by Kay | Jul 14, 2011 | News |
Book Notes is a regular feature at Dead Book Darling highlighting bookish news, curiosities and gossip spotted across the blogosphere. May the drama be with you…
The summer signing season is upon us – and while the UK may not be seeing Maggie Stiefvater drive through in her shiny blue Camaro, we are being visited by some great Fantasy and YA authors! Here are a couple of events I’d be at (if it weren’t for that pesky work business!).
Orbit Books Summer Signing – 4 Authors, 1 Event
Saturday 30 July 2011 15:00 – 16:00
Forbidden Planet London – 179 Shaftesbury Avenue
Nicole Peeler (Tempest Rising) Tim Lebbon (Echo City) Simon Morden (Metrozone Series) and Philip Palmer (Debateable Space and Red Claw) will signing their newest novels at London’s Forbidden Planet. I plan on getting myself a signed copy of Tempest Rising next time I pass by the store – hopefully there will be some left. Cat at Beyond Books is a big fan of Peeler’s series, so I am excited that we are finally getting it in the UK!
More information about the authors and the event available here.
Alyson Noel Signing – This Saturday!
Saturday 16 July 2011 – 13.30
Foyles London – 113-119 Charing Cross Road WC2H 0EB
Alyson Noel is doing a whistle-stop signing at Foyles in their Teen Noir section (yep, Foyles is awesome enough to have a “Teen Noir” section). It’s the last leg of her UK tour, so this may be your last chance to meet Alyson before she heads back to the US for good! There’s not much more info, but you can read the official announcement here.
Well, I hope I’ve sorted your Saturdays out for you. Go forth and get some signed books!
by Kay | Feb 10, 2010 | Weekly Feature |
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.
Radiance by Alyson Noel
Young Adult/Middle Grade – Immortals Spin-off #1
August 31st 2010 by St. Martin’s Griffin
Welcome to the Here and Now.
Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she’s summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can’t quite figure out.
Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But he’s never met Riley…
Although I wasn’t in love with Noel’s Evermore, I really did enjoy her sister. I am really looking forward to hearing her own story – especially as it involves a her dog!
by Kay | Dec 26, 2009 | Reviews |
Evermore by Alyson Noel
Published by St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 306
Genres: Paranormal YA, Young Adult
Source: Purchased myself
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Rating: Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste…
Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.
Rec for people who love: Twilight-esque romances
Thoughts: Okay, let me start by saying that the writing in Evermore was excellent. Alyson Noel has buckets of talent when it comes to writing. I know a lot of people have criticized this book for being too similar from Twilight. But honestly, I found it not similar enough! While with Twilight, you love the book because you love the characters – I just couldn’t love these characters.
My problem was with the romance. Ever, our heroine, was wonderful. A bit thick-headed at times, but identifiable and in a very real amount of pain from the loss of her family. That she then inherited a debilitating “gift” made her suffering all the worse. It was refreshing to read about a heroine who is just as supernatural as her love interest!
But then there is Damen, the “hero”… yeah, I was not so keen on him. We never really understand his motivations – and considering his actions usually made him seem like a total asshole, I really needed some kind of explanation for his behaviour. It was frustrating, and even Ever thought so! Thing was, she was in love with him despite all her attempts to forget him completely. I had no such luck!
Bottom line? Great writing, lackluster romance. I do plan on picking up the sequels and remain hopeful that Damen will grow on me!
