M9B TWO FOR THURSDAY BLITZ: Serpentine by Cindy Pon & Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins + GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday! #T4T

presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that will tickle your fancy,

and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

You just might find your next read!

This week, #T4T presents to you:

SERPENTINE is a sweeping fantasy set in the ancient Kingdom

of Xia and inspired by the rich history of Chinese mythology.

Lush with details from Chinese folklore, SERPENTINE tells

the coming of age story of Skybright, a young girl who worries about her

growing otherness. As she turns sixteen, Skybright notices troubling changes.

By day, she is a companion and handmaid to the youngest daughter of a very

wealthy family. But nighttime brings with it a darkness that not even daybreak

can quell.

When her plight can no longer be denied, Skybright learns

that despite a dark destiny, she must struggle to retain her sense of self –

even as she falls in love for the first time.

“Vivid worldbuilding,

incendiary romance, heart-pounding action, and characters that will win you

over–I highly recommend Serpentine.” Cinda Williams Chima, best-selling author

of the Seven Realms and Heir Chronicles fantasy novels

“Serpentine is unique

and surprising, with a beautifully-drawn fantasy world that sucked me right in!

I love Skybright’s transformative power, and how she learns to take charge of

it.” ~Kristin Cashore, NYT Bestseller of the Graceling Realm Series

“Serpentine’s world

oozes with lush details and rich lore, and the characters crackle with life.

This is one story that you’ll want to lose yourself in.” ~ Marie Lu, New York

Times bestselling author of Legend and The Young Elites

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

"Serpentine is a beautifully written, diverse book with

a unique mythology that isn't common place in YA books, which is sad to say. We

need more books like this one."~ Katie

Blogger @ Mundie Moms

"Cindy introduces us to a story that is steeped in

Chinese mythology. For me, that was a refreshing break from the Greco-Roman and

Egyptian mythologies I studied in school. Although, the world-building was

something new to me, the story itself was very familiar. SERPENTINE is a

journey of discovery -- discovering who you are and how you fit into a destiny.

That's a plot I will never get tired of reading, especially since Cindy

presents it so well." ~ Sophie

Blogger @ PageTurners

"Cindy Pon captures your imagination with beautifully

written world building and freshly dynamic characters. You will find yourself

completely engulfed in this world of Chinese mythology and fascinating

worlds." ~ Reading 

Teen

Amazon | B&N | BAM | Chapters | Indiebound | Kobo | TBD | Google Play | iBooks

Cindy Pon is the author of Silver Phoenix (Greenwillow,

2009), which was named one of the Top Ten Fantasy and Science Fiction Books for

Youth by the American Library Association’s Booklist, and one of 2009′s best

Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror by VOYA. The sequel to Silver Phoenix,

titled Fury of the Phoenix, was released in April 2011. Serpentine, the first

title in her next Xia duology, will be published by Month9Books in September

2015. She is the co-founder of Diversity in YA with Malinda Lo and on the

advisory board of We Need Diverse Books. Cindy is also a Chinese brush painting

student of over a decade. Visit her website at www.cindypon.com.

Connect with Cindy:Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Tumblr

 

Four clans have been at war for centuries: the Kodiak, the

Raven, the Wolf and the Ram. Through brutal war tactics, the Ram have dominated

the region, inflicting death and destruction on their neighbors.

Seventeen-year-old Zo is a Wolf and a Healer who volunteers to infiltrate the

Ram as a spy on behalf of the allied clans. She offers herself as a Ram slave,

joining the people who are called the “nameless.” Hers is a suicide mission –

Zo’s despair after losing her parents in a Ram raid has left her seeking both

revenge and an end to her own misery. But after her younger sister follows her

into Rams Gate, Zo must find a way to survive her dangerous mission and keep

her sister safe. What she doesn’t expect to find is the friendship of a young

Ram whose life she saves, the confusing feelings she develops for a Ram

soldier, and an underground nameless insurrection. Zo learns that revenge,

loyalty and love are more complicated than she ever imagined in the first

installment of this two-book series.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

"Wow....WOW, WOW,

WOW! I have no words to describe how much I love this book. Jenkins writes

characters who are just so easy to love, and when you love a character it makes

the book so much better. And I loved all the characters. Zo, Tess, Joshua and

Gryphon. Gryphon is definitely my favorite - but who wouldn't love Gryphon? Of

course I do have a soft spot for our heroine, Zo." ~Bri,

Blogger @ Once Upon A Twilight

"Nameless

destroyed me in the best way possible. The romance was subtle, but written

beautifully. The plot was very intriguing and the pacing was spot on. I loved

the entire cast of characters, every single one of them added to the story.

Trust me when I say you should preorder it, add it to your TBR, request it from

your library, do whatever you have to do to get this book in your hands because

if you are a YA fantasy fan like me you need this book in your life!" ~Bridget,

Blogger @ Dark Faerie Tales

"NAMELESS is epic

storytelling at its best. My mind is still reeling from the world that I have

just been immersed in and I don't want to leave it. Can I please have the

sequel NOW? Because I need to know what happens next but in the meantime I'm

just going to re-read it again and again. Is it that good, you may ask? Hell

yes!!! And you will think so too. Trust me." Nancy,

Blogger @ Tales of A Ravenous Reader

"To say that I

love this book is an understatement. It completely blew me away! I am so happy

that I took a chance on it. NAMELESS is one book that you can re-read over and

over again and it will still feel fresh! I cannot wait for the world to read it

and fall under the NAMELESS spell. Because that’s what I feel like I am under,

a spell that has me trapped in Zo's world and won’t let me out! I don’t want

out!"~Damaris,

Blogger @ Good Choice Reading

"Wow this one was

addictive!! For fans of An Ember in the Ashes, Under the Never Sky, and The

Winner's Curse, Nameless captured my attention and held it until the very end.

Quick read. Slowburn romance. Great world-buildling. Awesome plot." ~ Rachel

Blogger @ A Perfection Called Books

"From the start

of the story until the very last page, Jennifer Jenkins took me on an emotional

ride. Through action, and heartbreak, and healing and relationships forming out

of hatred and mistrust, she has created a story of hope and faith and choosing

how you want to live your life, and the beliefs that you want to hold,

regardless of others around you." ~ Jaime

Blogger @ The Best Books Ever

"Fantasy fans, do

not miss out on this epic new series. It's got everything that you could ever

possibly want out of a all-consuming fantasy book: fierce characters, twisty

plot, stunning world building, captivating prose and my favorite, a romance

that will make you want to shout out your love for the couple at the top of

your lungs. Do yourself a favor, and buy this book right away." Nick,

Blogger @ Nicks Book Blog

"Electrifying and

intense and instantly and completely captivating, NAMELESS is one of those

reads that will make you race through the pages to find out what’s going to

happen next. With a fascinating new world to discover, one that is primitive,

harsh, brutal, and intriguing new characters to meet who are fierce and

determined and deadly, some of whom are cruel and others who are compassionate,

you will be immediately pulled into the story and you’ll never want the journey

to end." ~ Rachel

blogger @ Fiktshun

Amazon | TBD | Chapters | B&N | Google Play | IndieBound | Kobo | iBooks

With her degree in History and Secondary Education, Jennifer

had every intention of teaching teens to love George Washington and appreciate

the finer points of ancient battle stratagem. (Seriously, she’s obsessed with

ancient warfare.) However, life had different plans in store when the writing

began. As a proud member of Writers Cubed, and a co-founder of the Teen Author

Boot Camp, she feels blessed to be able to fulfill both her ambition to work

with teens as well as write Young Adult fiction.

Jennifer has three children who are experts at naming her

characters, one loving, supportive husband, a dog with little-man syndrome, and

three chickens (of whom she is secretly afraid).

Visit her online at jajenkins.com

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest |Instagram

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

 Giveaway Details: 3 winners will receive an eBook of SERPENTINE & NAMELESS. International!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RELEASE DAY BLITZ: Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins + GIVEAWAY!

Happy Release Day to

Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins!!

Join us in celebrating this release from Month9Books!

Enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.

Happy Book Birthday, Jennifer!

Did you know that NAMELESS is in development for film by Benderspink! That’s the same company who optioned Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen and produced the I AM NUMBER FOUR film!

Four clans have been at war for centuries: the Kodiak, the Raven, the Wolf and the Ram. Through brutal war tactics, the Ram have dominated the region, inflicting death and destruction on their neighbors.

Seventeen-year-old Zo is a Wolf and a Healer who volunteers to infiltrate the Ram as a spy on behalf of the allied clans. She offers herself as a Ram slave, joining the people who are called the “nameless.” Hers is a suicide mission – Zo’s despair after losing her parents in a Ram raid has left her seeking both revenge and an end to her own misery. But after her younger sister follows her into Rams Gate, Zo must find a way to survive her dangerous mission and keep her sister safe.

What she doesn’t expect to find is the friendship of a young Ram whose life she saves, the confusing feelings she develops for a Ram soldier, and an underground nameless insurrection. Zo learns that revenge, loyalty and love are more complicated than she ever imagined in the first installment of this two-book series.

Amazon | B&N | BAM | Chapters | Indiebound | Kobo | TBD | Google Play | iBooks

With her degree in History and Secondary Education, Jennifer had every intention of teaching teens to love George Washington and appreciate the finer points of ancient battle stratagem. (Seriously, she’s obsessed with ancient warfare.) However, life had different plans in store when the writing began. As a proud member of Writers Cubed, and a co-founder of the Teen Author Boot Camp, she feels blessed to be able to fulfill both her ambition to work with teens as well as write Young Adult fiction.

Jennifer has three children who are experts at naming her characters, one loving, supportive husband, a dog with little-man syndrome, and three chickens (of whom she is secretly afraid).

Visit her online at jajenkins.com

Connect with the Author:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest |Instagram

Complete the Rafflecopter for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

M9B FRIDAY REVEAL: Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins - Chapter 2 + GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

This week, we are revealing CHAPTER TWO of

Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins

presented byMonth9Books!

NAMELESS is in development for film by Benderspink! That’s the same company who optioned Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen and produced the I AM NUMBER FOUR film!

Jennifer is also one of the co-founders of Teen Author Boot Camp, and works with amazing authors like James Dashner and Brandon Sanderson to help teens master the craft or writing.

New York Times bestselling author Jessica Day George read NAMELESS and loved it!:

"Jenkins brings edge-of-your-seat adventure to this intriguing new world. I can’t wait to read more!”

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Four clans have been at war for centuries: the Kodiak, the Raven, the Wolf and the Ram. Through brutal war tactics, the Ram have dominated the region, inflicting death and destruction on their neighbors.

Seventeen-year-old Zo is a Wolf and a Healer who volunteers to infiltrate the Ram as a spy on behalf of the allied clans. She offers herself as a Ram slave, joining the people who are called the “nameless.” Hers is a suicide mission – Zo’s despair after losing her parents in a Ram raid has left her seeking both revenge and an end to her own misery. But after her younger sister follows her into Rams Gate, Zo must find a way to survive her dangerous mission and keep her sister safe.

What she doesn’t expect to find is the friendship of a young Ram whose life she saves, the confusing feelings she develops for a Ram soldier, and an underground nameless insurrection. Zo learns that revenge, loyalty and love are more complicated than she ever imagined in the first installment of this two-book series.

Pre-order Links:

Amazon | B&N | BAM | Chapters | Indiebound | Kobo | TBD | Google Play | iBooks

You can read CHAPTER ONE here!

Chapter 2

~~~Zo~~~

The cold air traveling over Zo’s skin smelled strangely

mineral. She walked blindfolded with Tess in her arms,

and the tip of a spear at her back. She memorized the turns as

they prodded her forward, knowing it would do little to help if

she couldn’t pass whatever trial the Ram leader had in store.

The path sloped down and the moist air grew colder. Her foot

caught on a rock and Zo fell to her knees, sending Tess flying

into the darkness. Hands grabbed Zo’s collar and hoisted her

back to her feet.



“Carry the small one,” the leader ordered.



“Zo?” Tess’ voice cracked, weak and distant.



“I’m here,” said Zo, straining to see through the blindfold.



She didn’t want her sister to say more. Her accent might betray

them both.



The ground leveled beneath them, and a guard yanked off

the blindfold, taking a chunk of Zo’s dark hair with it. She

didn’t cry out.



They couldn’t hurt her.



She looked at the limp form of her sister in the arms of a

bare-chested Ram guard and crumbled at the contradiction. It

wasn’t supposed to be this way. If only Tess hadn’t followed.



If only …



Guards lined the opposite wall. Shadows from the

torchlight made the scowls on their faces all the more sinister.

Each carried a round shield at his back, a spear in hand, and a

short sword at his hip.



A redheaded boy lay on a narrow bed in the center of the

room silently weeping. His body was long, but judging from

his young face, he couldn’t have been much older than twelve

or thirteen. The deep wound just above his hip swam in dark

red blood. He whimpered while biting down on a stick.



Zo didn’t ask questions. “I need blankets!” she yelled,

as she washed her hands in a basin of scalding water. With

pulsing, red hands, she took a stack of linens from a supply

table and pressed it to the wound. The boy kicked and jostled.



“Hold him down or he’ll bleed out!” shouted Zo.



No one moved.



Two women in white robes came in through a different

tunnel entrance carrying woolen blankets. When they saw Zo,

they froze.



“Help me!” Zo snatched the blankets from their hands

and rolled the boy onto his side. Lifting his legs, she wedged

blanket rolls under his good hip. The redheaded boy cried out

in pain but Zo needed to keep the wound above his heart. She

wrapped a bandage around his trunk, keeping as much pressure

on the open wound as possible.



The boy’s skin turned alabaster from blood loss. Zo yanked

more blankets from the hands of the women, covered him up,

and rubbed warmth into his arms and legs while muttering the

words of one of her mother’s blessings. “Hold as still as you

can,” she whispered into his ear. “You’re going to be fine. I

promise.”



Zo approached the intimidating line of Ram soldiers.



Each wore animal hide trimmed with fur. Thick leather straps

crisscrossed their chests housing a variety of evil-looking

weapons. “Where is my pack? It has the medicines I need.”

The men barely moved, barely blinked, with hands clasped

behind their backs like dangerous statues of unfeeling.



The bald leader shook his head. A taunting, wicked, grin

stretched across his face. Tess whimpered from one of the

dark corners of the cave. Water dripped from the jagged, rock

ceiling. The quiet symphony of sounds and silence contrasted

with Zo’s rapidly beating heart.



She swore and darted to the opposite wall where the

healers stood just as still and lifeless. “Do you have any pseudo

ginseng root?”



The aging healer looked over to the Gate Master, shook his

head, and looked down at his hands.

So they would put this boy’s life in danger just to see if she

would fail?



I shouldn’t be surprised.



Zo ran back to the steaming water and plunged four inches of

her long braid into the basin. Sweat dripped from her forehead.

She scrubbed the crusted mud from her hair and went to the

closest soldier, holding out the dark braid. “Cut it,” she said.



His gaze swept over her body before fixing on her face.



His lips curled into a crooked grin.



She hated when men looked at her that way.



“Cut it!” she yelled, eyeing the knife at his hip, wondering

if she had any chance of taking it from him without meeting a

quick death.



A young soldier to his left stepped out of rank. His long dark

hair was tucked behind his ears, his brows knit together and a

muscle in his neck leapt as he frowned. The unexpected flash

of his dagger made Zo scream. A small segment of her braid

dropped to the ground and the young soldier took his place back

in line, ignoring the disapproving scorn of the Ram leader.

Zo gasped as she snatched up the braid. She stumbled over

to the sink again to rinse the hair one final time to prevent

infection. Convinced the hair was clean, she darted back to

the boy and removed the crimson-soaked dressing from the

wound. The blood had slowed, but not enough. He’d die if this

didn’t work.



She shoved the hair into the wound and piled the excess

on top.



The boy screamed then passed out.



Zo placed her hands over the mound of hair and uttered

words of healing. The flame of her energy flickered as she

willed the blessing to take effect. Her head swayed without

permission as she reapplied a bandage.



When Zo finished, she slumped to the floor before they

carried her and Tess away.



~~~Gryphon~~~



Joshua’s dried blood tugged on Gryphon’s arm. A deathly

plaster, equal parts unforgiving and taunting. He scratched

away at the memory of the ambush, the way young Joshua’s

eyes doubled in size when the arrow entered his side. It was

Gryphon’s fault. He’d let the kid come with his mess unit

against his better judgment.



It was his fault.



Gryphon took the mountain trail home from the caves. He

attacked the climb like he would any enemy. After the first mile

his legs warmed. After the second they burned. He welcomed the

dull pain creeping through his fatigued muscles. Pain equaled

progress. With enough pain he might outpace his grief.



Joshua.



Gryphon sprinted the last hundred yards of the climb. The

wind picked up as he reached the summit overlooking the

ocean below. High waves crashed into the cliff wall. An arctic

spray carried on the breeze, stinging Gryphon’s eyes.



He turned and showed the ocean his back, casting his gaze

over the valley of the Ram. Wind whipped his dark brown hair

and made the metal of his weapons clink together. From this

view he could see far beyond the training grounds and housing

complexes, past the fields where hundreds of Nameless bent

over acres of dying soil. Even beyond the fabled wall of Ram’s

Gate that corralled the vast lands of his people.



He felt powerful. In control.



Not like this morning when he couldn’t slow Joshua’s

bleeding.



The twenty members of Gryphon’s mess unit were encouraged

to sleep in the barracks, even though many of them were

married men. Unity meant everything to a Ram mess unit.

Gryphon abided this and every other command issued by

his leaders with exactness. But tonight, the thought of facing

his brothers of war with all their questions and condolences

seemed too much.



No. Tonight he would hide behind the walls of his

inheritance like a child hides behind his mother’s skirt.

The brick-and-plaster house sat back on a five-acre plot.

It was one of the furthest family plots from the main gate and

the center of town. A red sun dipped behind the towering wall

of Ram’s Gate, casting an ominous glow around the house as

Gryphon climbed the dirt path. The solid oak door whined

with complaint as he nudged it open.



“Who’s there?” Gryphon’s mother reached the entry with

her arms and hands covered in white flour and her graying

bun sitting at an angle on her head. She studied Gryphon and

the corners of her mouth sank into the frown he’d come to

associate with his childhood.



“Wash the blood off your hands.” She retreated back to the

kitchen without another word.



Gryphon leaned his long spear and shield against the wall

and sloughed off his pack. He turned and noticed the rusted

metal shield mounted above the hearth. His cheeks colored in

shame. He looked away, but it didn’t stop the boiling wave of

anger that always came when he looked at his father’s shield.



The symbol of his family’s disgrace.



Despite Gryphon’s countless protests, his mother refused

to take it down. “It’s good to remember,” she would say.

Then she’d go out into the forest where she thought no one

could hear her and cry, rocking back and forth with her hands

wrapped firmly about her stomach. As if she’d fall apart if she

didn’t hold herself together.



No matter how hard he worked in the training field, that

shield would always hang over his head. Always.

In the kitchen, Gryphon plunged his hands into a basin of

water. As he scrubbed, the water turned the color of salmon

flesh.



His mother kneaded her palm into a batch of dough with

more force than necessary. She used her forearm to push aside

a clump of silver hair that fell into her face. “How many?” she

asked with her back to him.



Gryphon couldn’t scrub his hands hard enough. “One. We

were ambushed.” His excursions used to be so boring. They used

to go weeks without running into another clan, but lately …



“Who?” His mother stood up straight, prepared to take the

news like a strong Ram woman was meant to.



“Joshua.” Gryphon felt his control slip. He chewed on his

tongue until he could steel his emotions. “Spear,” was all he

trusted himself to say.



Joshua wasn’t a member of a mess unit yet. The System

didn’t allow thirteen-year-olds to join. He had still been in

training, but he’d begged to go, and Gryphon—his mentor—

didn’t have the heart to turn him down.



“Will he live?” she asked, kneading the dough again.



“I … ” Gryphon cleared his constricting throat, thinking of

the dirty Nameless girl they’d let work on Joshua in the cave.



“I don’t think he will.”

With her degree in History and Secondary Education, Jennifer had every intention of teaching teens to love George Washington and appreciate the finer points of ancient battle stratagem. (Seriously, she’s obsessed with ancient warfare.) However, life had different plans in store when the writing began. As a proud member of Writers Cubed, and a co-founder of the Teen Author Boot Camp, she feels blessed to be able to fulfill both her ambition to work with teens as well as write Young Adult fiction.

Jennifer has three children who are experts at naming her characters, one loving, supportive husband, a dog with little-man syndrome, and three chickens (of whom she is secretly afraid).

Visit her online at jajenkins.com

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram

Complete the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

The book will be sent upon its release.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR: Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins - Ashley's Review + GIVEAWAY!

Hello! Welcome to our stop on the review tour for Jennifer Jenkins new book, Nameless! Ashley loved this book, and has her review for you today. There's also a giveaway to win your very own copy, so make sure to enter via the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post.

Also be sure to visit all of the other incredible stops on the tour - you can find the schedule by clicking the banner above.

And, last but not least! Nameless is currently in development for film by Benderspink, the same company who recently optioned Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen and produced the I Am Number Four film! So you definitely don't want to miss this one!

About the Book

Title: Nameless

Author: Jennifer Jenkins

Publication Date: October 6, 2015

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC

Genre: YA, Dystopian

Synopsis: Four clans have been at war for centuries: the Kodiak, the Raven, the Wolf and the Ram. Through brutal war tactics, the Ram have dominated the region, inflicting death and destruction on their neighbors.

Seventeen-year-old Zo is a Wolf and a Healer who volunteers to infiltrate the Ram as a spy on behalf of the allied clans. She offers herself as a Ram slave, joining the people who are called the “nameless.” Hers is a suicide mission – Zo’s despair after losing her parents in a Ram raid has left her seeking both revenge and an end to her own misery. But after her younger sister follows her into Rams Gate, Zo must find a way to survive her dangerous mission and keep her sister safe.

What she doesn’t expect to find is the friendship of a young Ram whose life she saves, the confusing feelings she develops for a Ram soldier, and an underground nameless insurrection. Zo learns that revenge, loyalty and love are more complicated than she ever imagined in the first installment of this two-book series.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | BAM | Chapters | Indiebound | Kobo | TBD | Google Play | iBooks

About the Author

With her degree in History and Secondary Education, Jennifer had every intention of teaching teens to love George Washington and appreciate the finer points of ancient battle stratagem. (Seriously, she’s obsessed with ancient warfare.) However, life had different plans in store when the writing began. As a proud member of Writers Cubed, and a co-founder of the Teen Author Boot Camp, she feels blessed to be able to fulfill both her ambition to work with teens as well as write Young Adult fiction.

Jennifer has three children who are experts at naming her characters, one loving, supportive husband, a dog with little-man syndrome, and three chickens (of whom she is secretly afraid).

Visit her online at jajenkins.com

Connect with the Author:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest |Instagram

Ashley's Review

This book surprised me in so many ways. I mean, I'm always up for a dystopian book, especially when it's one that has a fantasy aspect to it. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I started this book, other than a girl who goes on a suicide mission and then realizes she's got more at stake than just her life. But there's so much more to this book, and I loved every second of it! 

Zo is kind of frustrating, but I can definitely understand the decisions she makes. She thinks she has nothing left, since the Ram killed her parents and her sister will be taken care of. She has no regard for her own safety until her sister is threatened, and she kind of just runs around doing whatever she wants. I was really surprised she didn't get caught, even though people are suspicious of her.

The romance is a little unexpected, but I was really glad that it wasn't instalove. There's still so much standing between them that I'm not even sure if anything will come out of it, but there are some really sweet moments between them. Even though Zo is a Wolf and wants to destroy the Ram, I really appreciated being able to see the Ram in a different light. They're all people, just trying to do what they think is right.

Nameless is actually faster-paced than I thought it was going to be. After the first chapter, I found that I didn't want to put the book down! There were parts, especially in the middle, where I was frantically flipping pages just trying to find out what happens next. Even the world-building is done in an exciting way, and it felt like I was a part of this world instead of just being told about it. Jennifer's writing is superb, and I'm so excited to read more books from her! 

If you like YA fantasy or dystopians, or both, you definitely need this book! It's exciting, has incredible characters who are just as complex as any real person, fantastic world-building, and will keep you on the edge of your seat right up to the very end. I'll be anxiously awaiting the sequel! 4/5.

The Giveaway!

Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

M9B FRIDAY REVEAL: Fall for Fantasy + GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

This week, we dare you to

Fall For Fantasy

featuring titles to satisfy your fantasy cravings,

presented by Month9Books!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

In a village of masked men, magic compels each man to love only one woman and to follow the commands of his “goddess” without question. A woman may reject the only man who will love her if she pleases, but she will be alone forever. And a man must stay masked until his goddess returns his love—and if she can’t or won’t, he remains masked forever.

Seventeen-year-old Noll isn't in the mood to celebrate. Her childhood friends have paired off and her closest companion, Jurij, found his goddess in Noll’s own sister. Desperate to find a way to break this ancient spell, Noll instead discovers why no man has ever chosen her.

Thus begins a dangerous game between the choice of woman versus the magic of man. And the stakes are no less than freedom and happiness, life and death—and neither is willing to lose.

Chapters Indigo | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | TBD | Google Play | BAM | iBooks | IndieBound

Amy McNulty is a freelance writer and editor from Wisconsin with an honors degree in English. She was first published in a national scholarly journal (The Concord Review) while in high school and currently spends her days alternatively writing on business and marketing topics and primarily crafting stories with dastardly villains and antiheroes set in fantastical medieval settings.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

To Bear an Iron Key is the first in a new and exciting series from acclaimed author Jackie Morse Kessler.

Five years ago, the young witch Bromwyn refused a gift from the powerful fairy king. Tonight, on Midsummer, that decision comes back to haunt her. When her best friend Rusty picks the wrong pocket, he and Bromwyn are all that stand between their village and the rampaging fairies who have pushed through the World Door. If they cannot outwit the fairy king and queen before the World Door closes at sunrise, the friends will lose everything—their village, Bromwyn's magic, and Rusty's life.

From To Bear an Iron Key by Jackie Morse Kessler: "Bromwyn turned to face the burning fields. Reaching deep inside of herself, she closed her eyes and touched the core of her power, the place where her magic lived, where it connected her to all of Nature. She held onto that magic, let it fill her almost to the bursting point, and then she cast it out onto the fields. It blanketed the rows of spelt, and she felt as it rode the wind—Air—and then touched the grain—Earth—and then sizzled around the fire."

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Jackie Morse Kessler grew up in Brooklyn, NY, with a cranky cat and overflowing shelves filled with dolls and books. Now she’s in Upstate NY with another cranky cat, a loving husband, two sons, and overflowing shelves filled with dragons and books (except when her sons steal her dragons). She has a bachelor’s degree in English and American Literature, and yet she’s never read any Jane Austen (with or without zombies). She also has a master’s degree in media ecology. (The living study of technology and culture. Which is cool, but she still can’t figure out how to use Tweetdeck.)

Jackie spends a lot of time writing, reading, and getting distracted by bright and shiny new ideas. (She just came up with a new idea right now.) She has a weakness for chocolate and a tendency to let her cat take over her office chair.

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For hundreds of years, dark clouds covered the skies of Adamah, and an ageless king ruled. Those who emerged with one of six extraordinary Shay powers were forced into the king’s army, an unmatched force with inhuman Strength, Speed, Accuracy, Perception, Empathy, and Healing. With the army behind him, the king—a man who wields all six abilities—was invincible and unquestioned in his rule. To most, serving the king was an honor. But for others, it was a fate worse than death.

When seventeen-year-old Nolan Trividar witnesses the transformation of his brother from kind to cruel after entering the king’s army, he vows never to follow the same path.

So when his own power—the Shay of Accuracy—comes upon him at the Tournament of Awakening, Nolan conceals his emergence instead of joining the king’s ranks. For years, he traitorously hides his power, pretending to be only a gifted scribe. But when Nolan comes face -to-face with a deserter, the man discovers his secret.

To evade detection and a death sentence, Nolan escapes with the deserter and flees into a night filled with dark creatures who steal both powers and souls. He joins a resistance, a village hidden deep in the forest, filled with others who secretly wield a Shay. But his peace is short-lived when they discover that the dark clouds, undead creatures, their own decreasing powers, and even the king, are all connected.

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Kristal Shaff grew up with books (and used to drive her mom crazy when she wouldn’t leave the library); her first job was even shelving books at the library. She loves anything creative, and you can often find her exploring strange and fantastical worlds in her choices of movies and fantasy fiction. Kristal resides in Iowa with her farmer husband, numerous pets, and 3 awesome kids (plus one more on the way though the journey of adoption). When she isn’t writing, she is a professional face painter who enjoys making children smile.

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Thyra Winther's seventeen, the Snow Queen, and immortal, but if she can't reassemble a shattered enchanted mirror by her eighteenth birthday she's doomed to spend eternity as a wraith. Armed with magic granted by a ruthless wizard, Thyra schemes to survive with her mind and body intact.

Unencumbered by kindness, she kidnaps local boy Kai Thorsen, whose mathematical skills rival her own. Two logical minds, Thyra calculates, are better than one. With time rapidly melting away she needs all the help she can steal. A cruel lie ensnares Kai in her plan, but three missing mirror shards and Kai's childhood friend, Gerda, present more formidable obstacles. Thyra's willing to do anything – venture into uncharted lands, outwit sorcerers, or battle enchanted beasts - to reconstruct the mirror, yet her most dangerous adversary lies within her breast.

Touched by the warmth of a wolf pup's devotion and the fire of a young man's desire, the thawing of Thyra's frozen heart could be her ultimate undoing.

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Vicki Lemp Weavil was raised in a farming community in Virginia, where her life was shaped by a wonderful family, the culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and an obsession with reading. Since obtaining her undergraduate degree in Theatre from the University of Virginia, she’s gone on to acquire two masters degrees, living in places as diverse as New York City and rural North Carolina. She’s currently the library director for a performing an visual arts university. Vicki loves good writing in any genre, and has been known to read seven books in as many days. She enjoys travel, gardening, and the arts. Vicki lives in North Carolina with her husband, son, and some very spoiled cats.

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SERPENTINE is a sweeping fantasy set in the ancient Kingdom of Xia and inspired by the rich history of Chinese mythology.

Lush with details from Chinese folklore, SERPENTINE tells the coming of age story of Skybright, a young girl who worries about her growing otherness. As she turns sixteen, Skybright notices troubling changes. By day, she is a companion and handmaid to the youngest daughter of a very wealthy family. But nighttime brings with it a darkness that not even daybreak can quell.

When her plight can no longer be denied, Skybright learns that despite a dark destiny, she must struggle to retain her sense of self – even as she falls in love for the first time.

“Vivid worldbuilding, incendiary romance, heart-pounding action, and characters that will win you over–I highly recommend Serpentine.” Cinda Williams Chima, best-selling author of the Seven Realms and Heir Chronicles fantasy novels

“Serpentine is unique and surprising, with a beautifully-drawn fantasy world that sucked me right in! I love Skybright’s transformative power, and how she learns to take charge of it.” ~Kristin Cashore, NYT Bestseller of the Graceling Realm Series

“Serpentine’s world oozes with lush details and rich lore, and the characters crackle with life. This is one story that you’ll want to lose yourself in.” ~ Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of Legend and The Young Elites

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Cindy Pon is the author of Silver Phoenix (Greenwillow, 2009), which was named one of the Top Ten Fantasy and Science Fiction Books for Youth by the American Library Association’s Booklist, and one of 2009′s best Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror by VOYA. The sequel to Silver Phoenix, titled Fury of the Phoenix, was released in April 2011. Serpentine, the first title in her next Xia duology, will be published by Month9Books in September 2015. She is the co-founder of Diversity in YA with Malinda Lo and on the advisory board of We Need Diverse Books. Cindy is also a Chinese brush painting student of over a decade. Visit her website at www.cindypon.com.

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Four clans have been at war for centuries: the Kodiak, the Raven, the Wolf and the Ram. Through brutal war tactics, the Ram have dominated the region, inflicting death and destruction on their neighbors.

Seventeen-year-old Zo is a Wolf and a Healer who volunteers to infiltrate the Ram as a spy on behalf of the allied clans. She offers herself as a Ram slave, joining the people who are called the “nameless.” Hers is a suicide mission – Zo’s despair after losing her parents in a Ram raid has left her seeking both revenge and an end to her own misery. But after her younger sister follows her into Rams Gate, Zo must find a way to survive her dangerous mission and keep her sister safe.

What she doesn’t expect to find is the friendship of a young Ram whose life she saves, the confusing feelings she develops for a Ram soldier, and an underground nameless insurrection. Zo learns that revenge, loyalty and love are more complicated than she ever imagined in the first installment of this two-book series.

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With her degree in History and Secondary Education, Jennifer had every intention of teaching teens to love George Washington and appreciate the finer points of ancient battle stratagem. (Seriously, she’s obsessed with ancient warfare.) However, life had different plans in store when the writing began. As a proud member of Writers Cubed, and a co-founder of the Teen Author Boot Camp, she feels blessed to be able to fulfill both her ambition to work with teens as well as write Young Adult fiction.

Jennifer has three children who are experts at naming her characters, one loving, supportive husband, a dog with little-man syndrome, and three chickens (of whom she is secretly afraid).

Visit her online at jajenkins.com

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