Since one winner of the contest already has a copy of The Elite and the other person has not contacted me, the 2 new winners of the giveaway are:
All his life, Marcus has been an orphan and an outcast because of his unexplained injuries which leave him confined to a wheelchair. Not to mention the weird symbol on Marcus’ arm. What does it symbolize? Why is it there? Despite these injuries and the inexplicable mark, Marcus has been able to fend for himself, and even seems to possess some kind of unexplained gift. For some reason, Marcus is able to slip by, undetected, if he concentrates enough. It’s quite handy when he’s trying to escape bullies, but how long can his deception hold up?
When things get really bad, Marcus likes to escape to a place he’s created—Far World. Things are much more peaceful there and more welcoming, until one day when a man whom had disturbed Marcus’ Far World with his sinister aura and piercing eyes shows up on Earth at the school Marcus is attending, and tells Marcus that he is there to take Marcus back to his parents. Torn between the wish to find his parents and the dark feeling that the man could be evil, Marcus is hardly given a choice as he is shoved along by the principle who is all to happy to get rid of Marcus.
In Earth’s sister world, a girl also lives with an ailment that makes her an outcast in her world. Kyja lives in a world where everyone can do magic—everyone but her. Oh sure, it’s handy sometimes when nasty spells and potions don’t work on her, but she’s longed to do magic since the others think she has some kind of disease that prevents her from performing magic. And it doesn’t help that, like Marcus, she is an orphan. She is under the tutelage of Master Therapass who believes that she must have some ounce of magic in her. But try as they might, she has yet to produce magic.
Marcus tires to evade the eerie man who claims he will take him to Marcus’ parents, but his little trick does not work and the man takes him captive. Deprived of his wheelchair, Marcus isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and the man laughs in triumph, telling Marcus that he has found him at last and will finally destroy him. And with that, the man begins to morph into a snake-like creature, completely bent on destroying Marcus.
Somehow, Marcus is saved by Kyja, who pulls him into Far World. Marcus is astounded that Far World exists, and quickly connects to Kyja, who is like him in many ways. However, they do not have time to dwell on the joy of new found friendship since Master Therapass tells them they must flee the city for the Dark Circle who wish to overtake Far World wants to find and get rid of the two of them.
The pair flee and meet up with the wizard again, and the trio tries to figure out the how Kyja got Marcus to Far World as well as how they can stop the Dark Circle. Marcus and Kyja learn that they are connected several astounding ways, and they could be the ones destined to save Far World. But can two teenagers really save the fate of a whole world? Will the dark forces prove to be too much for them? They learn that an elusive group of elementals, the Fontasians, may hold some answers and could provide some invaluable help—if they can even find this hidden group and persuade them to aid them. Kyja and Marcus are well aware that this will be only a small step in their quest, and many hardships are to come, but they are determined to help Far World. But the question is, strong determination or not, will these two be able to do enough to stop such determined and powerful foes?
Join Marcus, Kyja, and Riph Raph (Kyja’s rather annoying talking skyte) on an adventure that’ll keep you hooked from beginning to end as they set out on an arduous journey in an attempt to find more information about their heritage and save Earth’s sister world from falling to the Dark Circle!
I found Far World: Water Keep to be an extremely exciting and enjoyable read! I loved the characters and their bravery and cleverness! All readers looking for an excellent start to a promising adventure should definitely read this book when it hits bookstores in September! I’m glad I got the chance to read Far World and eagerly anticipate its sequels!
Lady Emily, Priscilla, Ariadne, and Daphne are the closest of friends, and refer to themselves as "La Petite Four." They’ve done everything together, including going through Barnsley School for Young Ladies and planning their coming out ball together. They’ve been planning, perfecting, and looking forward to this grand ball for sometime, and want their coming out to be an event to remember.
However, the happiness of these girls is threatened when Lord Robert wishes to marry Lady Emily right after she graduates from Barnsley. Why does he wish to marry so quickly? And why does he wish to wed Emily? He has not seen her for years and does not even know her anymore! Something fishy is going on… Not to mention their Season/debut into society will be ruined if Emily is married off right away! She must find out what Lord Robert is up to and she simply must go to the ball! She cannot have her life ruined and her dreams of studying at the Royal Society for the Beaux Arts dashed by having the marry Lord Robert! Oh why, oh why does her father favor this match as well? How can he not see that Lord Robert is up to no good?
Unfortunately, La Petite Four’s investigation of the shadowy Lord Robert might just have them picking up their skirts and running all over town, even into the dirtier areas, to figure out what he’s up to. Speaking of what people are up to, why does another handsome but mysterious figure keep popping up all over town as well? La Petite Four have run into James Cropper too many times for it to be a coincidence all over town as they’ve trailed Lord Robert.
When these four girls find out that Lord Robert may be up to something even more sinister than they had previously thought, they have to expose him before he marries Emily! Who are they to trust? Can these four girls get to the bottom of Lord Robert’s meddling, save Emily from marry the man, and save the ball as well? And just who is this mysterious Mr. Cropper? This Season may just turn out to be an extremely memorable one…just not in the way they had hoped!
La Petite Four is a highly enjoyable book! I loved the mystery and romance in this novel! I was hooked from the first page to the last, and the best part was, this book was not overly obvious, so I was right there with Emily and her friends as they tried to solve the mystery surrounding Lord Robert! A wonderful book with a simple, but sweet cover! A great historical fiction novel that even those who aren’t fans of historical fiction will surely enjoy! I look forward to reading more from author Regina Scott!
9.920 (out of 10)
A Big thanks to everyone who entered & to the wonderful Jennifer Banash for donating 2 copies of The Elite for this giveaway!
Do you believe in faeries? Do you believe in pixies or little beings that most deem only alive in fairytales? Join David Ellwand, a photographer, on his journey through the eerie English Downs where he encounters a pix stone (a.k.a. hagstone, among other names) and an old, forgotten archaeological dig site. Through the pix stone, David gets a glimpse of the hidden world of pixies, at a site where, a century ago, men were digging for an old flint stone, but another photographer found something else.
David happens upon a chest that takes him on a journey of a life time. Within the ancient box is the account and evidence gathered by a photographer 100 years ago, Isaac Wilde, that pixies do exist. He was ridiculed for this belief, but as he got to learn more about these elusive creatures that he could only see through pix stones, and other seeing glasses, he knew he had to somehow get others to believe him and preserve the little folks’ home.
But what happened to this Isaac Wilde? Can David decipher his journey and learn more about the site, or will his journey prove to be in vain and have its own abrupt, dark ending like that of Isaac’s story? Discover the secrets that the English Downs has with David Ellwand through the accounts, photographs, and other artifacts in The Mystery of the Fool and the Vanisher!
Gaby Trinana's The Temptress Four has hit book stores--have you read it yet? It's on my TBR list and I've heard plenty of good things about this novel!
Summary courtesy of Amazon:Four best friends, one graduation cruise, a week of partying.
Eight days of strife and storms . . .
It's supposed to be the best eight
days of their lives.
Bonds will be broken...
But when a fortune-teller
predicts trouble the night before their trip,
One of you will not come
home...
Fiona, Killian, Alma, and Yoli are left on edge, wondering what it
could all mean.
Gaby Triana gets right to the heart of that thrilling,
nerve-wracking, exhilarating, terrifying, amazing time that comes right after
graduation, when the big question is: Where do we go from here?
Sounds great, doesn't it?? What are you waiting for? Go grab a copy of The Temptress Four!
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Meet Kandide, the faery princess who is heir to the throne of Calabiyau—and also a completely self-centered, vain girl. She’d really rather be admiring her reflection and perfecting her looks in front of a mirror than anything else—except for a quick game or archery practice. Her sister, Tara, is the complete opposite—a bit boyish but an exceptional healer, she is caring and patient, unlike her selfish older sister. Their younger brother, Teren, is a mischievous faery aspiring to be a magi, or one who wields magic.
Her father is one of the most beloved kings of Calabiyau, with a council to help him make decisions. He was the one to unite the different faery clans of Calabiyau and each clan has a seat on his council. But now he has fallen ill, and he must pass on the Gift to Kandide so she can bring the Frost and preserve nature’s cycle of birth and rebirth, as well as rule the people of Calabiyau well.
But for one who was spoiled and is utterly self-centered, can Kandide rule her future people well? Or will she be too caught up in herself? Not one to listen to advice, Kandide decides to go to the meadows instead of performing her coronation and queenly duties to go have fun and pick pomegranates with her sister. Ignoring her sister’s advice to return home since the weather is taking a turn for the worse, Kandide ends up crushed under a tree branch struck by lightning, barely clinging onto life. Her sister rushes her home, but the healers cannot manage to heal her damaged wing completely, even though the save her life.
Heartbroken and enraged, Kandide feels less than perfect and vows to hide her imperfection, since crumplewinged and other imperfect faeries are cast out in her society. But when she is accidentally exposed, the council is shocked and her mother sends her away, and lets Tara be crowned queen.
Lost and afraid, Kandide wanders around in a dark forest as Tara is a rather unhappy and unprepared queen back in Calabiyau. But Kandide happens upon a place beyond the mysterious Mists her father was rumored to have created, and meets new people that dispel her old prejudices. Her life changes forever as she goes on a journey to learn acceptance of others, to learn to be more selfless, and to learn that outer beauty is far from everything, and that physical perfection does not guarantee inner perfection.
Can Kandide learn how to accept her own ‘imperfections’ as well other’s? Or will she revert to the same selfish old Kandide before her accident? Can she solve the trouble and treachery brewing at home? Or will her own reflection hold more of her attention? Can she fulfill her father’s last instructions to unite her country and bring peace and understanding, or will she let it fall to the overly ambitious and sinister individuals?
Diana Zimmerman wove an enchanting tale that especially younger audiences will enjoy! The message that inner beauty is what truly matters rings true in this novel that will have young readers wanting to read more of Kandide’s adventures!
9.450 (out of 10)
P.S. Thanks for the feedback on my new rating system. I actually just finished watching the ladies' & men's US Olympics trials for gymnastics today and I think I'm going to continue this rating system a litle longer & see how it goes. Concerning gymnastics itself, I kind of still like the old rating system, even though the new one (out of 17, now) does make sense with the level of difficulty/starting value and the execution scores added together. Anyone watching the track trials that are coming up?? I'm not sure what other US Olympics trials are coming up, but I'll try to keep up with the actual Olympics when the come! I'm sure the Olympic Games will be very exciting :)
