BOOK BLAST: Hexed (The Witch Hunter #1) by Michelle Krys + GIVEAWAY

Hi guys! Today, we're helping spread the word about Michelle Krys' new novel, Hexed! This book has been promoted as The Craft meets Bring it On, which sounds like something pretty awesome! There's also a giveaway for a signed copy of the book and signed swag, so be sure to enter via the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post.

So, without further ado, here's moe about Hexed and Michelle!

About the book

Title: Hexed (The Witch Hunter #1)
Author: Michelle Krys
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 384
Release Date: June 10th, 2014


Synopsis: If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Goodreads

About the Author

Hi there! I'm the author of the YA novel Hexed, slated for publication with Delacorte Press/Random House Children's Books Spring 2014. I'm repped by Adriann Ranta of Wolf Literary Services. Visit me at michellekrys.com or follow @MichelleKrys on Twitter.

The Giveaway! 

--Giveaway is open to US only. | Must be 13+ to Enter

1 Winner will get: A Signed copy of Hexed
3 Winners will get: Signed Swag

a Rafflecopter giveaway




--Ashley & Paul

Enders (Starters #2) by Lissa Price - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Delacorte Press/Random House Children's on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Enders (Starters #2)
Author: Lissa Price
Year Published: 2014

My Enders (#2) Pre-Reading
My Starters (#1) Review
My Starters (#1) Pre-Reading

Paul's Enders (#2) Review
Paul's Enders (#2) Pre-Reading
Paul's Starters (#1) Review
Paul's Starters (#1) Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Someone is after Starters like Callie and Michael—teens with chips in their brains. They want to experiment on anyone left over from Prime Destinations—Starters who can be controlled and manipulated. With the body bank destroyed, Callie no longer has to rent herself out to creepy Enders.

But Enders can still get inside her mind and make her do things she doesn't want to do. Like hurt someone she loves. Having the chip removed could save her life—but it could also silence the voice in her head that might belong to her father. Callie has flashes of her ex-renter Helena's memories, too . . . and the Old Man is back, filling her with fear. Who is real and who is masquerading in a teen body?

No one is ever who they appear to be, not even the Old Man. Determined to find out who he really is and grasping at the hope of a normal life for herself and her younger brother, Callie is ready to fight for the truth. Even if it kills her.

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Review: I really enjoyed Starters. The world is really interesting, the characters were well-developed and relateable, and the story was excellent. And even though Starters was great, I think I enjoyed Enders even more! 

Enders was definitely darker and more complicated than Starters was. There are so many secrets that are revealed, and some of them are secrets within secrets. I saw a few things coming, but one of the main reveals took me by surprise! I was so willing to accept things the way they were originally explained that I didn't even think that things might be way more complicated than the simple solution. Enders held me complete attention and I found myself not being able to put it down because I just HAD to know what was going to happen next! I did think a few things were very convenient and probably a little far-fetched, but it didn't bother me too much since it helped move the plot along.

There are some old favorites in this book, although we don't really see as much of them as I would have liked. There's still so much about Michael that I don't know and want to know, since he's kind of tossed in the background again. I mean, he does have his moments, but this is definitely Callie's series. The new characters were really interesting too though, and most of them were actually very well developed. Hyden was my favorite, mostly because I just could not figure him out. He's so sketchy but seems to genuinely care about the Starters and Callie... I still am not sure if I should trust him or not. 

Although I do have some minor questions left, I think this series ended very nicely. Pretty much all of the loose ends are tied up, but there's still some work left to do. Callie still has to figure out relationships of all kinds - familial, friendships, and romantic interests - but she's still got some growing up to do, so that's understandable. I'm very glad that this was only a duology, because I think anything longer would have been too much and anything shorter would not have been enough. 

 I would definitely recommend Enders to anyone who has read Starters. I would also recommend the series to anyone looking for something dystopian with a little sci-fi thrown in. I really think fans of Divergent and The Maze Runner would like this series. I even think the younger crowd would enjoy this series; there's not too much violence or anything, and there are no inappropriate situations. Having said that though, I still think it's enjoyable for the older YA fans as well. A 4/5!


--Ashley

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Random House Children's/Delacorte Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Here and Now
Author: Ann Brashares
Publication Date: April 8, 2014

Synopsis: An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins. 

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth. 

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves. 

From Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now is thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking—and a must-read novel of the year.

Why?: I was pretty much sold at "thriller," but I knew I had to read this book as soon as I read that Prenna has immigrated from a different time. Plus, with the mosquito-borne illness killing everyone thing, it kind of sounds like a sci-fi dystopian, which also excited me. Throw in a little romance to make things more complicated and that sounds like a pretty fantastic book to me. 

Expectations: Although I've read (and enjoyed) the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books, I am expecting this book to be completely different. That series was light and fun, though it did have its share of heartbreak, but I think this book will be much darker. And I'm actually kind of excited to see a different side of Ann Brashares, so my expectations are probably a little bit higher than they should be.

Judging a book by its cover: I'm really torn about this cover. I think the colors and the geometric feel that the triangles give it make it stand out from other books that would be on the same shelf, but I'm not convinced that it's enough to make this book totally unique. It kind of reminds me of a stereotypical YA summer romance, and I'm not normally drawn to those kind of books. 


--Ashley

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Delacorte Press/Random House Children's on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: We Were Liars
Author: E. Lockhart
Publication Date: May 13, 2014

Synopsis: We Were Liars is an original and deeply charged psychological thriller.

New York Times bestselling author John Green describes We Were Liars as "thrilling, beautiful, and blisteringly smart . . . utterly unforgettable."

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. 

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE

Why?: I am always down for a good mystery/suspense novel. Since this one is also described as a psychological thriller, and since I like those too, I knew I had to read We Were Liars. There's been so much hype and mystery surrounding it that I really wanted to know what happens! 

Expectations: I expect a lot of mystery caused by lots of lies and a teen romance. I'm also expecting a little bit of commentary on love and loss and heartbreak and the power of friendship. Since there's not really any information given about this book though, I really have no idea what else to expect. I've never read anything by Lockhart either, so I don't know what to expect from her writing style. I'm kind of excited to not know much about this book though! 

Judging a book by its cover: I actually really like this cover. I like how the title takes center stage, and  is over a group of four friends. It's only their silhouettes though, so I like the mystery of that. The colors of the sky and the ocean remind me of summer. I would probably pick it up if I saw it on a shelf in the library or in a bookstore.


--Ashley

Enders (Starters #2) by Lissa Price - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Delacorte Press/Random House Children's on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Enders (Starters #2)
Author: Lissa Price
Year Published: 2014

My Starters (#1) Review
My Starters (#1) Pre-Reading

Paul's Enders (#2) Review
Paul's Enders (#2) Pre-Reading
Paul's Starters (#1) Review
Paul's Starters (#1) Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Someone is after Starters like Callie and Michael—teens with chips in their brains. They want to experiment on anyone left over from Prime Destinations—Starters who can be controlled and manipulated. With the body bank destroyed, Callie no longer has to rent herself out to creepy Enders. 

But Enders can still get inside her mind and make her do things she doesn't want to do. Like hurt someone she loves. Having the chip removed could save her life—but it could also silence the voice in her head that might belong to her father. Callie has flashes of her ex-renter Helena's memories, too . . . and the Old Man is back, filling her with fear. Who is real and who is masquerading in a teen body?

No one is ever who they appear to be, not even the Old Man. Determined to find out who he really is and grasping at the hope of a normal life for herself and her younger brother, Callie is ready to fight for the truth. Even if it kills her.

Why?: I enjoyed Starters, and I want to know how Callie's story ends! Does she defeat the Old Man? Do we ever get to find out who he is? I have so many unanswered questions, and I'm hoping that Enders will answer all of them (or at least the majority of them!).

Expectations: I expect this book to be much faster paced than Starters, especially since Callie is on the run for her life. I also expect it to be more answers than questions, since this is the conclusion to the series. Maybe more science-y, since Callie has to find out who is real and who isn't and she still has to understand the chip? 

Judging a book by its cover: This cover is really similar to the new cover for Starters, so I like that. I think the girl on the cover of YA books is kind of overdone, but I also think that the colors on this one make it stand out from the rest. The orange and pink and yellow are a different color scheme than most YA books have, so that's nice. I'd probably pick it up just because of the bold color choices, but I don't think it's very special past that.


--Ashley

Starters (Starters #1) by Lissa Price - Ashley's Review

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Title: Starters (Starters #1)
Author: Lissa Price
Year Published: 2012

My Starters Pre-Reading

Paul's Enders Review

Paul's Enders Pre-Reading

Paul's Starters Review

Paul's Starters Pre-Reading

Synopsis: In the future, teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. One girl discovers her renter plans to do more than party--her body will commit murder, if her mind can't stop it. Sixteen-year-old Callie lost her parents when the genocide spore wiped out everyone except those who were vaccinated first--the very young and very old.

With no grandparents to claim Callie and her little brother, they go on the run, living as squatters, and fighting off unclaimed renegades who would kill for a cookie. Hope comes via Prime Destinations, run by a mysterious figure known only as The Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to seniors, known as Enders, who get to be young again. Callie's neurochip malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her rich renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, even dating Blake, the grandson of a senator. It's a fairy-tale new life ... until she uncovers the Body Bank's horrible plan....

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Review: Going into this book, I was really looking forward to something like Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. I really liked the show, and Starters sounded like a very close counterpart to it. And you know what? It was pretty close. People selling their bodies so that they can be used as vessels for other personae/people. A malfunctioning "doll." A heroine who tries to save the day while trying to avoid an evil organization. But luckily, this book was different enough from the show that it seemed like a whole new story! 

In Callie's world,  there are only young children & teenagers, and the elderly. Everyone else was killed during the Spore wars. I can't imagine living in a place where kids are forced to fend for themselves but aren't allowed to work. Or to do much more than rot away in prisons simply because they are "unclaimed." It sounds like such an awful world, and I was really impressed with how well it was constructed. We aren't flooded with details, and we're shown more than we're told.  I felt like the book started a little slow pacing-wise, but the world building is done very well, and I was simultaneously pleasantly surprised and terrified that this future doesn't sound like something that's too far off.

It seems like strong female characters are a common trope in YA dystopian novels, but Callie has so many other attributes that make her stand out from your typical YA heroine. She tries to be strong, but she's scared - for herself, for her brother, for her friends, for her fellow teens. She wants to save the world, but she doesn't know how. She doesn't know who to trust, but she sometimes puts her trust in the wrong person/people. Callie is such a complex character, and I totally felt for her every time something went wrong and celebrated with her when her plans went as expected. 

I also thought that the minor characters were very well developed. All of them had their own personalities and had more than one side to them. They were dynamic and ever changing. I thought the relationship with Blake started a little quickly, but then progressed at a more reasonable rate. I enjoyed reading about the time they spent together, although I almost wish Callie was a little more conflicted over which boy to pick. I want to know more about Michael and about their history together. I'm hoping for more of that in Enders! 

If you enjoyed books like Divergent or The Hunger Games, I think this would be a good read for you. I also think fans of Dollhouse would enjoy this book, although it is different and stands on its own. I can't wait to read Enders next and see how Callie's story plays out! 4/5.

--Ashley

Starters (Starters #1) by Lissa Price - Ashley's Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Starters (Starters #1)
Author: Lissa Price
Year Published: 2012

Synopsis: In the future, teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. One girl discovers her renter plans to do more than party--her body will commit murder, if her mind can't stop it. Sixteen-year-old Callie lost her parents when the genocide spore wiped out everyone except those who were vaccinated first--the very young and very old.

With no grandparents to claim Callie and her little brother, they go on the run, living as squatters, and fighting off unclaimed renegades who would kill for a cookie. Hope comes via Prime Destinations, run by a mysterious figure known only as The Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to seniors, known as Enders, who get to be young again. Callie's neurochip malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her rich renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, even dating Blake, the grandson of a senator. It's a fairy-tale new life ... until she uncovers the Body Bank's horrible plan....

Why?: This book sounds kind of like Dollhouse, one of those brilliant Joss Whedon shows that got cancelled after only two seasons. I'm interested in how Lissa tackles the concept, and in the world that she creates in this book. It seems like there will be a lot of sci-fi, and I'm always looking for the next great sci-fi book. 

Expectations: I've heard pretty excellent things about this book, so my expectations are pretty high. I've also watched all of the Dollhouse episodes, so I've got a feeling I'm going to have to try not to compare the two and just appreciate this book on its own.

Judging a book by its cover: I love the colors on this cover, but it's just a very stereotypical cover for a YA book with a female protagonist. I would probably pick it up based on the colors alone, but it's not really anything incredibly unique that would catch my eye because of its uniqueness. 


--Ashley