BLOG TOUR: The Fallen Prince by Amalie Howard

We are thrilled to kick off this exciting Blog Tour for Amalie Howard's The Fallen Prince, the second novel in The Riven Chronicles! Today, on my tour stop, I am sharing an exciting excerpt! Plus, enter the cool blitz-wide giveaway...at the end of this post!

Genre:

Young Adult

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Romance

Series:

The Riven Chronicles, #2

Publish Date:

April 5, 2016

Publisher:

Sky Pony Press

Synopsis:

Riven has fought for a hard-won peace in her world, and has come to shaky terms with who and what she is—a human with cyborg DNA. Now that the rightful ruler of Neospes has been reinstated, Riven is on the hunt for her father in the Otherworld to bring him to justice for his crimes against her people.

But when she receives an unwelcome visit from two former allies, she knows that trouble is brewing once again in Neospes. The army has been decimated and there are precious few left to fight this mysterious new threat.

To muster a first line of defense, her people need help from the one person Riven loathes most—her father. But what he wants in return is her complete surrender.

And now Riven must choose: save Neospes or save herself.

    

*Excerpt*

As the last two people disappear behind Caden and his two Faction guards in a blue haze, I take a breath and hit the coordinates on the keypad.

Era’s eyes meet mine. Even in a wheelchair she still looks fierce. “Remember your promise.”

I’m not sure whether she means my promise to not get in the way or my promise to defend Neospes with my life. Maybe they’re one and the same. “I remember.”

I hit ENTER.

The wind sucks at my gut, pulling me in toward my belly-button as if every part of my body is dissolving and coalescing into that one point. I keep my eyes open for as long as possible, watching time elongate on all sides before the wormhole breaks me into a million pieces. The nanobes harden around my cells, making them impervious to the gravitational changes in pressure. For a second, I feel invincible.

Unbreakable.

At the midpoint of the transition, all is silent, like being in the center of a storm before things start picking up. I’m snapped back together again, disparate cells rushing together toward the whole. As I exit the jump, everything explodes into motion at once.

Voices are coming at me from every direction—screaming and yelling. My ninjatas are out of their harness and in my hands before I can blink. The hot glint of metal reflects o the bodies surrounding us, the sour scent of rotting flesh filling the air. Reptiles—hundreds of them.

Sequel to:

(cover link to Goodreads)

      

~~~~~

Praise for The Fallen Prince

"[P]acked with action . . . Imagery is the highlight of this book."—VOYA

“A parallel-dimension–jumping cyborg soldier must make questionable alliances to save her country from an existential threat in this sequel to The Almost Girl. [O]ffers a solid conclusion.”—Kirkus Reviews

“This sequel to The Almost Girl was everything I wanted: non-stop action, smart science, new and intriguing characters, and a satisfying romance. I couldn’t put it down!” —Page Morgan, author of The Beautiful and the Cursed

“[T]he next step in a dark, clever and thrilling scorched-earth, world-hopping adventure.” —Jet Black Ink

~~~~~

**About the Author**

Amalie Howard grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn't entirely convinced which takes more guts.

She is the award-winning author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid's INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, and the sequel, Bloodcraft, was a national silver IPPY medalist. She is also the co-author of the adult historical romance series, The Lords of Essex. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children.

Stay connected with Amalie Howard

    

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***The Giveaway***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Organized by

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Genre:

Action/Adventure

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Rating:

PG-13

Run Time:

144 minutes

Release Date:

May 27, 2016

Directed by:

Bryan Singer

Social Media:

    

Plot Summary:

Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel's X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven with the help of Professor X must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

source

Cast:

James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn, Lucas Till, Evan Peters, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alexandra Shipp, Hosh Helman, Lana Condor, Ben Hardy.

See Full List of Cast & Crew on IMDB

*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

I was absolutely stunned at how much I enjoyed this film! Since X-Men: Days of Future Past, this is another enjoyable film. Given that the previous film gave us the concept of "change the past, change the future," pretty much opened the door for this current X-Men installment.

This was mind-blowing! The action was cool and exciting...and constant. We were introduced to the young '80s version of our favorite characters. Yay! Casting was great! Never fails... James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender reprises their roles as Professor X and Magneto, respectively! They give their characters depth and realism...just like Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan. Of course, Jennifer Lawrence totally impresses as Mystique. OMG! Then there's Sophie Turner! What more needs to be said!?! She embodies the character of a young Jean Grey.

We get a glimpse of who or what Apocalypse is in the beginning, giving us an idea of what our mutants will be up against. Again...like the previous installments, we see our mutants come together to battle a greater evil. Crazy to see Storm on the other side of the cause...haha! And, to see Magneto lose his way...again.

Granted that theses films veers away from the comic book source, but that's just it!!! Adaptations... can take a source content and create more stories from it. However, my only thing is that... keeping true to that source content... capturing the heart of what these comic books are all about. I'm no expert, but I did grow up reading these comic books (whenever I went to the stores with my parents), then watching the animated series on Saturday mornings...haha! BUT... Thank goodness they got Jean Grey/Phoenix...close to true form. Whoa! Very impressive.

In the end, not including the post-credits scene, we can expect more X-Men adventures to come following the events in this film. I'd say that this, like X-Men: Days of Future Past, has captured what fans expect from the X-Men! But then again...that's just me! Go see it...and find out for yourselves!

My rating:

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Marvel's Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Genre:

Action/Adventure

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Rating:

PG-13

Run Time:

147 minutes

Release Date:

May 6, 2016

Directed by:
Anthony Russo & Joe Russo

Social Media:

  

Plot Summary:

Marvel's Captain America: Civil War finds Steve Rogers leading the newly-formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity, but after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team.

source

Cast:

Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Chadwick Boseman, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Emily VanCamp

See Full List of Cast & Crew on IMDB

*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

So...I finally watched third Captain America film!?! It definitely was explosive. The camaraderie of these superheroes...or as they were called "enhanced individuals"... were pulled apart. With all their to safeguard humanity and the world, a horrifically large amount of collateral damage tends to follow. Therefore, the world reacts by imposing rules on our Avengers, and they all disagree with their own reasoning. To each of them, their reasoning has its good points...and bad points. More chaos ensues to further aggravate the already 

growing adversity of these Avengers.

In the center of these disagreements, Captain America, Steve Rogers, is in the middle of this mess of friend(s) and must decide on what "truth(s)" he must tackle...and which friend he has to protect. Steve isn't the only one struggling with taking sides between friends. Lines are drawn and the fighting ensues. Plus, out of the chaos, another hero is introduced to the audience...Black Panther. In addition to Black Panther, an all new and re-imagined Spiderman joins the mix.

The script/story is cohensive, even with all the various character background stories included in the mix. We do find out about the troubled past our heroes live with...and how they deal with it, especially Iron Man. The story, in itself, had a dramatic flair when pitting friends against each other over some truths...or was it lies!?! The truth always hurts...doesn't it!?! They all have their reasons for doing what they do...for the love of their friends. The action is pretty repetitive, but always pumped up to a new level. Well, isn't it what fans expect...haha! What is a Marvel film without its moments of humor...and, of course, Stan Lee's cameos. Very enjoyable and laugh out loud fun.

In the end, there was so much of character stories left open that there has to be more films coming. The end scene and the after credits scene just further confirmed that there will be more films to look forward to.

My rating:

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Fear the Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 7 - "Shiva"

About the Show:

AMC's Fear the Walking Dead returns at sea, aboard the Abigail. The group is unaware of the true breadth of the apocalypse; they assume there still a chance that some city, state, or nation might be unaffected, some place where infection has not hit. Abandoning land, Madison, Travis and Daniel gather their grieving families for ports unknown. But the respite of Strand's ocean-side home is short-lived. They will discover that the water may be no safer than land.

Television Network

AMC

Created by

Robert Kirkman

Spin-off Series from

The Walking Dead

Stay connected

    

Cast:

Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Lorenzo James Henrie, Ruben Blades, Mercedes Mason, Colman Domingo, Elizabeth Rodriguez & Patricia Reyes Spíndola.

See list of cast & crew on IMDB.com

Season 1 recap

~~~

Episode 7 Synopsis:

The family faces their greatest test yet. Nick, Travis, Madison and others go to great lentghs to keep each other close.

Read Full Recap

~~~~~

*My Thoughts*

Well, it looks like everyone is losing it...one way or another. Daniel, for one, is seeing things. Didn't realize how religious he is. He doesn't show it, but, in this episode, in the midst of superstition with all the people the compound, it is apparent that Daniel does believe it to some level. Then, there is Chris...he's very troubled, especially since witnessing so much death. Wouldn't it mentally mess you up if someone asked you to kill him or her to end their suffering?!? It would bother me, especially if that person is looking straight at me. I don't think that airline passenger has ever left his mind. Yup! Chris is lashing out... Then, there's Nick! He's all out gone... I don't know. He's already believing Celia in regards to the dead. Nick's  also gone "invincible" in regards to walking among the dead. Yeah, he's got his own "demons" to deal with; and it seems like he's reaching out to Celia for answers.

I don't know!!! Daniel is hearing things! Now, he's seeing his dead wife. Uhhh...yeah! He's losing it alright. But, then again, if you had that much "ghosts" haunting you...wouldn't you lose it, too!?!

As for Strand, he is grieving! Although Celia and everyone else shuns him for not committing suicide, Strand is definitely a survivor.

Poor Travis is in the middle of all this family drama, but, in the end, he has to help his son. It's about time!!! He was so intent on helping Madison all the time that he was pretty much blind to Chris's needs. For goodness sake, Chris lost his mother! Chris witnessed a lot of death. Travis realizes he has to stay with his son and help him. He decides not to go back to the compound. It's about time that he put Chris first. Talk about dysfunctional family...haha! Nick returns to the compound and tells Madison that he didn't find them.

And wow...the people in the compound look towards Celia for guidance and leadership. But, superstition seems to run the place. Even Nick succumbs to that way. He even brought Luis, Celia's son, back to the compound. That's just very disturbing. O-kay now! It is also disturbing that Nick relishes covering himself with the blood of the dead. Ummm...something to worry about? I don't know... I one point, I wanted to slap Nick upside the head...haha!

Did Madison just trick Celia?!? Sure looks like it. Convince Celia that she wants to understand. Celia takes Madison to the cellar to show her and explain to her about the dead. Then, when Celia isn't looking, Madison looks the cellar "door" behind her. But...Celia shows no fear.

Then...Daniel gets free, after having a conversation with his dead wife, and heads to the cellar. He pours gasoline and sets it on fire. All the while, he just stands in the middle of the blaze while the dead comes towards him. However, where is Celia!?! She was locked in that same cellar! Now, the whole compound is ablaze. Who will survive this fire?

We see Strand, Ofelia, Alicia, and Madison leaving in the truck. Nick refuses to leave with them; moreover, he is angry with Madison and decides to continue walking with the dead. Travis and Chris goes off on their own...to where, we don't know.

Definitely, a complicated episode! A lot of open-ended storylines for these complicated characters. What will happen next for this group. Will they come back together? Or will they each come to their end by the dead? We will have to wait when the show returns for the second half of the season!

What a midseason finale! Whoa!!

Until the next episode!

~~~~~

Here's a sneak peek of Episode 8

Fear the Walking Dead Sundays 9/8C on AMC

COVER REVEAL: #Swag by Cambria Hebert

We are thrilled to share with you this Cover Reveal for Cambria Hebert's #Swag, the third book in the GearShark series!

Genre:

New Adult

Contemporary Sports Romance

(This is a male/female romance. The first 2 in the series are male/male)

Series:

GearShark, #3

Publish Date:

June 10, 2016

Publisher:

Cambria Hebert Books, LLC

Cover Design by:
Mae I Design

This is Lorhaven and Joey's book. I hear you saying, "I don't like Lorhaven".
You will after you read this book.

Synopsis:

These drivers got #swag…

Racing is in her DNA.

Right alongside money and power.

When you’re the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country,

you have to work harder for success.

Joey Gamble’s a girl on a male-dominated track.

With a daddy who can buy whatever she wants.

But she doesn’t want anything… except to EARN her reputation.

Racing is his passion.

Trouble follows him everywhere. Some even say he invites it.

When you’re nipping at the taillights of the best driver in the new NRR,

you have to fight and claw for each and every success.

It’s never been easy for Lorhaven.

That’s why he doesn’t play by the rules.

He’s a man with a serious chip on his shoulder against the pro racing circuit.

We at GearShark want to know what’s up with that.

We’ve also been hearing rumblings…

of a pro who wants to go indie.

We’ve invited racing royalty and the driver from the wrong side of the tracks to sit down and talk to us about a possible crossover.

We expected sparks to fly when Joey and Lorhaven crossed paths.

Will those sparks ignite into a full-on inferno?

~~~

Don't miss the previous titles in the GearShark series:

 

(covers link to Goodreads)

      

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**About the Author**

Cambria Hebert is a bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently resides in North Carolina with her children (human and furry) and her husband, who is a United States Marine. 

Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house). 

Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: Text, Torch, Tryst, Masquerade, and Recalled.

Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.

Stay connected with Cambria Hebert

      

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***The Giveaway***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal Organized by