Thursday, October 19, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday #130

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme created by Breaking the Spine

Unearthed (Unearthed, #1)
Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Young Adult Science Fiction
January 9th 2018
Goodreads Link

Synopsis:

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.

For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.

In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race... 

What's your Waiting on Wednesday pick for this week? Are you excited for this release as well?

Waiting on Wednesday #129 (From October 11th 2018) Missed Post :/

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme created by Breaking the Spine

A Conspiracy of Stars (A Conspiracy of Stars, #1)
Olivia A. Cole

Young Adult Science Fiction
January 2nd 2018
Goodreads Link

Synopsis:

Octavia has only ever had one goal: to follow in the footsteps of her parents and become a prestigious whitecoat, one of the scientists who study the natural wonders of Faloiv. The secrets of the jungle's exotic plants and animals are protected fiercely in the labs by the Council of N'Terra, so when the rules suddenly change, allowing students inside, Octavia should be overjoyed.

But something isn't right. The newly elected leader of the Council has some extremist views about the way he believes N'Terra should be run, and he's influencing others to follow him. When Octavia witnesses one of the Faloii - the indigenous people of Faloiv - attacked in front of her in the dark of night, she knows the Council is hiding something. They are living in separate worlds on a shared planet, and their fragile peace may soon turn into an all-out war.

With the help of Rondo, a quiet boy in class with a skill for hacking, and her inquisitive best friend, Alma, Octavia is set on a collision course to discover the secrets behind the history she's been taught, the science she's lived by, and the truth about her family.


What's your Waiting on Wednesday pick for this week? Are you excited for this release as well?

Waiting on Wednesday #128 (From October 4th 2017) Missed Post :/

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme created by Breaking the Spine

Everless (Everless, #1)
Sara Holland
Young Adult Fantasy
January 2nd 2018
Goodreads Link

Synopsis:

In the land of Sempera, time is extracted from blood and used as payment. Jules Ember and her father were once servants at Everless, the wealthy Gerling family's estate, but were cast out after a fateful accident a decade ago. Now, Jules's father is reaching his last hour, and she will do anything to save him. Desperate to earn time, she arrives at the palace as it prepares for a royal wedding, ready to begin her search into childhood secrets that she once believed to be no more than myths. As she uncovers lost truths, Jules spirals deeper into a past she hardly recognizes, and faces an ancient and dangerous foe who threatens her future of time itself.

What's your Waiting on Wednesday pick for this week? Are you excited for this release as well?

Waiting on Wednesday #127 (From September 27th 2017) Missed post :/

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme created by Breaking the Spine

Saga Volume 8
Fiona Staples & Brian K. Vaughan
Science Fiction/ Graphic Novel
January 2nd 2018
Goodreads Link

* No synopsis due to spoilers








What's your Waiting on Wednesday pick for this week? Are you excited for this release as well?

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Waiting On Wednesday #126

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme created by Breaking the Spine

You Can't Spell America Without Me: The Really Tremendous Inside Story of My Fantastic First Year as President Donald J. Trump

Alec Baldwin
Adult Satire/ Comedy
November 7th 2017
Goodreads Link

Synopsis:

Political satire as deeper truth: Donald Trump's presidential memoir, as recorded by two world-renowned Trump scholars, and experts on greatness generally

"I have the best words, beautiful words, as everybody has been talking and talking about for a long time. Also? The best sentences and, what do you call them, paragraphs. My previous books were great and sold extremely, unbelievably well--even the ones by dishonest, disgusting so-called journalists. But those writers didn't understand Trump, because quite frankly they were major losers. People say if you want it done right you have to do it yourself, even when 'it' is a 'memoir.' So every word of this book was written by me, using a special advanced word processing system during the many, many nights I've been forced to stay alone in the White House--only me, just me, trust me, nobody helped. And it's all 100% true, so true--people are already saying it may be the truest book ever published. Enjoy."

Until Donald Trump publishes his account of his entire four or eight or one-and-a-half years in the White House, the definitive chronicle will be You Can't Spell America Without Me: The Really Tremendous Inside Story of My Fantastic First Year As President.

He was elected because he was the most frank presidential candidate in history, a man always eager to tell the unvarnished truth about others' flaws as well as his own excellence. Now that refreshingly compulsive un-PC candor is applied to his time as leader of the free world. The mind-boggling private encounters with world leaders. The genius backroom strategy sessions with White House advisers. His triumphs over the dishonest news media. The historic, world-changing decisions -- many of them secret until now. What he really thinks of Melania and Ivanka and Jared, Donald Jr. and Eric and the other one. And many spectacular, historic, exclusive photographs of him in private and public, making America great again.

Presented by two of America's foremost Trump scholars, Alec Baldwin and Kurt Andersen.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Waiting On Wednesday #125

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme created by Breaking the Spine

Renegades (Renegades, #1)
Marissa Meyer
Young Adult Fantasy
November 7th 2017
Goodreads Link

Synopsis:

From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer, comes a high-stakes world of adventure, passion, danger, and betrayal.

Secret Identities.
Extraordinary Powers.
She wants vengeance. He wants justice.


The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Waiting On Wednesday #124

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme created by Breaking the Spine

Otherworld (Otherworld, #1)
Jason Segel & Kirsten Miller
Young Adult Science Fiction
November 7th 2017
Goodreads Link

Synopsis:

The company says Otherworld is amazing—like nothing you’ve ever seen before. They say it’s addictive—that you’ll want to stay forever. They promise Otherworld will make all your dreams come true.

Simon thought Otherworld was a game. Turns out he knew nothing. Otherworld is the next phase of reality. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted.

And it’s about to change humanity forever.
Welcome to the Otherworld. No one could have seen it coming.

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Release Day Blitz: Zero Repeat Forever by Gabrielle Prendergast




I am so excited that ZERO REPEAT FOREVER by Gabrielle Prendergast is available now and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Gabrielle Prendergast, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a signed hardcover of the book courtesy of Gabrielle and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.


About The Book:

Title:
 ZERO REPEAT FOREVER
Pub. Date: August 29, 2017
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 496
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Find it: AmazonB&NAudibleiBooksTBDGoodreads

He has no voice, or name, only a rank, Eighth. He doesn’t know the details of the mission, only the directives that hum in his mind.

Dart the humans. Leave them where they fall.

His job is to protect his Offside. Let her do the shooting.

Until a human kills her…

Sixteen year-old Raven is at summer camp when the terrifying armored Nahx invade, annihilating entire cities, taking control of the Earth. Isolated in the wilderness, Raven and her friends have only a fragment of instruction from the human resistance.

Shelter in place.

Which seems like good advice at first. Stay put. Await rescue. Raven doesn’t like feeling helpless but what choice does she have?

Then a Nahx kills her boyfriend.

Thrown together in a violent, unfamiliar world, Eighth and Raven should feel only hate and fear. But when Raven is injured, and Eighth deserts his unit, their survival comes to depend on trusting each other… 

Book Trailer:




About Gabrielle: 
Gabrielle is a writer, teacher and designer living in Vancouver, Canada.  You can read about her books here. She is represented by Barbara Poelle at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency.
In 2014 she was the Writer in Residence at Vancouver Public Library. In 2015 she was nominated for the BC Book Prizes and chosen to tour the province to promote BC Books. In 2017 Gabrielle took part in the TD Canada Children’s Book Week Tour. She has also been nominated for the White Pine Awardand the CLA Award.
Gabrielle won the Westchester Award for Audacious. Audacious was included in CBC’s list of 100 YA Books That Make You Proud to be Canadian. A poem from Capricious was chosen for the 2014 Poetry in Transit Program. Pandas on the East Side was chosen as an Ontario Library Association Best Bet for Junior Fiction in 2016. It was also nominated/shortlisted for the Chocolate Lily Award, The Red Cedar Award, the Diamond Willow Award and the Myrca Award.






Giveaway Details:

(1) winner will receive a signed finished copy of ZERO REPEAT FOREVER, US Only & Canada.

(3) winners will receive signed postcards and bookmarks ZERO REPEAT FOREVER, US Only & Canada.

Ends on September 19th at Midnight EST!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Waiting On Wednesday #123

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme created by Breaking the Spine

The Glass Spare (The Glass Spare, #1)
Lauren DeStefano
Young Adult Fantasy
October 24th 2017
Goodreads Link

Synopsis:

A banished princess.
A deadly curse.
A kingdom at war.


Wil Heidle, the only daughter of the king of the world’s wealthiest nation, has grown up in the shadows. Kept hidden from the world in order to serve as a spy for her father—whose obsession with building his empire is causing a war—Wil wants nothing more than to explore the world beyond her kingdom, if only her father would give her the chance.

Until one night Wil is attacked, and she discovers a dangerous secret. Her touch turns people into gemstone. At first Wil is horrified—but as she tests its limits, she’s drawn more and more to the strange and volatile ability. When it leads to tragedy, Wil is forced to face the destructive power within her and finally leave her home to seek the truth and a cure.

But finding the key to her redemption puts her in the path of a cursed prince who has his own ideas for what to do with her power.

With a world on the brink of war and a power of ultimate destruction, can Wil find a way to help the kingdom that’s turned its back on her, or will she betray her past and her family forever?

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Release Week Blitz: Allerleirauh by Chantal Gadoury


I am so excited that ALLERLEIRAUH by Chantal Gadoury is available now and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Chantal Gadoury, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a paperback of the book or an eBook courtesy of The Parliament House and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.



About The Book:

Title: ALLERLEIRAUH
Author: Chantal Gadoury
Pub. Date: August 22, 2017
Publisher: The Parliament House 
Pages: 236
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Find it: AmazonB&NiBooksGoodreads

Once Upon a Time…

In the kingdom of Tranen, a king makes a promise to his dying wife that he'll only remarry a woman who possesses her golden hair. In time, the king's eyes are turned by his daughter. Realizing her father’s intentions, Princess Aurelia tries to trick him by requesting impossible gifts: dresses created by the sun, moon and stars, and a coat made of a thousand furs. But when he is successful, Aurelia sacrifices her privileged life and flees her kingdom, disguised by the cloak and a new name, Allerleirauh.

She enters the safe haven of Saarland der Licht, where the handsome and gentle Prince Klaus takes her under his care. Hoping not to be discovered by her father’s courtiers, Allerleirauh tries to remain hidden under her new identity when she finds unexpected love with Prince Klaus, even though his arranged marriage to the princess of a neighboring kingdom approaches. Risking everything, Allerleirauh must face her troubled past and her fears of the future along her journey to self-acceptance in this triumphant retelling of the classic Grimm Fairy Tale.




Excerpt:
“I won’t ever let them near you again, Aurelia. I swear it,” he promised as his grief-filled eyes met mine. “You must know I love you. It never mattered to me whether you were a princess or not. It matters not to me if you think you are soiled, because to me . . . you are more . . . You are more than what has happened to you, and you always shall be,” he said softly as his hand slid to my cheek. Carefully, his thumb wiped a tear away. “You are this wonderful, head-strong, and brave woman,” Klaus continued. “No one has any right to ever try to take such a thing away from you. It should only ever be admired and cherished.”

More tears began to spill over my cheeks as relief flooded me. Klaus would not turn me away; instead, he accepted me. I rested my forehead against his shoulder, as I felt his arms slowly wrap around me.

“Tell me what you wish for me to do, my sweet Aurelia, and I will do it.”



About Chantal:

Chantal Gadoury is a young author who is originally from the countryside of Muncy, PA. Chantal likes anything Disney, plays a mean game of Disney trivia, enjoys painting and has a interest in British History. Chantal first started writing stories at the age of seven and continues that love of writing today. As a recent college graduate from Susquehanna University, with a degree in Creative Writing, writing novels is a dream come true.










Giveaway Details: o:p>

(1) winner will receive A Paperback of ALLERLEIRAUH, US Only

(5) winners will receive eBooks of ALLERLEIRAUH, International.

Ends on August 22nd at Midnight EST!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Waiting On Wednesday #122

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme created by Breaking the Spine

Berserker (Berserker, #1)
Emmy Laybourne
Young Adult Fantasy
October 10th 2017
Goodreads Link

Synopsis:

Are Hanne's powers a gift from the old Norse gods, or a curse?

Her brother Stieg swears their powers are a gift from the old gods, but Hanne Hemstad knows she is truly cursed. It's not Stieg's fault that their father is dead, their mother has left, and their brother Knut has been accused of a crime he didn't commit.

No, the fault lies with Hanne and her inability to control her murderous "gift"--she is a Berserker. When someone she loves is threatened, she flies into a killing state. The siblings must leave Norway for the American frontier or risk being brought to justice.

Aided by a young cowboy who agrees to be their guide, Hanne and her siblings use their powers to survive the perilous trail, where blizzards, wild animals, and vicious bounty hunters await.

Will they be able to reach their uncle, the one man Hanne believes may be able to teach her how to control her drive to kill? With Berserker, Emmy Laybourne, the author of Monument 14, presents her vision of an American west studded with Viking glory.
 

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell






Book: The Last Magician 
Author: Lisa Maxwell
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Pages: 512
Pub Date: July 18th 2017

Goodreads Link: Goodreads

Where To Buy:


Book Description:

Stop the Magician.
Steal the book.
Save the future.


In modern day New York, magic is all but extinct. The remaining few who have an affinity for magic—the Mageus—live in the shadows, hiding who they are. Any Mageus who enters Manhattan becomes trapped by the Brink, a dark energy barrier that confines them to the island. Crossing it means losing their power—and often their lives.

Esta is a talented thief, and she's been raised to steal magical artifacts from the sinister Order that created the Brink. With her innate ability to manipulate time, Esta can pilfer from the past, collecting these artifacts before the Order even realizes she’s there. And all of Esta’s training has been for one final job: traveling back to 1902 to steal an ancient book containing the secrets of the Order—and the Brink—before the Magician can destroy it and doom the Mageus to a hopeless future.

But Old New York is a dangerous world ruled by ruthless gangs and secret societies, a world where the very air crackles with magic. Nothing is as it seems, including the Magician himself. And for Esta to save her future, she may have to betray everyone in the past.




Bio:
Lisa Maxwell is the author of The Last MagicianUnhookedSweet Unrest, and The Gathering Deep. She grew up in Akron, Ohio, and has a PhD in English. She’s worked as a teacher, scholar, editor, writer, and bookseller (at Little Professor Book Center in Alabama). When she’s not writing books, she’s a professor at a local college. She now lives near Washington, DC, with her husband and two sons. You can follow her on Twitter @LisaMaxwellYA or learn more about her upcoming books at http://lisa-maxwell.com/

Links:
Author Website: www.lisa-maxwell.com
Book Website (with special content): www.thelastmagician.com
Twitter: @LisaMaxwellYA
Instagram: @LisaMaxwell13


~~~~~~  The Last Magician—My Writing Process ~~~~~~
     I wrote my first three books fast, in a flurry of words that took a month or so to churn out. Then I took the time to revise them for plot, character, consistency. UNHOOKED took a lot of revision, in part because I wrote the first version for NaNoWriMo and the first draft was a hot mess. Even after UNHOOKED sold, the revisions on it were intensive, mostly because I hadn’t really done a ton of world building before I wrote it. I had to go back through and make the world have a natural logic and consistency. But revising UNHOOKED taught me to write more with craft in mind, and many of the techniques I learned revising on my own and then later with my editor were techniques that I used on THE LAST MAGICIAN. I started THE LAST MAGICIAN with more brainstorming and world building than I’d ever done before. I laid out the magic system and, most importantly, laid out the details of the plot. When I pitched the book to my editor, I had a 10+ page (single-spaced) synopsis that laid out every twist and turn in the book. You would think that with all that planning, with knowing exactly what needed to happen, that THE LAST MAGICIAN would have been a joy to write. Nope. The book made me work for it, that’s for sure. I started drafting in August of 2015. By December, I had the bones of the book, but it fought me the entire way to get that first draft. I usually draft in Word. I have no idea what it is, but I can’t seem to write in anything else. It doesn’t even make logical sense, but I freeze up in Pages or Scrivener, but with Word, I can just write. I usually write in one long document and I leave it single-spaced, so I can see as many words on the screen as possible. Once I had the bulk of my draft done, and I’d therefore realized that the book was not going to be the dual POV that I’d planned, but something much bigger and more complicated, I plugged the whole thing into Scrivener. I don’t write in Scrivener, but I love using it for revision. Because it allows you to make separate folders and documents for each chapter and scene, it was really convenient to move things around, change the POV of a chapter, or just play with the larger structure until I got it right. I also use spreadsheets to edit. Once I have what I think is a good, solid draft, I print out the entire thing and then I go through the hard copy, page-by- page, making notes. As I read, I reverse-outline the whole book into a spreadsheet, so I can see where each of the scenes are, how long each chapter is, and what the plot beats are for each chapter. Forcing myself to reverse-outline the book in a spreadsheet means that I can more easily see when the story is not keeping up with the pace it needs to. I can see where chapters are dragging and where I’m missing major emotional beats in the story.

    The spreadsheet also allows me to better track the world building. I can list when a character is introduced or when a fact is revealed, and I can see if I’m using multiple scenes for the same purpose—and get rid of them. Once I have a really solid version of the book, off it goes to Beta readers and I use their feedback to make sure I’m not missing anything important. I don’t really have Critique Partners that I exchange pages or chapters with. Instead, I have a few people I really trust to read the book and give me big-picture issues. Strangely enough, my non-fiction- reading husband is always one of my first and best readers. If he can get through the book and like it, I know I’m on the right track. The rest of my writing process has a lot to do with revision. THE LAST MAGICIAN went through multiple rounds of revision with my first editor. Then he left the publisher and my new editor had some bigger issues she wanted to work on, so we went at it all over again and the book changed even more. I’d love to say that this is a magic formula for writing, but I’ve found that every book needs to be written in its own way. I wrote a lot of THE LAST MAGICIAN at home in my dark bedroom listening to Chris Cornell’s Higher Truth album. I worked from a really detailed synopsis. For the sequel, I’ve found I can only work on it outside of my house. I have a loose outline of where I think it’s going and a general idea of the end…and the rest is a mystery. But once it’s drafted, I’ll still go through the process of printing it out, slowing myself down, and analyzing it structurally. That’s not how I wrote my first book. It’s probably not how I’ll write my last book. I think, though, that the most important thing about writing and any writer’s process is to let it take the shape it needs to take, so you can balance creativity and storytelling with the craft of the novel. Thanks so much for reading! If you have any questions about craft or the writing process, I’d be
happy to answer them!

~~~~~ There Are Two Giveaways! ~~~~~

(Tour Wide Giveaway): One (1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Last Magician along with a swag pack and other exclusive goodies.

(Just For My Blog Giveaway): One (1) winner will receive a The Last Magician swag pack courtesy of the author 




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Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Waiting On Wednesday #121

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme created by Breaking the Spine

Last Star Burning (Last Star Burning, #1)
Caitlin Sangster
Young Adult Fantasy
October 10th 2017
Goodreads Link

Synopsis:

Sev is branded with the mark of a criminal—a star burned into her hand. That’s the penalty for being the daughter of the woman who betrayed their entire nation.

Now her mother’s body is displayed above Traitor’s Arch, kept in a paralyzed half sleep by the same plague that destroyed the rest of the world. And as further punishment, Sev is forced to do hard labor to prove that she’s more valuable alive than dead.

When the government blames Sev for a horrific bombing, she must escape the city or face the chopping block. Unimaginable dangers lurk outside the city walls, and Sev’s only hope of survival lies with the most unlikely person—Howl, the chairman’s son. Though he promises to lead her to safety, Howl has secrets, and Sev can’t help but wonder if he knows more about her past—and her mother’s crimes—than he lets on.

But in a hostile world, trust is a luxury. Even when Sev’s life and the lives of everyone she loves may hang in the balance.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Release Week Blitz: The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Lee



I am so excited that THE EPIC CRUSH OF GENIE LO by F.C. Yee is available now and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author F.C. Yee, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for 5 finished copies of the book and a bookmark courtesy of Pique and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.



About The Book:

Title: THE EPIC CRUSH OF GENIE LO
Author: F.C. Yee
Pub. Date: August 8, 2017
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 336
Formats: Hardcover, eBook

The struggle to get into a top-tier college consumes sixteen-year-old Genie Lo's every waking thought. But when her sleepy Bay Area town comes under siege from hell-spawn straight out of Chinese folklore, her priorities are suddenly and forcefully rearranged.

Her only guide to the demonic chaos breaking out around her is Quentin Sun, a beguiling, maddening new transfer student from overseas. Quentin assures Genie she is strong enough to fight these monsters, for she unknowingly harbors an inner power that can level the very gates of Heaven.

Genie will have to dig deep within herself to summon the otherworldly strength that Quentin keeps talking about. But as she does, she finds the secret of her true nature is entwined with his, in a way she could never have imagined…

Excerpt:
“GREETINGS,” HE SAID, HIS ACCENT THICK BUT HIS VOICE LOUD and clear. “I have arrived.”

Now, I’d done my best to describe this guy to the police. They pressed me hard for details, as apparently this wasn’t the first group mugging in recent weeks.

But I’d let Officers Davis and Rodriguez down. Nice eyes and a winning smile weren’t much to go by. I was too frazzled to notice anything before, which meant this was my first decent look at the boy without the influence of adrenaline.

So a couple of things.

One: He was short. Like, really short for a guy. I felt bad that my brain went there first, but he wasn’t even as tall as Mrs. Nanda.

Two: He was totally okay, physically. I didn’t see how anyone could be up and about after that beating, but here he was, unbruised and unblemished. I felt relieved and disturbed at the same time to see there wasn’t a scratch on him.

And his mint condition just made Point Three even more obvious.

He was . . . yeesh.

Nothing good could come of our new classmate being that handsome. It was destructive. Twisted. Weaponized. He had the cheekbones and sharp jawline of a pop star, but his thick eyebrows and wild, unkempt hair lent him an air of natural ruggedness that some pampered singer could never achieve in a million years of makeup.

“Argh, my ovaries,” Yunie mumbled. She wasn’t alone, judging by the soft intakes of breath coming from around the room.

“Arrived from where?” said Mrs. Nanda.

Quentin looked at her in amusement. “China?”

“Yes, but where in, though?” said Mrs. Nanda, trying her best to convey that she was sensitive to the regional differences. Fujianese, Taishanese, Beijingren—she’d taught them all.

He just shrugged. “The stones,” he said.

“You mean the mountains, sweetie?” said Rachel Li, batting her eyelashes at him from the front row.

“No! I don’t misspeak.”

The class giggled at his English. But none of it was incorrect, technically speaking.

“Tell us a little about yourself,” Mrs. Nanda said.

Quentin puffed out his chest. The white button-down shirt and black pants of our school’s uniform for boys made most of them look like limo drivers. But on him, the cheap stitching just made it clearer that he was extremely well-muscled underneath.

“I am the greatest of my kind,” he said. “In this world I have no equal. I am known to thousands in faraway lands, and everyone I meet can’t help but declare me king!”

There was a moment of silence and sputtering before guffaws broke out.

“Well . . . um . . . we are all high achievers here at SF Prep,” said

Mrs. Nanda as politely as she could. “I’m sure you’ll fit right in?”

Quentin surveyed the cramped beige classroom with a cool squint. To him, the other twenty-two laughing students were merely peons on whom his important message had been lost.

“Enough wasting of time,” he snapped. “I came to these petty halls only to reclaim what is mine.”

Before anyone could stop him, he hopped onto Rachel’s desk and stepped over her to the next one, like she wasn’t even there.

“Hey! Quentin!” Mrs. Nanda said, frantically waving her hands. “Get down now!”

The new student ignored her, stalking down the column of desks. Toward mine.

Everyone in his way leaned to the side to avoid getting kicked. They were all too flabbergasted to do anything but serve as his counterweights.

He stopped on my desk and crouched down, looking me in the eye. His gaze pinned me to my seat.
I couldn’t turn away. He was so close our noses were almost touching. He smelled like wine and peaches.

“You!” he said.

“What?” I squeaked.

Quentin gave me a grin that was utterly feral. He tilted his head as if to whisper, but spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.

“You belong to me”

About F.C:

F. C. Yee grew up in New Jersey and went to school in New England, but has called the San Francisco Bay Area home ever since he beat a friend at a board game and shouted “That’s how we do it in NorCal, baby!” Outside of writing, he practices capoeira, a Brazilian form of martial arts, and has a day job mostly involving spreadsheets.

                       











Giveaway Details:

5 winners will receive Genie Lo prize packs—complete with a finished copy of the book and a special Genie Lo horoscope (that doubles as a bookmark!), US Only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway