Dystopian Domination Prize Pack Giveaway

Hi everyone! This is the very last giveaway for Dystopian Domination. It was really fun! Kai and I had a great time with the event and guess what? I think we’re doing it again next year! It will be bigger for 2012.

For this giveaway, I read and reviewed two books: Legend by Marie Lu and Exodus byJulie Bertagna. I loved both books and I just have to share my thoughts on them. So you could read and check if you would like these books.

Dystopian Prize Pack Giveaway includes:

*CLOSED*

Signed ARC of Legend by Marie Lu

Finished Copy of Exodus by Julie Bertagna

Finished Copy of Zenith by Julie Bertagna

Thank you to Hattie of Pan Macmillan & Marie Lu!

I’m gonna change some of the details since this contest is for Fragments of Life & Amaterasu Reads. We are hosting this one, joined force.

A startling, thrilling novel set in a dystopian future ravaged by global warming. 

It is 2099 - and the world is gradually drowning, as mighty Arctic ice floes melt, the seas rise, and land disappears forever beneath storm-tossed waves. For 15-year-old Mara, her family and community, huddled on the fast-disappearing island of Wing, the new century brings flight. Packed into tiny boats, a terrifying journey begins to a bizarre city that rises into the sky, built on the drowned remains of the ancient city of Glasgow. But even here there is no safety and, shut out of the city, Mara realizes they are asylum-seekers in a world torn between high-tech wizardry and the most primitive injustice. To save her people, Mara must not only find a way into the city but also search for a new land and a new home...

The thrilling sequel to internationally acclaimed Exodus. 

In this compelling continuation of Julie Bertagna’s timely trilogy, the search for a future remains a terrifying fight for survival. Sixteen-year-old Mara and her ship of refugees are tracking the North Star in search of land in the mountains of Greenland to call home. A Gypsea boy named Tuck, orphaned when Mara’s ship plows through his floating city, becomes inextricably linked to their fate. Meanwhile, back in the drowned ruins at the feet of the towering sky city, Fox begins his battle with the cruel, corrupt rulers of the New World. Forced to make their own new beginnings in a savage world, three teens must struggle to make sense of the past, overcome the harsh dangers of the present, and build a future worth living.

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

Rules:

Be a follower of Fragments of Life (me) and Amaterasu Reads (the two of us are hosting this giveaway but I just happened to be the one posting)

Comment with your email address.

Open internationally!

Ends on July 1, 2011.

Extra Entry (Not required) 

+2 Spread the word: twitter, sidebar, tumblr, etc. (Leave link please)

+3 Like the Legend Facebook Page (this is advantageous to you, they are giving away an ARC there too. All you have to do is like it!)

Here are the other contests. All the contests are open internationally!

Win ARCof 20 Years Later by Emma Newman

Win Pre-orderof Ashes by Ilsa Bick

Win SignedARC of Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Win SignedFinished Copy of Possession by Elana Johnson

WinSigned Finished Copy of Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres

Win SignedARC of Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

WinSigned ARC of Pure by Julianna Baggott

Review: Exodus by Julie Bertagna

Book Description from Pan Macmillan:

A startling, thrilling novel set in a dystopian future ravaged by global warming.

It is 2099 - and the world is gradually drowning, as mighty Arctic ice floes melt, the seas rise, and land disappears forever beneath storm-tossed waves. For 15-year-old Mara, her family and community, huddled on the fast-disappearing island of Wing, the new century brings flight. Packed into tiny boats, a terrifying journey begins to a bizarre city that rises into the sky, built on the drowned remains of the ancient city of Glasgow. But even here there is no safety and, shut out of the city, Mara realizes they are asylum-seekers in a world torn between high-tech wizardry and the most primitive injustice. To save her people, Mara must not only find a way into the city but also search for a new land and a new home...

Source: Pan Macmillan, Hattie (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

Exodus was not the kind of the book that I would usually read because I am deathly afraid of drowning. But the world that Bertagna created reminded me of the world that O’Brien created in Birthmarked, which I loved. It was a harsh, unfair world but despite my fears, my dislike, my grief at how the characters have suffered, I enjoyed my stay in their story world. There was a raw beauty in survival and loss. This novel really made the characters struggle for their lives. The characters experienced a slow death through sickness and starvation.

One of the things that I liked about this novel was how Bertagna showed what isolation could to do people, how it could change them for the better and for the worst. The wonders of survival and adaptation could be seen in the various people that Mara met. There were losses and gains that had to be dealt with. I was astounded and appalled at some of the things here. The twists and turns in the novel were quite bizarre and were the kind that caught me off guard. I love unpredictable novels and this one made it into the list.

New Mungo, one of the New World cities, was a refuge in Eurosea. It was the last hope for most people. But with its walls guarding it from the sea, how could Mara get inside? Everyone was desperate to get inside those walls aside from the expert little children who played in the contaminated water. Reckless, playful and fun, they caught Mara’s interest. The Treenesters, one of the people who live outside New Mungo, were a strange but welcoming lot. They nested high up in the trees, easily hiding from sight and surviving in their little island above the ruins of the old city.

Mara and Fox were very cute together. I loved how they were drawn to each other. Normally, I did not like rushed love but I felt that their love was real and strong enough to give them strength in their own battles. Their part in Exodus was my favorite.

Exodus is a heart-wrenching story of a girl’s journey, sacrifice, loss, love and hope in a harsh, drowning world. Terrifying and worrisome, this novel had me gripping it tight as I accompanied Mara as she sought answers. I found the novel suspenseful and hard to put down. I loved how the lives of the characters and their own stories were knitted up in the end to make a complete tapestry of history, consequences, destiny and passion. I recommend this to dystopian fans, particularly fans of Birthmarked!

Rating:

In My Mailbox (16)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. It aims to encourage bloggers to interact with one another and to explore the books received for review, bought, borrowed, won or gifted by bloggers.

I keep forgetting to post IMM. So the books here are three weeks old. I have been waiting for two weeks now. Two weeks and no notices! I’m getting really worried because I need to get some ‘asap’ review books for tours. And as far as I know, they’re not here.

For Review:

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross (Manuscript) – I had this bound and I’ll read it soon!

Legend by Marie Lu (Signed ARC) – for Dystopian Domination Giveaway

I reviewed this a week ago and I totally LOVED it!

Bloodspell by Amalie Howard (ARC) – a vampire-witch novel and a favorite of mine!

The Lighter Side of Life and Death by CK KellyMartin – (reviewed this one too! Good YA male voice) + swag

Angel Kiss by Laura Jane Cassidy (signed) – A chilling mystery. Read. Review to come soon! I’m going to give my duplicate copy to a fellow blogger. :)

Dress Rehearsal by Zoe Thurner – I’m super excited to read this! An Aussie debut.

Betrayal by Mayandree Michel (not pictured! Reviewed for tour.)

Angel’s Fury by Byrony Pierce

Hereafter by Tara Hudson (a shiny finished copy) – I reviewed the ARC!

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini (another shiny finished copy)

Solstice by PJ Hoover (dystopia meets mythology)

Forgotten by Cat Patrick (for giveaway – sent to winner) + heart Forgotten post-its for me!

Divergent by Veronica Roth (gifted – thanks Mom!)

From Netgalley & S&S Galley Grab:

Circle Nine by Anna Heltzel (currently reading)

Misfit by Jon Skovron

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Ultraviolet by RJ Anderson

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier

Deviant by Adrian Mckinty

Addie on the Inside by James Howe

Bought:

Summer’s Crossing by Julie Kagawa (It’s free actually! Reviewed.)

Strange Case of Finley Jane by Kady Cross (Free too)

That’s it! But there’s more to come and I hope that they arrive soon!

A big thank you to: Harlequin Teen, Marie Lu, Marissa, JKS Communications, CK Kelly Martin, Laura Jane Cassidy, Patricia, Puffin Ireland, Claire, Fremantle Press, Jo, Egmont UK, Harper Teen, PJ Hoover, Hardie Grant Egmont, Mom!, Netgalley and S&S!

 

What in your mailbox?

Book Blogger Hop (17)

Hi everyone! Welcome to Fragments of Life! Look around and see if you like my little virtual home. If you do, you’re welcome to visit anytime you want! Comment below with your links so I can visit you too!

It’s time for another blog hop! As you all know, Book Blogger Hop is a weekly event that gives readers and bloggers the chance to get to know other people who share their passion and interests, as well as to discover blogs. Join theHop!

This week’s question is:

Share your favorite post from the last month and tell us why it’s close to your heart!

My favorite post is my interview with Marie Lu for my blog event, DystopianDomination. Legend just happens to be my favorite dystopian for the year! M is a very cool and fun person to talk to. I loved asking her questions about Legend but what I loved more was reading her answers! They’re very interesting and when I look back to her novel, I could see the connection. It’s great to be able to know about it in a deeper way.  Plus, her fan art is wicked cool!

Don’t forget to enter my contests, if you’re interested!

All the contests are open internationally, aside from the Luminous giveaway!

Win ARCof 20 Years Later by Emma Newman

Win Pre-orderof Ashes by Ilsa Bick

Win SignedARC of Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Win SignedFinished Copy of Possession by Elana Johnson

WinSigned Finished Copy of Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres

Win SignedARC of Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

WinSigned ARC of Pure by Julianna Baggott

Win ContemporaryPrize Packs (books by CK Kelly Martin)

Win FinishedCopy of Luminous by Dawn Metcalf

Happy Friday!

Spotted: Dawn Metcalf + Luminous Giveaway!

Hi everyone! This week’s spotted author is Dawn Metcalf, the author of the unique and wonderful Luminous! I had the opportunity to ask her a few questions about Luminous. I hope you enjoy this week’s interview! Oh and don’t forget to stick around for a giveaway!

How is Consuela different from the usual YA heroine?

LOL! Well, she's a Mexican American female who can remove her skin and walks around as a pearly skeleton for most of the book when she isn't wearing fire, air, water, or a flock of butterflies. Yeah, I'd say she's a little different from the usual YA heroine! For more subtle differences, she's a happy, faithful Catholic from a loving, two-parent family in northern Illinois and wears size 16 jeans. Oddly enough, you don't see THAT in your everyday fiction, either!

What legend/myths/stories inspired you in writing Luminous?

Well, there's obviously a lot of the Day of the Dead symbolism for Consuela Chavez, but I also borrowed from the Bible, specifically the binding of Isaac and the Exodus from Egypt, old Greek blessings/curses, totems and one type of Native North American ritual, old English folk tales and more modern superstitions about mirrors and teeth, ancient Ursu myths, and popular symbolism from Japanese anime. I like my stories to have at least a toehold in the stories that shape our reality.

How did you mold the world of Flow, in terms of its culture, its environment and its people?

The Flow is a "place between" that borrows bits and runs alongside our own. Since the Flow is "surreal" it has its own unique character, but the world of the Flow is largely dependent on the people who inhabit it. Since everyone brings along a bit of their world, their culture and experience, the Flow grows and changes with each added new person. It reminded me a lot of college where lots of different people come together from different parts of the world and create a class that is wholly unique. They all have a common goal, but have different approaches to getting there.

In this story, there are people from California, Illinois, Washington, New York, the rez, a Yeshiva, a trailer park, a lake cottage, and come from all sorts of ethnic, social, and religious backgrounds. Mash those all together with a fluid travel package and a sense of impending doom and you're getting an idea of what it's like in the Flow.
   

“Of all the archetypal teens with extraordinary abilities” who is your favorite? Why?

Oh, wow. Well, I guess one of the ones with the strangest powers is Sissy who can remove pieces of her body which still work independently of the whole. It's creepy and cool and has all sorts of nifty applications. She is fun and funny as well as serious and bossy. Sissy is the best best-friend. In a world where very little makes sense, it's nice to have someone like Sissy looking out for everyone.

Of course, I have a soft spot for Wish and Abacus but that is because my best friends were geeky, artistic guys. Go fig.

In writing Luminous, which part did you like best: beginning, middle or end? Why?

For me, I like writing endings best. They mirror the beginning and tie up all the loose ends (except those you want to keep open for future stories!) and they *complete* the narrative. There is a real satisfying feeling I get when I can type the words "The End" that doesn't compare to drawing open the curtains or traveling through the tale. In fact, I usually have to rewrite or cut the first 1-3 chapters of a first draft anyway and most of the hack-and-slashing of editing is in the middle so the end if often the most solid and gratifying. 

Thank you for sharing, Dawn! :)

*Photo credit to Robert Charles Photography

*CLOSED* Giveaway: A copy of Luminous *CLOSED*

As reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens...moreAs reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens with extraordinary abilities, bound together to safeguard a world they can affect, but where they no longer belong.

When murder threatens to undo the Flow, the Watcher charges Consuela and elusive, attractive V to stop the killer. But the psychopath who threatens her new world may also hold the only key to Consuela's way home.

Dawn’s publicist, Anna Jarzab at Dutton was generous to offer a copy of Luminous to one lucky reader here at Fragments of Life!

Rules:

Be a follower.

Leave your email address (so I could contact you if you win)

Open to US residents. (But if you’re an international reader and you have a US address that Dutton can send to, you can join!)

Ends on June 30, 2011!

Extra Entry (not required):

+2 Spread the word: twitter, sidebar, etc (leave link)