The Queen's Library (14)

For Review
The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski
Vanquished by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

Won from Susan Dennard
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
(autographed & personalized)

The Shadow Society sounds incredible, it was a nice surprise to find that one in the mail. Many thanks to Macmillian, Nancy Holder + Debbie Viguie + Erin Underwood + S&S, and Susan Dennard!

What did you get this week? 

Credit / Inspiration

In My Mailbox 61

Hi everyone! I've been absent from blog this month due to some personal reasons (as well as more technical issues - my laptop stopped working, and I have thankfully gotten it fixed), but the blog will have a few posts this week and YA Book Queen should be completely back on track by December :)

So now, IMM from the last few weeks....

***

For Review (requested & unsolicited)Unleashed by Nancy Holder & Debbie ViguieShatter Me by Tahereh MafiA Million Suns by Beth RevisImmortal City by Scott Speer Born Wicked by Jessica SpotswoodRadiant Days by Elizabeth HandTruth by Julia Karr The Right and the Real by Joelle AnthonyHarbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne
BoughtThe Scorpio Races by Maggie StiefvaterThe Monstrumologist by Rick YanceyBirthmarked by Caragh O'Brien (for Kindle)
WonThe Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler (signed!) + Mad Libs The Death Cure by James DashnerForgotten by Cat Patrick
Extras in Born Wicked package

Extras in Harbinger package 

I honestly wasn't expecting many of the books I received, so it was quite a surprise to see all the packages! Many thanks to whomever I won Forgotten from (I cannot believe that I don't remember who I won it from, but thank you so much!), Jay Asher + Carolyn Mackler, Goodreads, Amazon Vine, and the lovely folks at Penguin USA for all of the surprise packages!

In My Mailbox 60

***

For ReviewArticle 5 by Kristen Simmons (looks great!)The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison (Netgalley)
Bought (printed books)Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini TaylorDaughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Bought & Freebie (kindle books)Another Faust by Daniel and Dina NayeriJenny Pox by JL Bryan

From Erin UnderwoodDamned Book Tour poster signed by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

***

Thanks so much to Tor Teen, Netgalley, Egmont USA, Erin Underwood + Nancy & Debbie! :)
What did you get this week?

Damned Blog Tour Interview with authors Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié

Today, I have the two lovely ladies behind the Crusade series, Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie, here to answer some questions for The Damned Book Tour! 



Quick! Describe Damned in 7 words or less!
DEBBIE: World War Three with vampires
NANCY:  love, sacrifice, desire, honor, explosions!
What was the experience like writing Damned in comparison to writing Crusade?
DEBBIE: Wow, that’s a really great question!  In some ways writing Damned was easier because we had already established the universe and were very comfortable writing all the characters.  There’s a lot to be said for momentum when writing a series.  Emotionally, though, Damned was a little more difficult to write in some ways because of some of the painful scenes we had to write.
NANCY:  I was so happy to return to our world, but then when we got into the very tense, high emotion of the story, it took so much out of me.  We had to raise the stakes to high pitch--we’ve taken this story to the top of the highest hill on the rollercoaster.  In Vanquished, the survivors will careen all the way to the station.
What do you enjoy most about writing together?
DEBBIE: Calling and bouncing ideas off each other and creating something new or adding a new dimension or plot detail lightning fast and then congratulating each other on being geniuses.  :)
NANCY:  I just read a chapter I thought I had written and realized Debbie wrote it.  It’s so wonderful.  And we’re such good friends--I just flew to Florida to spend time with her, and she stayed a few days over after Comic-con here in San Diego.  Of course, we partied at Disney, because that’s what we do!
Any favorite teaser quotes for Damned that you can share?
DEBBIE: I know who I am now.
NANCY:  Let me die for her, if need be.
Who was your favorite character to write, and why?
DEBBIE: I love writing for Jamie.  He isn’t my favorite character, but writing him is just fun.
NANCY: Antonio, because he is a true hero.  He’s passionate, sincere, and courageous.
Scenario time: A hungry vampire lurking in the shadows notices you both out walking one night. He moves quickly towards you two, about to make his attack…what do you do next?
DEBBIE: I tell Nancy to run and jab my cross necklace (I often wear one) into his eye.  Nancy then finds a funky piece of wood lying on the ground and stabs him in the back through his heart while I keep burning his eye and distracting him.
NANCY:  Exactly what Debbie said!
Love the teamwork! What are you two working on now?
DEBBIE and NANCY: Book 3 of Crusade: Vanquished; and Book 2 of Wolf Springs Chronicles: Hotblooded  (Book 1: Unleashed comes out in November).
We’re both doing solo work as well, and getting ready to go on tour together.
Thanks so much for the interview! 
DEBBIE: Thank you!NANCY:  ¡Muchas gracias!

Curious about Damned?  Read the first chapter here. 
Be sure to check out the rest of The Damned Book Tour stops by clicking on the banner below! 

Damned by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié

Damned (Crusade #2)
Nancy Holder, Debbie Viguié
August 30th, 2011
544 pages (hardcover/paperback)
Publisher - Simon Pulse
Source - Publicist

There is a fine line between love and sacrifice...

Antonio would do anything for his beloved fighting partner Jenn. He protects her, even suppresses his vampire cravings to be with her. Together, they defend humanity against the Cursed Ones. But tensions threaten to fracture their hunting team and his loyalty—his love—is called into question. 

With an even more sinister power on the rise, Jenn must overcome her personal vendettas. Antonio and Jenn need each other to survive, but evil lurks at every turn. With humanity’s fate hanging in the balance, they must face down the darkness…or die trying.

With an action-packed storyline and a few heartbreaking twists, Damned is simply thrilling.

Jenn¹ is officially the leader of the Salamanca team of hunters, but everyone in the resistance may be in over their heads as the risks grow higher. Vampiric control over the world is strengthening, the resistance is growing difficult to continue, allies are running low, and one of vampires has even begun manufacturing a surprise that could bring the downfall to humans everywhere. But even as Jenn and her team attempt to save humankind, they have to face their own personal demons. The more they try to fight and defend humanity, the closer they come to winning – or losing – everything.

Damned grows more intense and gripping by the page. Even though it's the second novel, Holder and Viguié recapped the events of the previous story while simultaneously moving forward with the sequel. Many characters are faced with new and old struggles to overcome. The 3rd person narrative gives great insight into each character, and some of the things you'll learn about them will surprise you. Damned is fast-paced, shocking, and filled with vicious vampires – can you ask for anything better?

Highlights: Damned surprised me, with both character growth, and even with who became a casualty of war. Internal/personal struggles with each character became more important to the story. Insight given to certain characters – like Aurora², Eriko, Heather, Holger – was interesting, and it gave many of them more depth to their personalities. And as always, Holder and Viguié deliver when it comes to epic battle scenes, as well as touching (maybe even heartbreaking) moments between characters.

Lowlights: Two new characters needed a bit more development, because by the end, I felt like they just blended into the background. I'm also not a fan of whenever Jenn and the gang split up, because it's more difficult to keep track of what's going on when they're separated.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

My other reviews in this series:
Crusade

1 Jenn really surprised me with her growth, she's stronger and assertive for most of the book...go Jenn!
2 I loved all the parts focusing on Aurora - she's one badass vampire.

In My Mailbox 53

(Past few weeks of books)

For Review Damned by Nancy Holder, Debbie ViguieAnna Dressed In Blood by Kendare BlakeTighter by Adele GriffinAlways a Witch by Carolyn MacCulloughThe Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson 

Ebooks For Review (from Netgalley)Frost by Wendy Delsol (!!)Ashes by Ilsa J. BickA Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn DaviesThe Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

BoughtThe Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. PearsonSolstice by P.J. Hoover (Juju's review convinced me to buy it)

Many thanks to Erin, Nancy/Debbie, Yafen, Tor, Amazon Vine and the respective publishers on Netgalley who provided the egalleys! :)

Crusade by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

Book: Crusade

Authors: Nancy Holder, Debbie Viguie

Release: September 7th, 2010

Pages: 480

Source: Bought

Summary: 

For the past two years, Jenn has lived and trained at Spain's Sacred Heart Academy Against the Cursed Ones. She is among the few who have pledged to defend humanity or die trying. But the vampires are gaining power, and the battle has only just begun.

Forced to return home after death takes a member of her family, Jenn discovers that San Francisco is now a vampire strong-hold. As a lone hunter apart from her team, Jenn is isolated—and at risk. She craves the company of her fighting partner, Antonio: his protection, his reassurance, his touch. But a relationship with Antonio comes with its own dangers, and the more they share of themselves, the more Jenn stands to lose.

Then Jenn is betrayed by one who was once bound to protect her, causing her to doubt all she had held as true. To survive, Jenn must find the courage to trust herself—and her heart.

Review:  Vampires, battles, romance, secrets and so much more. 

Jenn Leitner, despite her own self-doubts, would make Buffy The Vampire Slayer proud. She's a self-described average girl, who works hard to keep up with her fellow hunters. But she's smart and a quick thinker, which helps her survive. The varying relationships between Jenn and her fellow hunters were intriguing and amusing. With a third-person narration, Crusade lets the reader delve into different characters minds and times to get a better view each person. There's a lot going on in Crusade, quite a few plot points, but it never becomes overwhelming. 

The different settings were wonderful and easy to visualize. Vampires have taken over, and it's truly a different and interesting world. By the time I reached the end, I was wishing for more pages. 

Crusade is filled with kick-butt hunters, secrets, bloodthirsty vampires, and epic battles that will leave you craving more.

Highlights: It was impossible to put Crusade down once it got going. It grabbed my curiosity, filled my need for some epic fights with vampires, and had smart, strong characters. Each character intrigued me, and I found myself wanting to know more them. The relationships were authentic, whether it be Jenn's bond with her sister Heather, or the friendship/romance with Antonio. Plus, the vampires were actually scary, so that's a definite plus. 

Lowlights: It took a few chapters to really get into the story. Jenn comes off a bit annoying at first, and she doubts herself a lot. Once Jenn makes it to California, everything gets interesting and Jenn has to start toughening up in order to save her sister. I also did dislike how some of the characters just kept their dark secrets from each other, especially when it probably will come back to bite them later -- no pun intended. 

Rating: