Shout Out to Indies - What Lies Within by Jim Morris

We here at The Paperback Princesses often receive emails from Indie authors requesting reviews and are blessed with free book copies. Often we are unable to get to so many titles before our mass market published books take over our TBR shelves. That doesn't mean there aren't plenty of great reads though! We want to give back to those Indie authors and are declaring EVERY SECOND SUNDAY our SHOUT OUT TO INDIES MEME. For those of fellow bloggers, please feel free to add our meme to your regular schedule. We only ask that you quote and link back to us as a courtesy. For all of you Indie authors, we invite you to contact us at the contact link to your top left. We will select 1 - 3 titles (each time we post) that sound interesting.  Here is this week's selection.

Published: June 2nd, 2015

"You’re going to die"

A single text message and normal high school senior Shelley Marano’s world is upended. Discovering she is adopted sends Shelley on a journey to uncover her past, but she gets more than she bargained for when she learns she was part of a horrific experiment to test the theory of nature versus nurture.

In a culture where young people are committing unspeakable acts of of violence, Shelley worries she may be one of the killers. With her life and the lives of her friends in the balance, one thing is certain: she will never be the same.

James Morris is a former television writer who now works in digital media. When not writing, you can find him scoping out the latest sushi spot, watching 'House Hunters Renovation', or trying new recipes in the kitchen. He lives with his wife and dog in Los Angeles.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VF6T5C2?ref_=ks_dp_pdm

http://jamesmorriswriter.com

https://www.amazon.com/author/jamesmorriswriter.com

https://twitter.com/JMorrisWriter

Sugar by Deirdre Riordan Hall

Published: June 1st, 2015

Publisher: Skyscape

Pages: 276

Copy: From Publisher 

Summary: Goodreads

I’m the fat Puerto Rican–Polish girl who doesn’t feel like she belongs in her skin, or anywhere else for that matter. I’ve always been too much and yet not enough.

Sugar Legowski-Gracia wasn’t always fat, but fat is what she is now at age seventeen. Not as fat as her mama, who is so big she hasn’t gotten out of bed in months. Not as heavy as her brother, Skunk, who has more meanness in him than fat, which is saying something. But she’s large enough to be the object of ridicule wherever she is: at the grocery store, walking down the street, at school. Sugar’s life is dictated by taking care of Mama in their run-down home—cooking, shopping, and, well, eating. A lot of eating, which Sugar hates as much as she loves.

When Sugar meets Even (not Evan—his nearly illiterate father misspelled his name on the birth certificate), she has the new experience of someone seeing her and not her body. As their unlikely friendship builds, Sugar allows herself to think about the future for the first time, a future not weighed down by her body or her mother.

Soon Sugar will have to decide whether to become the girl that Even helps her see within herself or to sink into the darkness of the skin-deep role her family and her life have created for her.

When I was approached by the publicist for this book I have to admit to being a little wary about reading 'Sugar'  I don't read a lot of contemporary 'issue' books and I tend to find them a little underwhelming for me.  This was definitely NOT the case with 'Sugar'

I found it to be surprisingly compelling and I just loved Sugar's voice.  The idea that someone would have to put up with so much negativity day in and day out actually repelled me.  I used to be skinny - now I am considerably older and could definitely do with losing a few pounds, but in general I am very happy with my self image. To have someone constantly talking to me and treating me the way Sugar is treated would be devasting and Sugar's reactions, while totally foreign to me, were so totally understandable. It made me rethink some of my opinions.

Even was an amazing character.  His outlook on life was uplifting almost and it was so nice to see a character that did not follow along with the crowd and was comfortable in his own skin.  He's such a genuine character and  I would seriously love to meet him and have him for a friend.  

 There is a very, very sad interlude that had me absolutely blubbering and I almost gave up on the story, but I soldiered on and I was thrilled with the ending of the book.  This story is really about overcoming the odds and believing in yourself.  'Sugar' demonstrates that this is not always as easy as we wish it could be and in the end I wanted to hang out the flags, bring in the band and shout 'Well Done'.  If I could enjoy 'Sugar' as much as I did, it should be an absolute must read for those of you out there who regularly read contemporary fiction.

The Cage by Megan Shepherd

Published: May 26th, 2015

Publisher: Balzer and Bray/Harper Collins

Pages: 400

Copy: Edelweiss

Summary: Goodreads

The Maze Runner meets Scott Westerfeld in this gripping new series about teens held captive in a human zoo by an otherworldly race. From Megan Shepherd, the acclaimed author of The Madman's Daughtertrilogy.

When Cora Mason wakes in a desert, she doesn't know where she is or who put her there. As she explores, she finds an impossible mix of environments—tundra next to desert, farm next to jungle, and a strangely empty town cobbled together from different cultures—all watched over by eerie black windows. And she isn't alone.

Four other teenagers have also been taken: a beautiful model, a tattooed smuggler, a secretive genius, and an army brat who seems to know too much about Cora's past. None of them have a clue as to what happened, and all of them have secrets. As the unlikely group struggles for leadership, they slowly start to trust each other. But when their mysterious jailer—a handsome young guard called Cassian—appears, they realize that their captivity is more terrifying than they could ever imagine: Their captors aren't from Earth. And they have taken the five teenagers for an otherworldly zoo—where the exhibits are humans.

As a forbidden attraction develops between Cora and Cassian, she realizes that her best chance of escape might be in the arms of her own jailer—though that would mean leaving the others behind. Can Cora manage to save herself and her companions? And if so . . . what world lies beyond the walls of their cage? 

Now this book I really enjoyed.  Megan Shepherd has a way of writing that just draws me in and keeps me reading.  Very early on I was firmly inside this odd environment along with Cora and the others and I was rooting for them all from the beginning.  The blurb above tells you all you need to know about the story, but doesn't tell you about the ongoing tension that pervades the story.

I almost felt jittery reading 'The Cage'.  The reader is aware early on that Cora is not in Kansas any more - so to speak - but as events unfold the suspense doesn't let up.  There is a humdinger of a surprise towards the end that I felt I should have seen coming, but nope and the ending itself had me pulling my hair out.  I want to know what happens next, please!

Is the story science fiction or is it fantasy?  Well it's really the best of both. Ultimately, it's a fascinating story with great characters and suspensful narration that will keep you guessing.  Lots of fun.

Waiting on Wednesday - Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine,  that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating or books that are in our TBR pile.  This week’s “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is

Summary (by Goodreads)

I’m the daughter of murdered parents.

I’m the friend of a dead girl.
I’m the lover of my enemy.
And I will have my revenge.

In the wake of the devastating destruction of the luxury yacht Persephone, just three souls remain to tell its story—and two of them are lying. Only Frances Mace knows the terrifying truth, and she’ll stop at nothing to avenge the murders of everyone she held dear. Even if it means taking down the boy she loves and possibly losing herself in the process.

Sharp and incisive, Daughter of Deep Silence by bestselling author Carrie Ryan is a deliciously smart revenge thriller that examines perceptions of identity, love, and the lengths to which one girl is willing to go when she thinks she has nothing to lose.

I love thrillers. Carrie Ryan's the Forest of Hands and Teeth was one of the very first YA titles that I ever read.  In fact, I won a signed copy of it from her on Twitter and I was SO EXCITED!!  I have been awaiting a new series from her for years....and I'm so mad that NetGalley is only allowing us Canadians a "glimpse" into the book.  Guess I'll be pre-ordering this one from Chapters...

- Christinabean

The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker

Published: May 19th, 2015

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Pages: 464

Copy: Edelweiss

Summary: Goodreads

“Not to be Chosen would yield a cruel fate of my own making.”

Like all citizens since the Ruining, Carrington Hale knows the importance of this day. But she never expected the moment she’d spent a lifetime preparing for—her Choosing ceremony—would end in disaster. Ripped from her family, she’ll spend her days serving as a Lint, the lowest level of society. She knows it’s her duty to follow the true way of the Authority. 

But as Carrington begins this nightmare, rumors of rebellion rattle her beliefs. The whispers contradict everything she’s been told; yet they resonate deep within. 

Then Carrington is offered an unprecedented chance at the life she’s always dreamed of, but she can’t shake the feeling that it may be an illusion. With a killer targeting Lints and corruption threatening the highest levels of the Authority, Carrington must uncover the truth before it destroys her

'The Choosing' was an OK book for me, but to my mind it didn't really have anything in it that made it stand out from the crowd. It has a dystopian society where girls are raised to expect to be Chosen as a wife at age 17 and when the aren't - well life is no longer worth living so to speak and they become Lints - those unseen workers who actually keep society running.  

I felt that Carringtons relationship with the guard was a little fortuitous for my tastes and since I can't actually remember his name, the romance obviously was not particularly memorable for me .  However I did like the story arc with Issac - now there is one nasty dude.  This was the point where I began to realize that Rachelle Dekker really is her father's daughter (Ted Dekker).  

To be honest, I don't really have much to say.  The book is Christian fiction and I am not a huge fan of that genre, and honestly I probably would not have read it had I realized before hand. There was just a little too much soul searching and faith for me, but that is very much a personal opinion and not a reflection of the writing.  Will I recommend it? Probably.  I can think of several dystopian fans of my aquaintance who would enjoy it, but I doubt that I will persue any further volumes should there be any.

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves allows us to share the books we have added to our collections - physical, virtual, borrowed, bought or received

This week I got: 

Summary (by Goodreads)

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own. 

I was browsing the second hand stores on Friday (I had the day off...what a glorious thing) and I came across this beautiful hardcover for only $2.  How could I pass THAT up??

BTW, Book #2 comes out in October...so that gives me umm....5 months to read it, right?

- Christinabean

Series review - Penryn and the End of Days by Susan Ee.

It's been six weeks since the angels of the apocalypse destroyed the world as we know it. Only pockets of humanity remain. 

Savage street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. 

When angels fly away with a helpless girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back..

In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy.

After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

End of Days published: May 12th, 2015
Series publisher: Skyscape

Curlypow's thoughts:

I must admit that I have a bit of a love/hate releationship with angel books.  I hate to start them because I don't think I'll like them very much, but in the end I usually love them.   This series was no exception.  I had looked at Angelfall at the library many times, even took it home once, but couldn't bring myself to start it.

Well, am I ever glad I finally took the plunge.  I ended up reading all three books in 7 days - somewhere around 1000 pages - and I enjoyed every page, no exaggeration.  

Ms Ee's writing gripped me from the first page and I was easily able to relate to Penryn and her situation. Nothing seemed contrived in this story.  Penryn's mother is a paranoid schizophrenic which aptly explains her craziness and why Penryn and her sister Paige are the way they are.  Penryn to me was a real hero.  She didn't want to do many things, but her compassion for humanity in general shone through at every turn.

"I hope Raffe made it to a shadowy corner somewhere.  I hope Paige is okay and that I'll soon find her.  I hope Mom and Clara are doing all right and are successfully escaping.  And now, there's Andi, who I clearly need to take with me when I leave because it'll be a death sentence for her if her twin walks off or gets killed.  And then there are all those people on Alcatraz.... Too many."   (World After p 227

There is also a romance in this book, and it was epic to my mind, but it took a back seat to the action and never threatened to become the focus.  A few times I even lfound myself smiling at Penryn's inner thoughts concerning Raffe and it was at those times that we are reminded she is just a seventeen year old girl.

"I know that soon I'll have to think about Paige, Mom, and Clara.  My priorities will be all about survival and getting my family together and keeping them safe from monsters and people alike.

But for now, for just this moment, I let myself be a seventeen-year-old girl in a strong guy's arms.  I even let some of the what-ifs seep in, the kind of possibilities that might have blossomed between us in the World Before.

Just for a little while.

Before I carefully fold my dreams away into the vault in my head." (World After p 275)

The series starts with Angelfall and the roller coaster ride begins.  And this is a ride that really doesn't stop until the last page of End of Days.  There is action all the time.  We get a few pages to take a breath, here and there, but not many.  In fact there were times when I just had to stop reading because I needed to let my heart rate slow down a bit.  I knew what was coming (or I thought I did) and I needed to prepare for the anguish.  Then I'd go back and be surprised again.   Some of the action is terrifying and much of it is really quite gruesome, but it was almost impossible to stop reading.

'"If you don't let me go, you won't feel quite so human anymore.  Being human isn't about whether you fit in or look like the rest of us.  It's about who you are and what you're willing to do or not do"......

....."Did you really kill an angel? he asks."
"Yeah." I've killed two.
"You're the only one I've met who has.  What happens if I let you go?"
"I return to my family and try to keep us all alive."
"Everybody? You'd try to keep all of us alive?"
|I meant my family.  That's hard enough.  How would I even begin to keep everyone alive?" (End of Days p 135)

This series was completely mesmerizing for me.  I loved every character, even the really nasty ones.  Their actions and thoughts made sense, and I was able to relate.  Some of the situations were quite revolting,  and I could see the sequences  just spooling through in my mind, it was so clear.  If you haven't read this series yet, now is the time.  All three books are available and that's the best way to read it. Well done Ms Ee.  I will be on the look-out for anything else you may write.  Perfect for angel fans, or just for fans of a good story.

I would like to say thank you to Megan over at MB Communications who not only sent me a copy of End of Days to review, but also arranged for me to get copies of Angelfall and World After when I told her I hadn't read them.  I owe you for these Megan, thank you.

Spotlight and Giveaway - Spelled by Betsy Schow

I was lucky enough to obtain an advanced copy of Spelled from Sourcebooks/Netgalley and having finished it and hugely enjoyed it, I couldn't pass up the chance to let you know about it.  Don't forget to read through to the end for the giveaway, and keep your eyes open for my review in the next little while.

Spelled

By Betsy Schow

Sourcebooks Fire

June 2, 2015

Advance Praise for Spelled

“A cute adventure with romance set in a world full of fairy-tale mash-ups. Readers will love Dorthea’s evolution from spoiled princess to strong, confident heroine… For Oz fans, this work is a great clean-read alternative to Danielle Paige’s Dorothy Must Die.” -School Library Journal

“This wickedly funny, fast-paced adventure has it all: brains, courage, and heart. (Plus a kickin’ pair of heels.) .” --Jen Calonita, author of The Secrets of My Hollywood Life and Fairy Tale Reform School series

“Fairy tale survival rule #1, do NOT read this book late at night. You will wake up your entire family with loud laughter. Fairy tale survival rule #2, if you love the Wizard of Oz, clever fairy tale mash-ups, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing what will happen until the very end, you MUST read Spelled.” --J Scott Savage, award winning author of Farworld, Case File 13, and the Mysteries of Cove series.

“A hilarious and snarky reimagining of the world of Oz, along with many other fairy tales injected throughout, "Spelled" is one fabulous read…Kick off those silver slippers and tuck in with this wonderful tale!” —Senator Sipes, Lil Book Bug (Palmdale, CA)

Book Info:

Talk about unhappily ever after. Dorthea is completely princed out. Sure being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks—like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the not-so-charming prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future.

Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving Dorthea with hair made up of emerald flames and the kingdom in chaos. Her parents and everyone she loves are stuck in some place called “Kansas.” Now it’s up to Dorthea and her pixed-off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse…before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story.

Amazon | B&N | BAM | !ndigo | IndieBound | Kindle |  Nook

Betsy Schow:

Betsy Schow is the author of the memoir Finished Being Fat, and has been featured on The Today Show and in The Wall Street Journal. She lives in Utah, but travels the country with Color Me Rad 5k, and partners with nonprofits to teach kids creative thinking and how to reach their goals.

Website| Twitter

Excerpt from Spelled:

Most of the crowd had dispersed. The final few stragglers looked at me with the all­too-common look of fear mixed with trepidation. Pix ’em. They were just servants. It wasn’t like their opinion mattered.

Only one remained, watching me with open curiosity. He looked to be in his late teens or was magically enhanced to appear so. He could have been a hundred for all I knew. I’d never seen him before in my life. He was handsome enough, for a commoner, even in his worn leather pants and cracked work boots. A foreigner, his hair was unruly and dark auburn, which complemented his tanned but dirt-smudged complexion, though the tall, dark stranger vibe was ruined by his piercing pale blue eyes.

Well, I’d had enough of being a sideshow for the day. “If you’re the new gardener, the hedges are overgrown and in need of a trim.” I pointed in the direction of my father. “While you’re there, you can help the king with the wisps.”

The young man’s expression clouded over, but he didn’t move.

I stamped my foot and pointed more forcefully. “Off with you. Courtyard’s that way. Be sure to clean those awful boots before coming back in.”

“Someone told me I’d find a princess of great worth here. One with the strength to be the hero this realm needs.” He stared at me with those unsettling blue eyes. They were cold, like ice water—made me shiver from head to toe. Then his gaze seemed to search even deeper. Finally, he looked through me, like I was nothing.

In brisk steps, he strode across the marble to the courtyard. But before crossing the threshold, he turned back to glare at me with his lip curled ever so slightly. “It seems she was mistaken.”

Just like that, I had been sifted, weighed, and found wanting.

I felt my own lip curl in response. How rude! Who the Grimm was this peasant to judge me? I was wearing a Glenda original. Original! Not some fairy-godmother knockoff worn by those servant girls turned royal. I was a crown princess, for the love of fairy, and no one dismissed me.

Before I could put the boy in his place—down in the dirt, where he belonged—a clatter came from behind, making me nearly jump out of my shoes. I checked and was relieved that Sterling had simply dropped his sword. By the time I looked back, the gardener was gone.

After stowing his blade, Sterling held up his shield, not in defense of the entrance but so he could look at his reflection. “Clearly he’s blind and doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

I didn’t ask for Sterling’s opinion, but it made me feel better.

Until he opened his mouth again.

“Worth, pffft. I mean, look around at all the jewels. Your palace has everything you could ever want. Honestly, I don’t know what you’re fussing about. Why would anyone want to leave?”

Because a cage is still a cage, no matter how big or glittering the bars are.

And I would find a way free, no matter the cost.

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Follow Friday

Friday Follow is a blog hop that was started by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.  Each week a different question is posted by our hosts and we will answer!  This is a great opportunity for bloggers to network and interact. 

This week’s question –

How do you write your reviews? via bluebooksandbutterflies.blogspot.com

I literally sit down at my computer and start typing.  Often I have to refer back to notes that I've taken throughout my read on my phone.  Generally, I just write down my thoughts on the novel like I'm sitting down having a chat with an old friend....hence the run-on sentences, poor grammar, overuse of slang terminology and made up words like awesomesauce.  :)

- Christinabean

Welcome to the Paperback Princesses! Make yourself at home, take a look around our blog and let us know what you think in the comments section. We would love to hear what you have to say about our posts. We often try to comment on your comments as well so feel free to start a conversation! Since there are two of us running the show, we always have a variety of titles and event postings. Be sure to check out our own personal meme page. Check out Fantastic Fairytales, Let's Hear it for the Boys, In Case you Missed it and a few others. We try to not only focus on new YA books but also great titles from the past.

Same Book, Second Look - Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Published: January 2014

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Pages: 342

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Review:

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite stories.  I mean sure, I wasn't expecting inanimate objects in this castle to break out into song but I was still hoping for more than what I got.  I'm sorry, I hate to do this but Cruel Beauty was not a hit for me. I feel terrible whenever I read a book and walk away feeling "meh" about it but that's exactly how I felt.  

The most interesting part of the story was how Nyx had keys to all of these different rooms to discover all around the house.  It was confusing how Nyx's father was having an affair with her aunt and I was surprised at how awful Nyx's life seemed to be.  I did feel sorry for her character and her hardships but in the end, the only character I REALLY seemed to like was Ignifex.  He seemed the most genuine and sincere.  More so than Shade (maybe he was just a shady kind a guy...haha...sorry, bad joke).  

So here is my take.  I truly like fairy tale re-tellings but it has been awhile since I've found one that I've REALLY enjoyed.  If you like Alex Flinn and Jackson Pearce, you might really like this one.  Just because I didn't, doesn't mean you won't.  But you aren't hooked by page 25, get outta there and try a new read.