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Book Review & Giveaway: “Mind Games” by Teri Terry (Closed)

*NO SPOILERS REVIEW*


Title: Mind Games

Author: Teri Terry

Published: March 5th, 2015

Publisher: Orchard Books (Hachette)

Find the Author: Goodreads


I received this for review from Hachette Children’s Books for review. As always, my reviews are fair and un-bias.


Luna is a no-hoper with a secret: in a world of illusion, she can see what is real. But can she see the truth before it is too late?

Luna has always been able to exist in virtual and real worlds at the same time, a secret she is warned to keep. She hides her ability by being a Refuser: excluded by choice from the virtual spheres others inhabit. But when she is singled out for testing, she can’t hide any longer.

The safest thing to do would be to fail, to go back to a dead-end life, no future. But Luna is starting to hope for something better, and hope is a dangerous thing.

Teri Terry’s known for her multi award winning series Slated (that is waiting on my shelf to be read ASAP!) that sucked me right in with a synopsis of a girl called Kyla who’s memory has been erased as well as her personality and past memories, basically being “Slated” and started fresh. So I had high expectations that whatever Teri came up with next would be a huge hit with me. 
Luna, our main character, is a Refuser – someone who refuses to be virtual and wants to live life the “old school” way. In the world she exists in, she can live in virtual worlds and real worlds at the same time, something similar to the others who can live in a virtual world, although they would be existing in one at a time and on a life support type of device whilst they were. Virtually, they could potentially live forever if they wanted to. Because Luna is different, she has to hide her secret. I found this was a little like Divergent when Tris found out she could control the simulations. Although it wasn’t exactly the same, this drew me in a little further because I loved Divergent and the whole “fantasy” within Dystopia and worlds that exist virtually or in our minds. 
But then Luna is singled out. They want her for testing and suddenly she can’t hide behind being a Refuser anymore. She’s thrown into the spotlight and her secret of knowing what is real in a world built with delusions is on the verge of being tested. My favourite part of Mind Games were the actual mind games. The things about the story-world and characters that threw me and made me want to explore more into the inquisitive and brilliant world Teri had built. I loved the character of Luna and how her development throughout the book grew into a clear favourite of mine. Surprise villains, races against the clock and games, games, games, Mind Games will make you question what’s real and isn’t, throw you into a world of utter magnificence and creativity and you’ll be on the edge of your seat until the end in hope – and hope is a dangerous thing for Luna. 
Mind Games is one of the best books I’ve read this year and if the synopsis alone doesn’t make you want to run out and read it then I don’t know what will. If you loved Divergent and The Murder Complex, you’ll love Mind Games without a doubt.
     

Like I said above, fans of Divergent will read this like there’s no tomorrow. 


Teri has lived in France, Canada, Australia and England at more addresses than she can count, acquiring three degrees, a selection of passports and a silly name along the way. 
Past careers have included scientist, lawyer, optometrist, and, in England, various jobs in schools, libraries and an audiobook charity. 
The footpaths and canal ways of the Buckinghamshire Chilterns where she now lives inspired much of the setting of Slated. She hates broccoli, likes cats, and has finally worked out what she wants to do when she grows up.

To celebrate the release of MIND GAMES, one lucky Pretty Little Memoirs blog reader will win the very book I’ve just read (and loved) for themselves thanks to bookswithbite.co.uk!
UK residents, this giveaway is for you! (Sorry rest-of-the-world, but I have some awesome giveaways coming up for you soon.)

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 What did you think of Mind Games?

Is Slated on your TBR or have you read more of Teri’s books?

Let me know in the comments!

happy reading!
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Blog Tour: “Rebecca Newton and The Last Oracle” by Mario Routi {Win a KINDLE!}

Title: Rebecca Newton and The Last Oracle

Author: Mario Routi

Published: February 20th, 2015

Publisher: Oak Tree Press UK

Find the Author: Goodreads

The Epic tale continues and Rebecca’s limits are tested to the max!

Princess Leylah, daughter of Rebecca Newton and King Turgoth, is growing up and so is her power to foresee future events as she has the greatest gift imaginable: She is the Oracle! While trying to come to terms with her unique powers, she finds herself nurturing deep feelings for Alexander, Lady Felicia and Lord Leiko’s son. But how does he feel about her?
Meanwhile, Cronus and the Titans are preparing a master plan to take over Earth with the help of the Sartani and they are calling on the armies of ancient evil entities to assist them in seizing control of the Sacred Flame in order to free themselves.
At the same time in the Elysian Fields, Zeus and the other Gods are struggling to figure out what their enemies are planning since they cannot interfere unless the Titans are released.
Rebecca, Bull the Minotaur and their friends, face their greatest challenges ever in the Land of the White Sun and Tartarus, where they will need to go on a perilous quest – a matter of life and death for their loved ones.
Will the newly discovered Oracle of Utopia be able to uncover the plans in time to save all the worlds?

An explosive collision between Good and Evil… A never-ending conflict… A romance that becomes lethal… A duel that will determine the future of all the worlds!

About Mario Routi:
Mario’s first novel, Orizon, was a bestseller in his native Greece and was subsequently translated into English.  Rebecca Newton and the Sacred Flame was published in the UK in 2014. Mario has been writing since childhood. He has studied liberal arts at Universities around the world and entered a career in business.  A fan of soccer and martial arts, Mario now lives in Central London with his family. His official website is www.mariorouti.com and he is on Twitter @MarioRouti 


GUEST POST by Mario Routi

WHY
FANTASY?
Crime, romance,
thriller, horror. Stories fall under many genres, some of them more than one,
but there will always be one genre of literature that I feel a special
affection towards:  Fantasy.

Fantasy is an escape, for the brain, the soul and the spirit. It
builds the imagination and expands knowledge, while being fun and entertaining.  It provides enough adventure to make you want
more, but enough substance to make you think.
It’s these aspects, in my opinion, that mean we should be encouraging kids
to read fantasy from as young an age as possible. The worst, most off-putting
thing for a young reader just starting out in the world of adult novels is to
become bored. And that can be a problem. The leap from children’s literature to
adult novels can be daunting for some young readers, used to the fast action
and plotting of most children’s books. Faced with adult literature that is
brooding and slow, some young people are immediately put-off.
Fantasy keeps the right
balance. There are many wonderful fantasy books that children will enjoy, but
to recommend a book, one has to consider their age. Most of Jules Verne’s books are
ideal for smaller
children, of ages 8 to 11, and once a
child reaches that age, The
Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is a must, as well as the first part of C. S. Lewis’ Narnia. The Percy Jackson
and the Olympian books by
Rick Riordan and the Harry
Potter series also great ways to get kids into fantasy.
I believe that every
teenager should be encouraged to read The
Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien and His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman – in my opinion, both of these should be added to the
school curriculum.  The list really is
endless: Neil Gaiman, Terry
Pratchett, the
Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer; all of these are great books to give to a reader who may be sceptical
about fantasy.
As an author, I find fantasy the most
creative and exciting genre
to write in, but it also presents its own difficulties.  You need to
really let your imagination run wild, 
forget the limits you face in everyday life and focus on creating a
world removed from our own.   Most importantly, you need to make it
real in the hearts of your readers. It’s the genre where the writer feels like
a god, as he is the creator of everything. It’s limitless!

Mario
Routi



** GIVEAWAY **
(UK RESIDENTS ONLY)

To celebrate the publication of Rebecca Newton and the Last Oracle, I have a brand new kindle and a copy of the book to give away to one lucky reader!
 To be in with a chance of winning, simply tweet your answer to the following question to @LittleMemoirs and @MarioRouti using the hashtag #RebeccaNewton:

‘If you were granted one superpower, what would it be?’

TWEET!



Have you read Mario’s books?


Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!


happy reading!

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Book Review: “The Bear” by Claire Cameron (and Giveaway!)


Title: The Bear

Author: Claire Cameron
Genre: Adult – Contemporary/Suspense
Release Date: November 6th, 2014
Published by: Vintage (Random House)


★ I received this from Vintage Publishing for review. As always, my reviews are fair and non-bias. ★ 


 Anna is five. Her little brother, Stick, is almost three. 
They are camping with their parents in Algonquin Park, in three thousand square miles of wilderness. It’s the perfect family trip. But then Anna awakes in the night to the sound of something moving in the shadows. Her father is terrified. Her mother is screaming. Then, silence.

Alone in the woods, it is Anna who has to look after Stick, battling hunger and the elements to stay alive. Narrated by Anna, this is white-knuckle storytelling that captures the fear, wonder and bewilderment of our worst nightmares – and the power of one girl’s enduring love for her family.

The Bear sounded like a movie when I read the synopsis, like a fight for survival. But what gave my reading habits a change up was that this is straight from young children, with there being little adult voice. I love that I haven’t read anything similar to The Bear before, so going into it without knowing what it would be like was exciting. 

Anna is the narrator, a five-year old girl on a camping trip with her Parents and little brother; Stick, who is almost three. There isn’t another family around or anything for miles, wilderness surrounding them – and for a little while it seems like this is a perfect little family holiday – until disaster strikes in the most strange form. 
In the middle of the night, Anna doesn’t know why her father is scared or why her mother is screaming – she never yells. So when her and Stick are put to a somewhat momentary safe location by their father, Anna thinks everything will be okay. Her father will come and get them, or maybe her mother. 
But soon enough, Anna realizes that they are alone in their struggle. That she must look after Stick and keep him safe, no matter what happens. They battle hunger, darkness and scares in the woods, trying desperately to stay alive and find someone. Obstacles throw Anna and Stick, but Anna’s bravery keeps them together. Although five-year old Anna can’t comprehend what’s happening and where her Parents are truly, she is loyal and focused. Her thought patterns are impulsive and scared, then frustrated – but she doesn’t give up trying to keep her and Stick alive. 
The Bear is quite extraordinary. I’ve never read such a gripping, emotional and thought-provoking novel that battles the struggle of a child trying to comprehend a tragedy without any parental guidance or any guidance at all. Claire has written a believable, striking book with characters that no doubt seem real like the inspiration for the novel itself. I found myself hooked to Anna’s voice and felt determined for Anna and Stick on their journey. The ending couldn’t have been more perfect. It was not only an overall incredible story, but will stay with me for a very long time. 
Compelling, intense and exceptional, once you’ve read The Bear – it will be remembered.

Anna’s love for her family was a moment-pause and awe inspiring note.

For Adult Contemporary fans of Suspense and Thrills.

Thanks to the amazing people at Random House, I get to give away THREE copies of “The Bear”, you can enter here, Goodreads and on Twitter! So if you’re interested in reading it, enter below! 


Open: UK only


Have you read The Bear?

What did you think?


Tell me in the comments, on twitter or by using the hashtag #TheBear

 

happy reading! 

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UK Book Lovers: Katie McGarry Giveaway!

To celebrate the upcoming release of Noah and Echo’s second story, Breaking The Rules, I’m giving away a copy of their first story, Pushing The Limits, to celebrate! 


To enter, you must live in the UK and if you tweet to enter, please make sure you include the link to the giveaway, otherwise it doesn’t count as an entry!

If you’re from the USA, Canada or Europe, etc, tell your friends about the giveaway if they live in the UK instead! 
Good Luck!
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The 100: Giveaway!

If you’ve been watching TV recently (particularly E4) then you might have come across an amazing, spectacular new show based on the phenomenal book that fueled the series, called “The 100”. 



Seen as I just reached 400 followers on Bloglovin’ and 1.2K on Twitter, I thought I’d do a little giveaway and give a copy of The 100 away! 

I adored The 100 back last year when I read it, saying:

 “As soon as I started reading…me and this book hit it off straight away. The plot was addictive, especially toward the end…because that ending! I was literally reading this for a few hours and when I saw how far I’d gotten through the book, and how long I’d been reading for, I realised that The 100 was the perfect transition between what I was reading in the pages, to what I saw in a sort of 3D vision in my mind. The TV Show is going to be out of this world, quite literally. I rely on a novel to completely hold my attention throughout, and The 100 lived up to it with ease.”

So, if you live in the UK and want to get a chance to read The 100 for yourselves before the release of the second in the series; Day 21 this September, then get entering!


*If you’re tweeting every day for the extra points, please remember to include the link to the giveaway, otherwise it doesn’t count as an entry!*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! 


Don’t forget, you can catch The 100 on E4, Mondays at 9pm! 


happy reading!

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Divergent Thinking GIVEAWAY!

Title: Divergent Thinking 
Author: Various (listed below)
Release Date: March 4th, 2014
Genre: Non-Fiction 

Published by: BenBella Books / Smart Pop

Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy (Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant) has captured the hearts and thoughts of millions of readers. In Divergent Thinking, YA authors explore even more of Tris and Tobias’ world, including:

– What Divergent’s factions have in common with one of psychology’s most prominent personality models

– The biology of fear: where it comes from and how Tris and the other Dauntless are able to overcome it
– Full-page maps locating all five faction headquarters and other series landmarks in today’s Chicago, based on clues from the books
– Plus a whole lot more, from why we love identity shorthand like factions to Tris’ trouble with honesty to the importance of choice, family, and being brave

With a dozen smart, surprising, mind-expanding essays on all three books in the trilogy, Divergent Thinking provides a companion fit for even the most Erudite Divergent fan.

Contributor list: Elizabeth Wein, Maria V. Snyder and Jenna Snyder, V. Arrow, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Mary Borsellino, Rosemary Clement-Moore, Debra Driza, Julia Karr, Dan Krokos, Elizabeth Norris, Janine K. Spendlove and Blythe Woolston.


Thanks to the lovely people at BenBella Books, I get to give away some pretty amazing prizes for my Pretty Little Memoirs readers! It’s just for the United Kingdom (excluding Ireland) for a change, but I’ll be running tons of prizes for the rest of the world soon. 

Two Prizes! A copy of the amazing “Divergent Thinking” (reviewed here on Pretty Little Memoirs next week!) and a set of Five faction pins!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you read Divergent Thinking yet? 


Let me know what you think in the comments & don’t forget to enter, UK residents! 


happy reading!

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Book Blast: “Deep Blue” by Jennifer Donnelly

Title: Deep Blue (Waterfire Saga #1)

Genre: Young Adult – Fantasy
Release Date: May 6th, 2014 
Published by: Hodder (UK)

The first in a series of four epic tales set in the depths of the ocean, where six mermaids seek to protect and save their hidden world.

 Deep in the ocean, in a world not so different from our own, live the merpeople. Their communities are spread throughout the oceans, seas, and freshwaters all over the globe.

 When Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, awakens on the morning of her betrothal, her biggest worry should be winning the love of handsome Prince Mahdi. And yet Sera finds herself haunted by strange dreams that foretell the return of an ancient evil. Her dark premonitions are confirmed when an assassin’s arrow poisons Sera’s mother. 

 Now, Serafina must embark on a quest to find the assassin’s master and prevent a war between the Mer nations. Led only by her shadowy dreams, Sera searches for five other mermaid heroines who are scattered across the six seas. Together, they will form an unbreakable bond of sisterhood and uncover a conspiracy that threatens their world’s very existence.

Deep Blue Character Profiles
MEET THE CHARACTERS
Four thousand years ago, six wise rulers with mystical powers oversaw the golden realm of Atlantis. When an evil force overtook the mythical island, sinking it into the sea, Merrow, the leader of the ancients, beseeched the gods to grant her drowning people the power to breathe underwater. Those who survived, their legs magically fused into tail fins, formed an undersea civilization called The Mer.
From their Mediterranean realm, five others grew to form six undersea nations, led for generations by descendants of the ancient Circle of Six. Now, the evil forces that consumed Atlantis threaten destruction once again. The Mer nations’ only hope lies with six teenagers, descended from the ancient rulers, who’ve inherited their magical powers. Together, they form an unbreakable bond of sisterhood to save their worlds.
Serafina
Loyal, brave, just, and strong—with copper brown hair, bright green eyes, and a nascent gift more powerful than all the others—Serafina is descended from the ancient ruler Merrow. Heir to the original civilization of Merfolk, Sera has been raised with the expectation that one day, she’ll be their ruler. When the undersea nations come under threat and Sera’s mother, Queen Isabella, is poisoned, Sera’s destiny leaps to meet her. She must embark on a journey to find and vanquish the evil forces at work. Her powerful magic—the gift of a love so powerful she would sacrifice herself for those around her—will guide her as she leads the mermaids in their quest. By her side is her best friend Neela…
Neela
Sassy and daring, with a non-stop sweet-tooth, jet-black hair to her tail fin, and a bioluminescent body that emanates a bright blue light, Neela is descended from Navi, ancient ruler of the waters of India,
a kind and good-hearted leader who used her riches to build hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the poor. It was said Navi could hold light in her hands as well as her heart, pulling down beams from the sun and moon and stars and bending them to her will. She gave her people hope in their darkest hours. Neela, able to create and throw powerful formations of light, is the intrepid inheritor of these gifts.
Ling
With a gentle but powerful nature and a keen intellect she’s not afraid to show, Ling—with almond-shaped eyes, high cheekbones, and a sword in a scabbard slung over her back—is descended from Sycorax, who ruled from the shores of the Qin in China. An omnivorax, Sycorax spoke the languages of all creatures—people, animals, birds, flowers and trees. She was Atlantis’ supreme justice, a peace- keeper and negotiator of treaties between realms. Ling is the able and ready inheritor of these gifts.
Becca
Fierce and quick—with curly red hair, blue eyes, and a smattering of freckles—Becca is descended from Pyrrha, who ruled the shores of Atlantica, the ancient realm between South America and Africa. Pyrrha was a brilliant and strategic military commander, but she was also an artisan—a blacksmith who could bid fire. She had a forge on Atlantis where she transformed farm tools into weapons; when her people came under attack, Pyrrha saved her people with her quick thinking. Becca, her descendant, will do the same.
Ava
Wise, witty, frank and prescient—with glossy black braids, deep brown scales, sunglasses, and a guide-pet piranha she keeps on a leash—Ava is descended from Nyx who ruled the fresh waters that flowed from the Mississippi River. Nyx was blind, but he could feel things he could not see. He never flinched from what he felt, or from speaking his visions truthfully. The magic bestowed him by the gods strengthened his gift and transformed it into prophecy. Ava is the knowing inheritor of this gift of prescience and foresight.
Astrid
Headstrong, bold, and possessed of a deep well of magical power, Astrid—with cascades and braids of white-blonde hair, icy blue eyes, and the black and white markings of an orca—is descended from Orfeo, who ruled the arctic waters around Greenland. A musician who played the lyre to soothe the sick and suffering, he was a healer whose people loved him. Of the six who ruled Atlantis, his powers were unsurpassed. But it was Orfeo who mysteriously defected from the Circle of Six, unleashing a monster of his own creation whose wrath destroyed Atlantis. Like her father, Astrid turns away from the group. Unlike her father, she will rejoin them…but not until she tests them first.

This giveaway excludes US & Canada, sorry! I’ll be hosting many more for other countries in the coming weeks, but for now this one is just for the UK! 
I’m giving away all this…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

After you’ve entered that amazing giveaway, take a look at the Deep Blue trailer! It’s seriously incredible.



Don’t forget to enter the giveaway, spread the word and add Deep Blue to your Goodreads to-read!

happy reading!

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