Character Interview with Lark + Giveaway: Skylark Swag Pack

Hi everyone! This Friday, I have Lark from one of my most anticipated reads for 2012, Skylark by Meagan Spooner! Today's giveaway treat is for swag lovers. Name it, we have it. ;) From bookmarks to tattoos to buttons. Stick around for the giveaway at the end of the post.

Can you tell us about yourself?

There's not much to tell! My name is Lark Ainsley and I've got two older brothers, though one of them went missing years ago and the other's an adult with his own apartment. So it's just me and my parents. I'm supposed to have my power harvested and become an adult any day now, but until then I just have to keep to myself. All the other kids are younger than me, and everyone thinks I'm a freak. All I want is to fit in the way I'm supposed to, but I can't help feeling like maybe everyone might be right.

What do you think of the present world?

This place? It's incredible! I wish I knew how this "electricity" worked so I could bring it home. If we had more ways to power the Wall, to power everything, maybe it wouldn't be so important for kids to be harvested. There's so much here that I wish I could bring home to the Institute.

What was the first thing you did when you got here?

Stuffed myself full of junk food! Did you know you can just buy food here? There's no ration chits, no lines to wait for your daily allotment of nutrients. Everything here is sweet and salty and spicy, and delicious! I'm going to get as fat as the Architects if I stay here too long.

If you lived in our time, who would you be? What would you do?

I guess I would be a student. There's no such thing as a "teenager" in my world--you're a child right up until the point where you're harvested, and given your work assignment. But here, it seems like you become this in-between thing, this teen thing, where you're kind of an adult but not really? You still live with your family and you still go to school but you can date and work and make decisions about your life. I think choosing a college would be amazing. If I could stay here, I'd go to college and study history. I'm fascinated by history in my own world, and I'd love to compare the two and see how we're different. Us with magic, you with electricity... and yet, despite that, we're not so different.

What is your favorite thing about 2012? Why?

Books. There are books EVERYWHERE. Aside from the few ratty copies of encyclopedias and dictionaries at school, I've never seen books before. The Institute has our only books, the last remnants of the society before the wars, before the Wall. They keep them safe for us, and they study them, so that all that information stays where it should be. But here, you can walk into these things called libraries, and get any book you could ever want. Books on nature, on science, history, philosophy. There are books arguing against government, for government, every possible argument there is. And beyond that, there are books of stories. I think I could spend every day I'm here in a library. If only they allowed food in there.

If you could have three wishes, what would you wish for? Why?

I don't need three wishes. I only need one. I would wish my brother Basil was here--I would wish he was home with me.

About the Author:

Meagan Spooner grew up reading and writing every spare moment of the day, while dreaming about life as an archaeologist, a marine biologist, an astronaut. She graduated from Hamilton College in New York with a degree in playwriting, and has spent several years since then living in Australia. She's traveled with her family all over the world to places like Egypt, South Africa, the Arctic, Greece, Antarctica, and the Galapagos, and there's a bit of every trip in every story she writes.

She currently lives and writes in Northern Virginia, but the siren call of travel is hard to resist, and there's no telling how long she'll stay there.

In her spare time she plays guitar, plays video games, plays with her cat, and reads.

She is the author of SKYLARK, coming out August 1 from Carolrhoda Lab/Lerner Books. She is also the co-author of THESE BROKEN STARS, forthcoming from Disney-Hyperion in Fall 2013. 

Follow Meg: Site | Twitter

About Skylark:

Vis in magia, in vita vi. In magic there is power, and in power, life.

For fifteen years, Lark Ainsley waited for the day when her Resource would be harvested and she would finally be an adult. After the harvest she expected a small role in the regular, orderly operation of the City within the Wall. She expected to do her part to maintain the refuge for the last survivors of the Wars. She expected to be a tiny cog in the larger clockwork of the city.

Lark did not expect to become the City's power supply.
For fifteen years, Lark Ainsley believed in a lie. Now she must escape the only world she's ever known...or face a fate more unimaginable than death. 

Giveaway: Skylark Swag

The Skylark swag pack will include postcards, bookmarks, temporary tattoos, buttons and bookplates. (The postcards, bookmarks and bookplates will be signed.) It will look something like this: 

Rules:

Follow Fragments of Life

You must be at least 13 years old

Open internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday: Pantomime, Tiger's Destiny + After

Hi there! Today, I’m rejoining the blogosphere with Waiting on Wednesday. I’ve got three books for this week.

Pantomime by Laura Lam

Publication Date: February 5, 2013

Published by: Strange Chemistry

R.H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass – remnants of a mysterious civilisation long gone – are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimaera is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide.

Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star.

But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.

Note: The picture I used above is just the preliminary cover art for the book. The official post can be found on the Strange Chemistry website.

Why I Chose This:

Well, it sounds perfect for me! Magic. Corsets. Circus. Mysteries. Who wouldn’t want that? 

 

Tiger’s Destiny by Colleen Houck

Publication Date: September 4, 2012

Published by: Splinter

With three of the goddess Durga's quests behind them, only one prophecy now stands in the way of Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan breaking the tiger's curse. But the trio's greatest challenge awaits them: A life-endangering pursuit in search of Durga's final gift, the Rope of Fire, on the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.  It's a race against time--and the evil sorcerer Lokesh--in this eagerly anticipated fourth volume in the bestselling Tiger's Curse series, which pits good against evil, tests the bonds of love and loyalty, and finally reveals the tigers' true destinies once and for all.

Why I Chose This:

Ohmygodohmygod. I just saw the cover last Sunday and I’m just ecstatic to read this. I love the series so much. It’s one of the best YA series out there, complete with romance, adventure and mythology. Tiger’s Voyage left me torn. I don’t know what will happen in the final – just thinking about that makes me sad. No more Ren and Kishan. - book.

 

After: Nineteen Stories of Apocalypse and Dystopia

Publication Date: October 2012

Published by: Hyperion Book CH

If the melt-down, flood, plague, the third World War, new Ice Age, Rapture, alien invasion, clamp-down, meteor, or something else entirely hit today, what would tomorrow look like? Some of the biggest names in YA and adult literature answer that very question in this short story anthology, each story exploring the lives of teen protagonists raised in catastrophe's wake—whether set in the days after the change, or decades far in the future. 

New York Times bestselling authors Gregory Maguire, Garth Nix, Susan Beth Pfeffer, Carrie Ryan, Beth Revis, and Jane Yolen are among the many popular and award-winning storytellers lending their talents to this original and spellbinding anthology. 

Here are the stories included in this anthology:

The Segment by Genevieve Valentine
After the Cure by Carrie Ryan
Valedictorian by N.K. Jemisin
Visiting Nelson by Katherine Langrish
All I Know of Freedom by Carol Emshwiller
The Other Elder by Beth Revis
The Great Game at the End of the World by Matthew Kressel
Reunion by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Faint Heart by Sarah Rees Brennan
Blood Drive by Jeffrey Ford
Reality Girl by Richard Bowes
Hw th'Irth Wint Wrong by Hapless Joey @ homeskool.guv by Gregory Maguire
Rust With Wings by Steven Gould
The Easthound by Nalo Hopkinson
Gray by Jane Yolen
Before by Carolyn Dunn
Fake Plastic Trees by Caitlin R. Kiernan
You Won't Feel a Thing by Garth Nix
The Marker by Cecil Castellucci

Why I Chose This:

I just realized that I don’t really read anthologies. Ever. And I’ve been wondering why. I love reading short stories so why not? What better way to read an anthology by starting with themes that I love: apocalypse and dystopia. 

What are you waiting for this wednesday? Leave your link!

 

Review: Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Book Description from the back of the ARC:

ARC, 288 pages

September 18, 2012, Spencer Hill Press

Dying sucks

…and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand.

After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy will all living things – including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he’s a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she’s more than interested. There’s just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden’s adoptive father, a man she’s sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she’s willing to do anything to hold her sister’s hand again. And hell, she’d also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn’t?

But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak of nature may not have been an accident at all, she’s not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life.

For real this time.

Source: Spencer Hill Press (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

The beginning of Cursed was one of the reasons why I like it so much. The novel opened with a creepy scene of Ember waking up to a dirty hamster standing on top of her and then she discovered that her little sister, Olivia, had brought the said hamster back to life. The novel had a mysterious and almost-sinister vibe. It was like a strong current – hard to ignore.

Just like the hamster, Olivia also brought back Ember to life. But Ember wasn’t exactly the same. Her eyes became a freaky super light shade of blue – what I’ve come to know as ‘vampire eyes.’ Aside from that and the bruises zigzagging her body, she had the touch of death. She needed to cover up her scars and keep away from other people. From being the popular, flirty and extrovert girl she drastically changed and became the floor-gazing, constantly teased outcast. Her friends abandoned her, only one remained: Adam. He was her super considerate and understanding best friend.

When things went awfully wrong after an accident, Ember, along with her mother and sister were whisked off to a faraway place aka the Cromwell mansion in the middle of a dark forest, miles away from town. The people responsible for her ‘kidnapping’ were all gifted and they intended to keep Olivia with them to help her control her gift. Everything would be provided – food, shelter, education, and safety. However, Ember felt that she was far from safe amidst these strangers. They didn’t trust her and vice versa. I felt for Ember. She already bore the weight of her curse and for every single day of her life, she was made to feel that she wasn’t wanted. The message was crystal clear and the only reason she stayed was because Olivia was there. Unlike Ember, her sister loved being there. Liz, one of the gifted, was taking care of her and even spoiling Olivia, trying to fill their mother’s shoes.

You either love or hate (in a good way) the characters. Of course, I was cheering on Ember throughout the novel but I despised some of the gifteds. I wanted to step into the novel, get my own special gift and punish them for being so mean. I love the fact that the author had me emotionally attached to her characters.

As a couple, Ember and Hayden were probably one of the best. Both had powers that prevented them from touching other people. Ember had the touch of death. Hayden could suck other people’s energy with a single touch. He could hurt Ember but she could kill him just as easily. Talk about complicated. However, that didn’t stop them from being physically close to one another. They learned to touch without touching, and eventually, they gave in to their desire. Skin kissed skin. They pushed themselves to the limit, trying to maintain control while being lost in each other’s warmth. I loved reading about these two. The emotional and sexual tension drove me crazy. It was palpable, something so strong that I could easily feel it stretching out through the novel, binding them to one another.

Remniscent of X-Men, Cursed drove straight to my heart. Although a bit predictable, generally the plot remained interesting with twists and turns here and there. Filled with emotional and sexual tension, Cursed delivered hot goods that romantics will absolutely love. But it is also this: tragic. I recommend this to fans of Jennifer Armentrout and readers of paranormal romance.

Rating:

Character Interview with Evie + Giveaway: Renegade (ARC) by Jessica Souders + Swag

Hi everyone! Today I’ll be interviewing the main character of one of the most anticipated debuts this year, Renegade by Jessica Souders.

Can you tell us about yourself?  

*gives interviewer curious look*

I’m Evelyn Winters and I’m the Daughter of the People for our wonderful city, Elysium.  I’m being groomed by Mother, the Governess, to take her place when she can no longer rule our fair city. Long live Elysium.

What do you think of the present world?

Well, um…it’s really…bright. How can you stand it so bright in here? Where do your Enforcers hide? *peers around room* And your computers are so old! Where are your holo-screens? How do you get any work done on those horrible things? How do you even turn them on? I don’t even see a hand plate! *stares at picture on the wall* Are those people holding hands?! Oh, Mother. You need to take that down. Right this instant. Get rid of it before Mother or the Enforcers see it.

What was the first thing you did when you got here?

*Lifts an eyebrow* Sat down here. With you. *frowns* Have you been to see Dr. Friar lately?  You seem confused. He's quite talented with that sort of thing. Mother always sends me to him when I feel confused. *blinks* Hmm. Maybe I should see him myself. I’m not exactly sure how I got here.

If you lived in our time, who would you be? What would you do?

I'd be the Daughter of the People.  I don't really understand what you

mean by this question.  What else would I be?  And your time? What time is it? Does Mother have different time zones for different parts of the city?  I didn’t know that. 

If it’s morning, I would eat the breakfast the Maids bring me, then wander my gardens or play the violin, or cross-stitch. If it’s afternoon, then I’d do one of the duties Mother requests of me.  *blinks* Are you certain you’re all right? Dr. Friar really is wonderful. I know he can be a little…intimidating, but I always feel so much better when I leave his office! I feel like an all new person!

What is your favorite thing about 2012? Why?

The year 2012? Why are you asking me about the worst year of human existence? There is nothing I like about that year. It’s a year filled with hate and violence and differences.  

*pauses* Well, I suppose if I have to pick something, I’d say that my favorite thing would be the ability for people to make their own decisions. To chose to be what you want. Of course, the ability to chose is what caused all that violence and hate You know? Your clothing rather reminds me of the pictures we saw in the history books about 2012. In fact, this entire room seems rather antiquated. Primitive almost. Are you quite sure you should be using that machine?  It doesn’t look all that safe…

If you could have three wishes, what would you wish for? Why?

If I could have three wishes I would wish to be normal. I’m so tired of being different. I would also wish for a family. I love Mother and it is an honor to serve her, but I would like to have a real family like the rest of the Citizens have. I would also like to see the Surface. Just once. *winces* Please don’t tell Mother any of those answers. Please. Here I’ll give you a list of three other wishes. Um… I’d wish for a…new dress! Yes a new dress would be lovely. And I’d wish for another…rose bush! I only have thirteen and I really don’t like odd numbers. And…strawberries for breakfast! I like strawberries.  *frowns, then mumbles* I really do wish I was normal, though.

About the Author:

J.A. Souders was born in the heartland with an overactive imagination and an over abundance of curiosity that was always getting her into trouble.  She first began writing at the age of 13, when she moved to Florida and not only befriended the monsters under the bed, but created worlds for them to play together.  

Because she never grew up, she decided she’d put her imaginary friends to work and started writing.  She still lives in the land of sunshine and palm trees with her husband and their two children and is an active member of the RWA, CFRW, YARWA and SCBWI.  

Follow Jessica: Site | Twitter | Blog | Facebook

Giveaway: ARC of Renegade + Swag

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law. 

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie. Her memories have been altered. Her mind and body aren’t under her own control. And the person she knows as Mother is a monster. 

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.

Rules:

Open internationally

Follow Fragments of Life

You must be at least 13 years old

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Earth Girl by Janet Edwards

Book Description from the back of the ARC:

ARC

August 16, 2012, Harper Voyager

Meet me, Jarra. Earth Girl.

It’s the year 2788, and the universe is divided into two different kinds of people: the Norms, who can portal between other planets, and people like me, the one in a thousand whoa reborn with an immune system which doesn’t allow us to leave planet Earth.

Norms come back to Earth for one reason: to study human history. But only if they don’t have to interact with us ‘Neanderthals’ along the way. Well, I’ve got a plan to change all that.

Call me whatever you like, I’m every bit as good as they are.

And I’m going to prove it to them.

Source: Harper Voyager (Thank you!!)

My Thoughts:

From page one, Jarra lured me into her story with her witty, funny and sometimes sarcastic voice. Through this, I found her relatable. She was a girl from earth, with advantages and disadvantages, but nevertheless she will do her best to reach her dreams. Her way of thinking and her determination were great feats.

As a Handicapped, she was sent to earth as soon as she was born. Her parents left her behind, choosing to continue their lives out of earth, Because of this, Jarra was bitter. She hated exos (rude word for Norms.) I enjoyed reading about the lives of the Handicapped. They were given a ProMum and a ProDad each with whom they can talk to for two hours a week. Although they lacked the ability to portal and they can't be with their biological parents, they were well cared and well provided for.

She had a special plan to somehow outwit them; she applied as a Foundation History student at an off-world university instead of doing what her friends did – applying for a slot in University Earth. Fortunately, she was accepted in University Asgard. Jarra had everything planned out, even her fake Military Kid identity. But her life would be even more complicated when one by one, her lies became truths.

The idea of future archaeology was backed up by such a rich and well-constructed history, down from the exodus – the migration of humans to other planets –, to the recent history of the off-world sectors. Every detail made Jarra’s world all the more believable. I wanted to move there.

Adventures and misadventures were lined up in Jarra’s life. I was addicted to the suspense, action and unpredictability of Earth Girl. Although it had a fairly calm environment unlike other dystopians, the risk and danger were high.

Romance wasn’t part of Jarra’s plan but Fian, a gentleman from the conservative Delta sector, crawled his way under her skin and into her mind and heart. Jarra knew that she could never be with a Norm so she kept him at arm’s length. However, working together in dig sites, with Jarra trusting Fian enough to put her life in his hands, was the last push that drove their relationship beyond friendship.  Blonde, slim and undeniably sweet and caring, Fian was irresistible. He was tempting especially since Fian looked like Jarra’s vid actor crush. This was one of the times when I was happy to have only two lovers instead of a love triangle.

Earth Girl is totally zan, impressive, unforgettable and unputdownable. Everything about it was perfect and well-thought out: history, technology, plot, language, vibrant characters, character development and interaction and culture! The writing was flawless and engaging and at the same time, fun and youthful. When I reached the end, I went back to my favorite parts and read them again. I highly recommend this to dystopian readers and science fiction readers! If you see this in a bookstore, grab a copy asap!

Rating:

Interview + Giveaway: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry!

Hi everyone! It seems that Harlequin Teen is on a roll with their amazing books. This time around, I’m featuring Pushing the Limits, a YA contemporary. Hope you like it!

A Q&A With Katie McGarry

Q: What was your inspiration for writing Pushing the Limits?

A: I had two main inspirations: One, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write a story in which my characters felt strong enough to leave their pasts behind and create new futures for themselves. The first scene I ever saw in my mind was Echo and Noah leaving town after graduation. Two, I wanted to write two characters who were facing over- whelming issues and who, through battling these issues, found hope at the end of their journey.

Q: How did you come up with Echo’s name?

A: Echo went through several name changes as I wrote the man- uscript. For a while, she had a very normal name, but it alwaysfelt off. It wasn’t until I looked at Echo from her mother’s point of view that I found her name. Echo’s mother loved Greek my- thology so it made perfect sense that she would name her chil- dren after the myths. I read several Greek myths and the mo- ment I found Echo’s, I fell in love. Echo, to me, was the girl who lost her voice. Thankfully, she finds it by the end.

Q: Which character is the most “like” you?

A: All of them. I gave each character a piece of me (though some have larger slices of me than others). Overall, I’d say I’m a strange combination of Echo, Lila and Beth. Echo has my need to please, Lila has my unfailing loyalty to my friends and Beth encompasses my insecurities.

Q: Did you experience friendships with Grace types when you were in high school?

A: Yes. And the more people have read this story, the more this question comes up. Grace has struck a stronger nerve in people than I ever would have imagined. It seems most of us have un- fortunately experienced a relationship where a person wants to “like” you and wants “be your friend,” but only if it serves their needs. In case anyone is wondering, that isn’t friendship.

Q: Are there any parts of the story you feel particularly close to?

A: Yes. The relationship between Noah, Isaiah and Beth. Beyond my parents and sister, my nearest family members were over fourteen hours away. My friends became my family. The peopleI grew up with were more than people I watched movies with or talked to occasionally on the phone. These were people with whom I shared life’s most devastating moments, but also my hardest laughs. These were people who I would have willing- ly died for and I know they would have done the same for me. They shared my triumphs with smiles on their faces and con- gratulatory hugs. They held me when I cried and offered to beat up whoever hurt my feelings. These were also the same people who were more than happy to get in my face if they thought I was making a wrong decision.

Q: Did anything that happens to Echo happen to you?

A: Sort of. I was bitten by a dog when I was in second grade and repressed the memory. It felt very strange to have no memory of an incident that other people knew about. It was even strang- er to have injuries and not have an inkling where they came from. In college, I finally remembered the incident when a dog lunged at me. I relived the horrible event and sort of “woke up” a few minutes later to find myself surrounded by people I loved. Even though I “remember” the incident, I still don’t remember the whole thing. I only see still frames in my mind and there is no blood in any of the memories.

Giveaway: Finished copy of Pushing the Limits

"My father is a control freak, I hate my stepmother, my brother is dead and my mother has...welll...issues.  How do you think I am doing?"  - opening line of Pushing the Limits

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined.

Echo and Noah couldn’t be more different, but they find themselves united by a common goal: to sneak into their court-ordered social worker’s case files in order to learn the truth about themselves and their families. What they didn’t count on is falling in love -- and now Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Rules:

Follow Fragments of Life

Must be at least 13 years old

Open to US and Canada

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Book Description from the back of the book:

Paperback, 296 pages

March 27, 2012, Harlequin Teen

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life with Henry in the underworld, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the king of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

Source: Netgalley (ebook), Karen, MM Publicity & Harlequin Teen (paperback) (Thanks!)

My Thoughts:

Kate was now Henry’s wife. She passed the test, evaded death and gained immortality. However, after spending her summer in beautiful Greece with her friend, James, she came home to a cold Henry. No warm embrace and definitely no welcome-back-kiss. She was disappointed, surprised and slightly worried that Henry might not want her after all. A lonely time like this was one of the best times to get to know her. I got to see her desperate side and her pained side. The author knew how to make me sympathize with Kate but more importantly, the author knew how to make me feel Kate’s pain. I ached for her. On the brighter side of things, Kate was a goddess now. It came with perks: powers. One of these was seeing visions. This played an important role in the novel.

Calliope’s wrath will wreck everything. With the help of Cronus, she brought the whole council on their knees. Henry and the others’ lives were in danger. It only got worse. To save Henry, Kate needed Persephone’s help. The gorgeous, too frank and slightly selfish former queen of the Underworld caused Kate so much pain, envy, and sadness. But above all, Kate started to doubt. The sisters were so different from one another. They were opposites.

Henry, one of my favorite male characters, broke my heart. I know that he was scared that his relationship with Kate might end up the same way his marriage with Persephone did but I can’t help flinching and hurting over how he treated Kate with such coldness. He was distant, unreachable. The growing strain between him and Kate drove me nuts. I was so frustrated at how Henry acted. After everything he did, seeing him soften up was worth it. In the end, I understood why he behaved that way.

The writing was still hypnotic and beautiful. I was lost in the words. In the middle, there were times when the journey felt too long for me but the suspense, the anticipation of disaster and the disaster itself made all the waiting worth it. The attacks delivered by Cronus were chilling. What struck me the most was Cronus himself. He was an intriguing character, very unpredictable. The ending was the final blow to my heart. It was hopeful, shocking, tragic and full of danger. I applaud Carter for this.

Goddess Interrupted is achingly beautiful and bittersweet. I was swept away, wave after wave of emotion. It was strange how I was caught up with the relief and excitement of The Goddess Test, looking forward to Henry and Kate’s happy future as king and queen of the Underworld, only to be shocked and pulled back to reality: Henry loved Kate but he loved Persephone more.  This installment brings the more serious and emotional side of Kate’s story, so people who like heavy and heart-breaking moments will delight in this sequel. Doom and gloom gets a whole new meaning in Goddess Interrupted.

Rating: