Cover Reveal: Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows

Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows is the first in a new series that fans of Percy Jackson and The Secret Circle will love!

Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow

Elementals #1

Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks
Expected Publication: January 26, 2016
Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy,

When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches. Even more surprisingly … she’s apparently a witch herself. Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers—and, to her dismay, by Blake—the school’s notorious bad-boy.
Girls who get close to Blake wind up hurt. His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic. But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle’s wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.
When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers. But the comet has another effect—it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it’s up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town … and possibly the world.

 About the Author

Michelle Madow grew up in Baltimore, graduated Rollins College in Orlando, and now lives in Boca

Raton, Florida. She wrote her first book in her junior year of college, and has been writing novels since. Some of her favorite things are: reading, pizza, traveling, shopping, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Michelle has toured across America to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.

To chat with Michelle and other fans about her books, join Michelle Madow's Street Team on Facebook!

   

Michelle is offering one lucky winner a signed paperback ARC of Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

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I want to hear what you think!

Let me know in the comments

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Book Review: Forged In Stone

About the Book

Title: Forged In Stone

Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

Series: The Forged Chronicles

Publication Date: June 9, 2015

Genres: New Adult, Fantasy, Romance, 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble 

The son of darkness is all grown up...
James is a Guardian. He is tasked with protecting the most important person in his world. For eight years he has done his job without complaint, but he has grown tired of living under the shadow of a father who is responsible for the most unimaginable violence and destruction his world has ever known.
Ainsley is at a loss for what to do with her life. She hates her two dead end jobs and the family who betrayed her. She has resigned herself to living one day at a time, but she longs for an escape from her lonely life.
When Ainsley finds James in her bed, their two lives and worlds collide. They may have both found exactly what they need, but the darkness James has been running from his whole life has just caught up.

 About the Author

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance

and

a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

    

My Review of Forged In Stone

Beckoning Light is one of the first review requests I ever had on Unabridged Bookshelf. It is what started my obsession with Alyssa Rose Ivy’s writing. I was ecstatic to see the return of Energo characters. While some of these characters are from a previous series of Alyssa's, you do not have to read them to enjoy the Forged Chronicles. James was a character I always wanted to see where he ended up. While there is more to his story to tell, I liked seeing him with Ainsley. Of course, the glimpses of other characters from the Afterglow series were also most enjoyable. 

James never had it easy and with his father’s betrayal, he does not feel like he belongs as a Guardian for the Essence. James feels like he no longer fits in Energo with the taint of his father’s actions. This drives him to blow off steam in the “regular” world, setting events in motion to meet Ainsley, the girl of his dream housesitting for his best friend, Charlotte. I love the relationship that develops between James and Ainsley. 

This is not a slow burn type of romance, almost immediately the both of them are thrown into danger. As the danger mounts, James and Ainsley grow closer. Ainsley is a girl burned in her past and not quick to trust. Forged in Stone is a story about two broken people finding their way to each other. Even with her jaded view, she gives James a chance and James who believes his is unlovable opens up to the chance.

Alyssa Rose Ivy is my go to favorite author. Even with my mounting To Be Read pile, I always make time for Alyssa’s new books. I am an ARI addict and I am excited to see what happens with James and Ainsley next. 

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book, in exchange for an honest review**

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Waiting on Wednesday: Soundless

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we cannot wait to get our hands on.

 I am waiting on:

Title: Soundless

Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: November 10, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, 

From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore.
For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.
When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.
But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.
Richelle Mead takes readers on a triumphant journey from the peak of Fei’s jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiugo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life forever...

Why am I waiting?

I really have never read any book even close to this synopsis, but if Richelle Mead is writing it, I am defiantly going to give it a try. I like the idea of sound being a weapon, and I am curious to see how Fei's story unfolds. Maybe stepping outside my normal comfort zone, will open me up to a whole new world.

What are you waiting on?

Make sure to let me know in the comments

Thank you for visiting Unabridged Bookshelf!

Book Review: Unmade

About the Book

Title: Unmade

Author: Sarah Rees Brennan

Series: The Lynburn Legacy #3

Publication Date: September 22, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble 

Powerful love comes with a price. Who will be the sacrifice?
Kami has lost the boy she loves, is tied to a boy she does not, and faces an enemy more powerful than ever before. With Jared missing for months and presumed dead, Kami must rely on her new magical link with Ash for the strength to face the evil spreading through her town.
Rob Lynburn is now the master of Sorry-in-the-Vale, and he demands a death. Kami will use every tool at her disposal to stop him. Together with Rusty, Angela, and Holly, she uncovers a secret that might be the key to saving the town. But with knowledge comes responsibility—and a painful choice. A choice that will risk not only Kami’s life, but also the lives of those she loves most.
This final book in the Lynburn Legacy is a wild, entertaining ride from beginning to shocking end.

My Review of Unmade

The last book in the Lynburn Legacy series did not disappoint. The stakes have never been higher, and Kami refuses to let Rob Lynburn and his sorcerers take over their town. Kami and her friends have to face insurmountable odds if they want any chance to free their hometown. Even with the dire circumstances, Sarah Rees Brennan manages a good bit of humor, which was always my favorite part of the entire Lynburn Legacy Series.

Kami has remained steadfast in her beliefs and her will to fight even against her own mother. Just the type of character I love to read about, and root for throughout the story. The anticipation I had reading this was intense, I was not sure I could stay goodbye to all these characters. I will say that Sarah Rees Brennan really managed to finish this series and give it a feeling of completion.  

The range of emotion I felt while reading Unmade was vast. There were times I was cheering or laughing aloud, and times I was crying. I have to give props to any book that makes me that emotional. Also Unmade can make you look unhinged if reading in public, I know I got a few looks while reading in the waiting room at the doctor’s office.

The Lynburn Legacy is the first book I have read by Sarah Rees Brennan but I plan to read many more books by her. If you have not read the first book in the Lynburn Legacy, Unspoken, go ahead and jump on the bandwagon now. Trust me it will be worth it.

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book, in exchange for an honest review**

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Walk on Earth a Stranger Release Day

I am so excited that WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER by Rae Carson releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway!

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a set of the GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS series (in paperback format). US only. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About the Book

Title: Walk on Earth a Stranger

Author: Rae Carson
Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Publication Date: September 22, 2015

Genres: Historical, Fantasy, Young Adult, 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks 

The first book in a new trilogy from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Rae Carson. A young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold must flee her home, taking her on a sweeping and dangerous journey across Gold Rush–era America.
Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, dazzles with this new fantasy that subverts both our own history and familiar fantasy tropes.
Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in this new trilogy, introduces—as only Rae Carson can—a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance. Includes a map and author’s note on historical research.

About the Author

Rae Carson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire
and Thorns trilogy. Her next book, Walk On Earth A Stranger, will be available September 22, 2015. She lives in Arizona with her husband.
   

Read the First Chapter HERE

1 winner will receive a set of the 3 GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS series (in paperback format). US Only.

Ends on September 30th at Midnight EST!

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Waiting on Wednesday: Reawakened

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we cannot wait to get our hands on.

 I am waiting on:

Title: Reawakened

Author: Colleen Houck

Series: Reawakened #1

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: August 11, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, 

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.
And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe to find his brothers and complete a grand ceremony that will save mankind.
But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.
From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.

Why am I waiting?

Since I was little I have been obsessed with Ancient Egypt. History, Culture, Mythology, Pharaohs, and Mummies there is so much that intrigues me. I love that this book is saturated in Ancient Egyptian culture and history that transpires in modern times. I am more excited about this book then I have been for a book in a really long time. Are you an Ancient Egypt Enthusiast too?

What are you waiting on?

Make sure to let me know in the comments

Thank you for visiting Unabridged Bookshelf!

Waiting on Wednesday: Legacy of Kings

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we cannot wait to get our hands on.

 I am waiting on:

Title: Legacy of Kings

Author: Eleanor Herman

Series: Blood of Gods and Royals #1

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: August 25, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Imagine a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the hellions roam the plains and evil stirs beyond the edges of the map. A time when cities burn, and in their ashes, empires rise.
Alexander, Macedonia’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role in conquering the known world but finds himself drawn to newcomer Katerina, who must navigate the dark secrets of court life while hiding her own mission: kill the Queen. But Kat’s first love, Jacob, will go to unthinkable lengths to win her, even if it means competing for her heart with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince. And far across the sea, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet fiancée, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters.
Weaving fantasy with the salacious and fascinating details of real history, New York Times bestselling author Eleanor Herman reimagines the greatest emperor the world has ever known: Alexander the Great, in the first book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.

Why am I waiting?

I am a bit of a history nerd, and I always love retellings and re-imaginings of historical events. I know a little bit about Alexander the Great but I really want to see what Eleanor does to make this story her own. Also I have not read a really great Fantasy in a long time, and I think this will be a great one to fix that. 

What are you waiting on?

Make sure to let me know in the comments

Thank you for visiting Unabridged Bookshelf!

Waiting on Wednesday: Chantress Fury

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we cannot wait to get our hands on.

 I am waiting on:

Title: Chantress Fury

Author: Amy Butler Greenfield

Series: Chantress Trilogy #3

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Publication Date: May 5, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, 

The sea is coming. We are coming. And we will drown you all.
With a song, Lucy can control the wind and the water; she can bring castles and kingdoms to their feet. Since Lucy mastered her powers, King Henry has kept her close as he’s rebuilt England. She’s his best ally—and his workhorse. And now he’s called her to investigate attempted murder: His men claim they were almost killed on the Thames…by a mermaid. All Lucy can glean from the creature they’ve captured is a warning: The sea is coming. We are coming. And we will drown you all.
And then the floods begin. Swaths of London are submerged as the people scramble to defend themselves against the water—and the monsters—that are flooding their streets. As mistrust of Lucy's magic grows, the king relies on Nat, Lucy's great love, to guide them through the storm. But Nat is cold and distant to Lucy. He swore his love only a year before, and now he calls her “stranger.”
Lucy is determined to defeat this powerful new magic alone if she must. But then she hears an eerie song within the water…can it mean that she’s not the last Chantress after all?
Sweepingly romantic and crackling with magic, Chantress Fury triumphantly concludes the powerful Chantress trilogy.

Why am I waiting?

I have love this series since I first read Chantress two years ago, and I am not sure I want to say goodbye. I do however want to know where the end of the story means for Lucy and for Nat. I am still rooting for them, but things did not look their brightest in Chantress Alchemy. I think it would be an interesting turn if there was another Chantress. 

What are you waiting on?

Make sure to let me know in the comments

Thank you for visiting Unabridged Bookshelf!

Waiting on Wedneday: Becoming Jinn

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we cannot wait to get our hands on.

 I am waiting on:

Title: Becoming Jinn

Author: Lori Goldstein

Series: Becoming Jinn #1

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Publication Date: April 21, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, 

Forget everything you thought you knew about genies!
Azra has just turned sixteen, and overnight her body lengthens, her olive skin deepens, and her eyes glisten gold thanks to the brand-new silver bangle that locks around her wrist. As she always knew it would, her Jinn ancestry brings not just magical powers but the reality of a life of servitude, as her wish granting is controlled by a remote ruling class of Jinn known as the Afrit.
To the humans she lives among, she’s just the girl working at the snack bar at the beach, navigating the fryer and her first crush. But behind closed doors, she’s learning how to harness her powers and fulfill the obligations of her destiny.
Mentored by her mother and her Zar “sisters”, Azra discovers she may not be quite like the rest of her circle of female Jinn . . . and that her powers could endanger them all. As Azra uncovers the darker world of becoming Jinn, she realizes when genies and wishes are involved, there’s always a trick.

Why am I waiting?

It has been so long since I read a book involving Jinn, and even then this book subject is one not often used. I think it is going to be a refreshing read, and besides who did not grow up hoping to find a genie in a magic lamp. I also love that this takes on Jinn not being the perfect life everyone thinks it is, and that should defiantly create an intriguing story for the main character, Azra.

What are you waiting on?

Make sure to let me know in the comments

Thank you for visiting Unabridged Bookshelf!

Lady MacBeth Blog Tour: Review and Giveawy

Welcome to Unabridged Bookshelf's stop on the Lady MacBeth Blog Tour!  Make sure to check out everything going on during this tour by clicking the banner above. 

About the Book

Title: Lady MacBeth: Daughter of the Ravens

Author: Melanie Karsak

Series:The Saga of Lady MacBeth

Publication Date: December 3, 2014

Genres: Adult, Fantasy

Purchase: Amazon 

Something wicked this way comes . . .
Gruoch is born to rule, but long before she becomes Macbeth’s queen, ancient forces claim her soul.
Marked from birth by the old gods, Gruoch is initiated into the ancient religion of her ancestors and begins learning the mysteries of the Goddess Cerridwen. But not everything is as it seems. Soon the Battle Goddess Morrigu imposes her will, and Gruoch finds herself at the mercy of the Wyrd Sisters.
With King Malcolm plotting, the Wyrd Sisters schooling her in arcane craft, and haunted by dreams of a raven-haired man she’s never met, Gruoch feels her fate is not her own. That is, until she meets a druid named Banquo. Gruoch’s heart is swept away when Banquo awakens something in her more powerful than duty, magic, or destiny: love.
This retelling of Shakespeare’s classic work leads readers through an unforgettable saga of one woman struggling to escape her fate without blood on her hands.
Begin the Lady Mabeth Saga with Lady Macbeth: Daughter of Ravens.

About the Author

Melanie Karsak is the author of the Amazon best-selling steampunk series The Airship Racing
Chronicles (Chasing the Star Garden and Chasing the  Green Fairy) and the award-wining horror/dark fantasy Harvesting Series. She grew up in rural northwestern Pennsylvania and earned a Master’s degree in English from Gannon University. A steampunk connoisseur, white elephant collector, and zombie whisperer, the author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children. She is an Instructor of English at Eastern Florida State College.

   

My Review of Lady MacBeth

*Notice: This is an adult story meant for readers 18 and over*

Witchcraft, vengeance, and love that is my type of Fantasy story, and Lady MacBeth covers all the bases. I love the beauty of the magic featured in Lady MacBeth, and this first installment is actually quite innocent compared to the original tragedy written by Shakespeare. Even though I have never read MacBeth, I still know the general story, and Lady MacBeth is much like a prequel to Shakespeare version but with unique elements crafted by the author, Melanie Karsak. In the original play, Lady MacBeth is very unlikeable character, but in Lady Macbeth: Daughter of the Ravens, I could not help but adore her and root for her as her story begins.

I am curious to see how Melanie Karsak adds to the story with the next installment in the Daughter of the Ravens series. Is she going to stray from the original story, or take the original and give it a spin in her own way. Corbie, the future Lady MacBeth, is just discovering herself and her magical ancestry. I love watching her go from scared teenager to a woman who except her power. I also love seeing her discover her past lives and those that she has loved in past lives, and rekindle her love for Banquo.

I became a fan of Melanie Karsak’s after her zombie novel, The Harvesting, which I loved immensely. I knew I had to try her new take on MacBeth, even if I had not read the play before, due to her talent for sucking readers in with her stories. Lady MacBeth is no exception, I found myself sucked in, and unable to put the story down no matter what interruptions tried to steal my attention. This is not always the case when I read, but the way Melanie Karsak writes this story, I just had to finish it and find out what happens to Corbie.

I cannot wait to see what happens in the next installment of The Saga of Lady Macbeth, because the almost cliffhanger way the story is left. I have to know what is in store for Corbie, and I know the next book is one that I am going to by hanging on a thread as I read. 

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book, in exchange for an honest review**

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