by Susan Beth Pfeffer
The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer
No Life But This by Anna Sheehan
Ransomwood by Sherryl Jordan
The Fading Dusk by Melissa Giorgio (second time read through for proofs)
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
Smoke and Mirrors #2, sequel to The Fading Dusk by Melissa Giorgio (reading ahead of time as her editor)
Dexter Is Dead by Jeff Lindsay
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet by Kate Rorick and Rachel Kiley
Cress by Marissa Meyer
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
Naruto: Kakashi’s Story by Akira Higashiyama
Fairest by Marissa Meyer
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater – still reading
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – still reading
Each year I’ve read fewer books, but I did spend a lot of time reading graphic novels and manga I’m not counting on this list–over 100 volumes, in fact!
My bestie/beta reader Melissa Giorgio released the first book in her new YA fantasy series last month, and now Xpresso Book Tours is looking for book bloggers to host stops for the official tour! If you want to review the book (and get a free copy), host a guest post or interview, or do a spotlight, sign up before slots run out!
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Amy McNulty 