Glitch - Book Review

Glitch (Glitch #1)
by Heather Anastasiu

What is it about:
In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

What did I think of it:
This was a fun read.

I liked the idea of everyone being controlled by a computer chip. I did think that Anastasiu didn't really think the effects such chip would have on society through though. I for one think that without feeling emotions people would steer away from family units and develop another, more effective society. But I'm probably overthinking things here as usual, so the sake of the story I once more took things for granted.

I also had difficulties believing that Zoe would keep her secret safe even when she was being controlled by the chip, logic tells me she would most probably have turned herself in, but maybe she was glitching so bad that she wasn't entirely under the chips control.

The story was pretty cool. There was lots of action and suspense. The first part of the story was the best in my opinion, I really liked discovering how the society worked and reading about those who tried to fight it. Then something happened that led the story away from the resistance against the status quo and it became more of a story about self discovery and.... a love triangle!

And a lopsided love triangle it was.

From the start one of the boys is cast as a bit of a creep and it made me feel very annoyed at Zoe for even feeling bad when she didn't do what he wanted. All in all it felt like the love triangle was only there to set certain other things in motion.

Luckily the story finally got back on track and the action and suspense that followed the whole triangle mess certainly made up for it.

The book ends with a cliffhanger and even with the love triangle stuff I enjoyed it enough to want to read the next book to know what happens next.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Dystopian YA read.

Platinum - Cover Reveal

Today we bring you something very special!

Pearls Cast Before A McPig (and Voodoo Bride in particular) is proud to be able to be the first to show you the amazing cover of Platinum, the second book in Jeffe Kennedy's Facets of Passion series:


(click on the picture for a better view)

Here’s the official description:

Althea Grant is doing fine. Sure, her Charleston gallery is suffering from the bad economy, and her artistic aspirations have gone nowhere. But she’s happy enough. When rugged metal sculptor Steel rides up on his motorcycle looking to rent studio space, his infusion of cash is more than welcome. But his art is raw, visceral, sexual—and completely inappropriate for her pastel world of watercolor landscapes.

Steel, fascinated by Althea’s rare albino coloring, sees in her the key to his next piece: a metal satyr that can be used for bondage games. Moving into her gallery basement is the first step; seducing the coolly polite lady into modeling for him is the second.

As Steel peels away her careful manners and tasteful outfits, Althea begins to realize her life isn’t just fine at all—it’s as pale and washed-out as the watercolor paintings she’s failing to sell. Can she transform her life and accept her most secret desires?



Isn't that cover just gorgeous!
And the story sounds like it will be hot and delicious.

Keep an eye on Jeffe's website for more info on Platinum, which is scheduled to release on February 25th 2013 at Carina Press.

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Wondering what the Facets of Passion series is about?

Here's the info on Sapphire, the first book in this series:

Sapphire by Jeffe Kennedy
ebook/novella

What is it about:
A successful executive, M. Taylor Hamilton is on track with her ten-year plan. Too bad her personal life consists of hitting the gym and grocery shopping. Enter the seductive Adam Kirliss. They may have a working relationship, but everything changes at an office party when he handcuffs her to the rail of a yacht.

Taylor writes off the adventure as too much champagne, but when Adam challenges her to a date, she agrees to meet up with him. And follow his rules. They share a night of exquisite intimacy, brimming with both pain and pleasure. But afterward, fearful of losing her heart, Taylor pulls back emotionally.

Adam is determined to prove that she longs for the loss of control he can give her—and the passionate release it provides. How can he make her see that he wants her, and not just her body?

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Read Voodoo Bride's review of Sapphire here

Buy Sapphire at Carina Press



Many thanks to Jeffe for letting us be the ones to reveal Platinum's cover :)

Three Card Monte - Release Day Interview with Gini Koch

Todayis the release day of Three Card Monte by Gini Koch!
Three Card Monte is the second book in The Martian Alliance series.

Find out what Three Card Monte is all about in this short interview:


Welcome back at Pearl Cast Before a McPig, Gini.
What can we expect from Three Card Monte?
The crew of the Hummingbird is at it again, this time getting caught in between a rock and a hard place, which, for their world, means in between the Diamante Families and the Polliworld Underground. And that’s all before the most feared terrorist in the galaxy makes an appearance.

So, action, adventure, humor and romance. Or, as we call it, my standard mix.

Will it feature the same characters as The Royal Scam?
Yes, absolutely, and a few more besides. But this series will be following DeeDee, Roy, and the rest of the crew of the Hummingbird, so they’ll always be in each installment.

Is this book readable as a stand alone, or do people have to read The Royal Scam first?
As with all my series, I do my best to have each one stand alone. That said, I think if someone hasn’t yet read The Royal Scam that they should, simply because I think they’ll enjoy it. But someone brand new could pick up Three Card Monte and not be lost about what’s going on at all.

Is this another short story or more of a novella?
This one’s novella length. Not promising, but I’m figuring that the rest of the installments in this series will be novella, versus novelette, length. In part because of the tales I’m telling, and in part because I tend to be longwinded. ;-D It’s true though -- the shorter the story, the harder it is to write.

Can we expect more books in this series?
Yes, absolutely. Right now I have the next three mapped out (as much as I map), so I definitely plan for the crew’s adventures to continue on and on.

Are there any pigs or zombies in this book?
Sadly, no. For zombies and potential pigs, I refer you to The Night Beat and my Necropolis Enforcement Files series. Zombies a-plenty there, and I could easily see a pig or pig-like creature appearing in the next book.

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Three Card Monte (The Martian Alliance #2)
by Gini Koch

A risky gamble turns deadly when the galaxy's most feared terrorist arrives to up the ante.

When their favorite bookie pulls up stakes from Roulette and moves to Polliworld, the crew of the Hummingbird go to find out why, and hopefully get a cut of the action, but they end up caught in a high stakes game of chance that could destroy them.

Buy Three Card Monte here

Insurgent - Book Review

Insurgent (Divergent #2)
by Veronica Roth

What is it about:
One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

What did I think of it:
This book was even more suspenseful and intense than Divergent.

I loved the main story and almost couldn't put the book down. There's so much happening in this book, so much intrigue, lies, secrets and distrust. You keep guessing what's going to happen and who will betray whom next. At times I was chilled by how people reacted to the things that are happening and at the naive way some of them looked at the world.

I had some difficulties with Tris and Four. Egh... They were acting so teen angsty and sulky towards each other at times. I would almost rather have had a love triangle than this sappy nonsense to keep the romance 'interesting'. I really think they should have communicated more and wanted to slap some sense into them.

The world building still didn't make sense to me and some things happened that made me frown even more, but once again I decided to take it for granted for the sake of the story. It seems book three might give me more insight in the inner workings of the setting though.

In the end I very much enjoyed this book. It's an entertaining and gripping story and I look forward to reading the next and final book in this trilogy, but I'll have to wait until fall 2013.

Why should you read it:
It's a suspenseful Dystopian YA read.

The Hallowed Ones - Book Review

The Hallowed Ones
by Laura Bickle

What is it about:
Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. Rumors of massive unrest on the “Outside” abound. Something murderous is out there. Amish elders make a rule: No one goes outside, and no outsiders come in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man, she can’t leave him to die. She smuggles him into her family’s barn—at what cost to her community? The suspense of this vividly told, truly horrific thriller will keep the pages turning.

What did I think of it:
Ever had that feeling when you read a book and you love it so much that part of you wants to share it with the whole world, while another part of you wants to jealously guard it and keep it all to yourself?

That's how I feel about The Hallowed Ones!

(And to those who do not know that feeling (which is probably all of you): Yes, I'm weird like that.)

I fell in love with Katie from the start. She's a thinker, who doesn't take what others tell her for granted and who wants to explore things before making a decision. Living in a community where it's expected that you take the things your elders tell you for granted is difficult for Katie. That's why she's looking forward to her Rumspringa, to see the outside world and to be able to decide for herself if her place is really among the Amish or if she belongs somewhere else.

Then bad things happen and it looks like Katie's future might be decided for her.

There is so much to this story I could just ramble on all day. It's as much a creepy, suspenseful horror-thriller as it is a story about strength and faith. Who can Katie trust? Who can she confide in? What will she have to do to survive the horrors that plague the outside and that threaten her community?

There's a constant threat hanging over the story which slowly begins to escalate until it's not just a threat anymore and Katie will have to fight for her survival.

I also loved the setting. The Amish community Katie lives in was described very well and used to its full advantage for this story. I especially loved reading about the Hexenmeister, a mysterious and intriguing figure, who paints so called hexes to protect houses and families from all kind of things.

The climax of this story was just totally amazing and the ending makes me hungry for the next book to see what will happen next (and I can tell you: that is bound to be a lot!). So I can safely say I will be reading the next book as soon as it's released and I'll be rereading The Hallowed Ones in the meantime.

Why should you read it:
It's a totally amazing YA horror-thriller

Teaser Tuesdays - Embrace

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


I spun to face him, desperate to prove to myself that this was all some sick joke. Droplets of water fell from the tips of his hair and pooled in the crease of his lips. He looked amazing, which just made everything worse.
(page 61, Embrace by Jessica Shirvington)

Fathom - Book Review

Fathom
by Merrie Destefano
ebook

What is it about:
Everything is changing . . .

Turning sixteen can be hell, especially if everyone in town thinks your mother killed herself and your sister. All Kira Callahan wants to do is swim, hang out with her best friend, Sean, and ignore the kids who torment her at school. That is, until one day when she gets invited to a party. For three minutes her life is wonderful—she even kisses Sean in the driveway. Then somebody spikes her drink at the party and some girls from out of town lure her into the ocean and hold her underwater.

Kira soon discovers that the group of wild teenagers who have come to visit Crescent Moon Bay are not as innocent as they seem. In fact, nothing is as it seems—not the mysterious deaths of her sister and mother, not her heritage, not even her best friend. And everything seems to hinge on the ancient Celtic legends that her mother used to tell her as a child.

What did I think of it:
I love everything Destefano has written so far, so when I got the chance to read Fathom I jumped at it of course.

And Fathom didn't disappoint.

I liked Kira (who's one of the two narrators of this story) from the start. She's haunted by the memory of her mother and sister and still has to find a way to cope with the loss. This makes her vulnerable, but it also made her strong in other ways. I very much enjoyed getting to know her and I wanted her to find happiness.

The other narrator in this story is Caleb. I really liked his voice. Caleb sounds more mature, more contemplative than Kira and even while you get to see inside his head he remains a bit of a mystery. I kept wondering what his motivations were and why he feels drawn to Crescent Moon Bay and to Kira.

The story is very suspenseful and it kept surprising me. Just when I thought I knew where things would lead, the story took a turn I hadn't seen coming. It was haunting, creepy and emotional. Destefano's writing gave it a fairytale-like feel that fitted the mythology she used in this story.

All in all this is a beautiful Paranormal Young Adult read and I hope Destefano will write more books in this setting.

Why should you read it:
It's a haunting Paranormal YA read


Buy it here