I found out on Tuesday that a fabulous author whose book hasn't even been released yet has been pirated!
I was completely, utterly and disgustingly SHOCKED! I’ve heard of this type of thing happening before so I guess it shouldn’t shock me too much. But when it happens to an author I adore and to a book that I have watched move up the success ladder, it pissed me off more than I could have imagined!
Maybe it pissed me off so much because a few months ago I had one of my own reviews lifted. But the book probably took me only a couple of days to read and the review took only 30 minutes to maybe a couple hours to write. But even though I only put a few days into the entire book and review, when I discovered that someone lifted my review and claimed it as their own, I still felt violated and sick to my stomach.
Now I also see it through the eyes of one of my favorite authors. Authors put months or sometimes years of their time and emotion into writing a book. My measly stolen review doesn’t even amount to a small pile of beans compared to an author’s book being pirated. But what makes this case even worse is that this author’s book hasn’t even been published yet, and the copy that was pirated was an eARC version! So the book that was stolen and released (by websites that are now allowing people to download it for free) was actually stolen by someone who was originally approved by the publisher to review the book! That just pisses me the EFF off! How could someone do something so low? AND it sets a bad image for the bloggers who really do respect and appreciate receiving review copies from authors and publishers, and who honor the confidentiality of those copies!
The author I am speaking of is Jennifer Armentrout and the book that has been pirated is Half-Blood. I was given the privilege to review Half-Blood by Spencer Hill Press (see my review HERE) and I was thrilled with the book! I truly appreciate that I was given the opportunity to read and review Jennifer’s book! If you want to learn more about what had happened, Jennifer has blogged about it here: Half Blood and Pirates.
To show my support to both Jennifer Armentrout and Spencer Hill Press, I am doing a giveaway for 3 copies of Half-Blood. They will be purchased through Book Depository, so this giveaway is open for **International Shipping*** (subject to availability from Book Depository.) And, if Half-Blood is no longer available from Book Depository, then you will have the option to wait until Half-Blood is available or choose another book of equal or lesser value. Giveaway will run from September 30th until October 4th EST. That is only 4 days to enter!
Yay! I'm sooo excited it's finally here! I can't wait to see what your fabulous minds can come up with!
Here is your chance to come up with a story idea and have not 1 but 5 authors spin it into an 800 word flash fiction tale! That’s 5 different YA paranormal authors with their own style and their own creativity taking your idea in 5 directions! Where will they go? You’ll have to wait until Oct 19th to find out.
But, for now, get your story idea in!
You have from Sept 29, 2011 12:00am to Oct 8th, 2011 11:59pm EST to submit your ideas by choosing characters, conflict and abilities. Details are in the form below! Only entries into the form will be considered.
Wanna win something?
Anyone can enter their idea OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL and the winning idea will win a print book of their choice from one of the participating authors. What should you enter? Well, seeing as all of the authors are YA Paranormal writers, chances are anything to do with a hot, young heroine/hero of the non-human type will spark their interest. But, so could a grotesque villain…Should it be regular old Earth or a dystopian world? Should unicorns frolic and mermaids flap about? Should there be a love triangle? YOU DECIDE!
Example:
Characters - "Bill" - a male vampire, tall, dark and boring, prefers computers to good times, over 150 years old. "Sookie" - a female human, blond, barmaid, perky, Southern, sweet and hospitable but will resort to extreme violence when provoked.
Conflict - Someone wants Sookie dead. People she knows are being killed and it looks like Sookie is next. AND, there's a new vampire in town. He's tall, blond, sexy and powerful. While Bill may be old reliable, there's just something about Eric that she can't resist.
Abilities - "Bill" - speed, strength, can heal with his blood. "Sookie" - telepathic, good with a shotgun.
From there, the authors will have 10 days to take the idea and run with it.
For more details about the Lie or Die event, CLICK HERE to visit the official event page.
More chances for giveaways?
UPDATE: Starting Friday, 9/30, for a daily chance to win an eBook from Amazon of one of the participating author's books of your choice, submit your idea and tweet the following:
"I submitted my story idea for the #LieOrDie event! Go submit yours! http://bit.ly/ojCknW"
You only need to submit one idea, but you can have a chance to win an eBook each day through October 8th, by tweeting and spreading the word. The daily winners will be announced on Twitter.
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Want to know a little bit more about the authors participating?
SM Reine:
SM Reine is a writer and graphic designer obsessed with werewolves, the occult, and collecting swords. Her YA fantasy books, "Six Moon Summer" and "All Hallows' Moon," have been praised as "fresh and fast-paced" and "captivating." Sara spins tales of dark fantasy to escape the drudgery of the desert, where she lives with her husband and the Helpful Baby.
G.P.Ching:
Author of The Soulkeepers (DarkSide Publishing, 2011) and rebel suburbanite who makes wicked cookies, kicks patootie at Guitar Hero, and thinks guinea pigs are the perfect pet. Visit her at http://genevieveching.blogspot.com/.
Tiffany King:
Hi, my name is Tiffany King the author of the Paranormal/Romance YA novel “Meant to Be” and I’m practically a native Floridian. My family and I have been here for the last fourteen years and have gotten quite used to the mild winters and scorching summers. I went back to school when I turned 31 and will finish up this spring. I wrote my book “Meant to Be” two years into my degree program and put it on hold while I finished school. Of course my degree has nothing to do with writing *drat* but that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to keep writing. During this process with “Meant to Be” I discovered just how much I love to write and I have many story ideas tucked away. I’m glad you made it to my blog and hope you will follow me and “Meant to Be” as we navigate through self-publishing. Welcome Aboard.
Megan Duncan:
Megan Duncan is a lover of all things paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi and anything just out of the ordinary. She is continually fighting her addiction to chocolate and living in her overactive imagination.
K.A.Tucker:
Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures. Asylum, the sequel to Anathema, will be released January, 2012.
Check out the books of the authors that are participating in the Lie Or Die event!
Publisher's Summary: Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.
My Take: Why did I wait so long to read this series? I LOVED Iron King! Julie Kigawa created a magical but at the same time gruesome faery world! Once I was nearing the end of Iron King, I thought back to the beginning of the book where Meghan is humiliated in front of her entire school by the “popular boy” and she thought her life was over. At the time it seemed like such a horrible moment to read but by the end of the book that earlier moment seems extremely trivial compared to what Meghan had to endure in the faery world throughout the book. If I knew a faery world like this existed, I would want to avoid it at all costs! I wouldn’t even care if there was a super-hot, unable to resist, faery winter prince waiting to sweep me off of my feet.
Iron King has all types of creatures hanging out in Nevernever. In Meghan’s journey to save her brother from the faery who kidnapped him, every turn she takes is a battle for survival against one or another of the evil and/or ghastly creatures in Nevernever. There was always something going on from one page to the next.
I grew really attached to the characters that Julie created in this story. Her character development is nothing short of phenomenal and, YES, I’m in love with Ash! I REALLY like Puck, he’s freakin’ awesome, and I hope he continues to play a big role in the series. And I can’t forget the cat; what’s his name again? Oh yeah Grimalkin? For some reason whenever I think about Grimalkin, I picture The Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland. He adds a little spice to the story and he seems to always just BE there. I even grew attached to characters that played very minor roles, like Meghan’s mom and brother. And, of course, there are the characters I hate! Julie did a remarkable job in creating characters that I loathe, like that maliciously evil Summer Queen Titania! OH! And that one crazy chick who was running the night club...what’s her name again?! I think it was Shard.
There are so many things that happen in this book, it almost requires MAJOR concentration to remember everything, but I truly loved it so I immediately started Iron Daughter. I can already tell that I might like it more than Iron King! This is another recommend I have for everyone out there. It is totally worth setting your other books to the side and adding this one to the top of your to-read list.
I have one more copy of The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab that I wanna give to one of my followers! But I am only giving you 11 hours to enter. Unfortunatly I was unable to get this copy signed because I got it in the mail the Monday after I saw her. But if you want to own a copy, make sure you enter!
Everyone else is talking about Eastlake High’s gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck, but Kaylee Cavanaugh has bigger things on her mind. Kaylee’s a banshee—her scream is a portent of death.
But the next scream might hit too close to home. Kaylee’s borrowed lifeline has almost run out.
Yeah—it’s a shock to her, too. So to distract herself from her own problems, Kaylee is determined to defend her school against the latest supernatural threat. That hot new teacher is really an incubus, who feeds from the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend’s delinquent ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren’t quite human either.
But Kaylee’s running out of time, and those who love her will do anything to save her life.
Cold Blood by Heather Hildenbrand is Book #2 of the Dirty Blood Series!
Short teaser/description:
Wood Point Academy is not at all what I expected. For one thing, it looks like a cross between military school and Buckingham Palace. Everyone stares, the floors shine so bright you can see your reflection in them from a mile away, and no one smiles. Unless they're kicking your butt in the process. Which happens more often than not for the freshman. Lucky for them, my presence has just stolen the spotlight, and they get a break from the daily joys of hazing.
At least I've got plenty to take my mind off the fact that my psycho cousin, Miles De'Luca, keeps calling and declaring his love and promising to come for me just as soon as he's destroyed anyone standing in our way. Wes isn't going to like that idea.
So between Miles, Wood Point's evil welcoming commitee, and the drill sergeant hottie trainer from hell, I just keep asking myself, how did I end up here?
Cold Blood, Book 2 in the Dirty Blood series, is due out Fall 2011. If you haven't already read Dirty Blood, it is available for only $0.99 here: Dirty Blood Kindle Book
Giveaway!
In honor of the cover reveal, Heather is hosting a giveaway on her blog, where you can enter to win a signed PAPERBACK of Dirty Blood, fresh off the press with its own new cover art. The winner of this giveaway will be receiving the very FIRST paperback with the new cover art! Second prize is a set of bookmarks, one with a special wolf charm, and the other signed by Heather.
Dirty Blood Description: I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up.
Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.
Publisher's Summary: On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.
In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.
A Beautiful Dark is the first book in a captivating trilogy by debut author Jocelyn Davies.
My Take: Whoa! I seriously need to talk with someone about this book without spoiling it for anyone that hasn't read it. So if you have already read A Beautiful Dark, please come chat with me because I NEED to talk to someone about EVERYTHING. I think the ending to this book tops them all as the ultimate SUCK in all forms possible! I would say there is only one thing going good for poor Skye and I’m not quite sure if this one thing could ever be enough to make up for everything that has happened to her. That includes past and present.
When I first started reading A Beautiful Dark I was completely blind as to what type of fantasy elements were contained in this book. The only thing that was obvious was there were strange things happening to Skye, and two boys just come out of nowhere with major interest in her. We learn about what the boys are about midway through the book but I’m still unsure of what will become of Skye, or what Skye will be capable of. I am crossing my fingers and toes that she comes back as a hardcore heroine with a vengeance, with destruction and with chaos, and abolishes every being that has literally and completely destroyed her life!
While reading, I was unsure of whom I liked from the mysterious boys. One seemed to catch her attraction more than the other and the other seemed to balance her emotions. Asher is the super sexy bad boy and Devin is the majorly hot calm good boy. There were several moments that Asher seriously pissed me off and I was always questioning his motives. Devin seemed to be too big of a mystery but for the most part he was kind and gentle (as Skye would refer, he was Zen.) Up until the very end, I was still questioning myself over who of the two was the most deceptive. It is more than clear at the end of the book, and it left me seriously pissed off and thirsting for the next in this trilogy. Like right now! I don’t think I can wait!
A Beautiful Dark is available a week from tomorrow, so make sure you get yourself a copy! I will be getting my copy any day in the mail. Thanks to EpicReads! Yay! I don’t want to spoil this book for anyone but I’m dying to talk to someone about it, so once you have read it…come chat with me!
Galley provided to my by HarperTeen for my honest review.
The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.
And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.
Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.
Meeting Victoria Schwab
A couple blogger friends (Jaime & Patrica with Two Chicks on Books) my friend Tiffany and I was given the opportunity to meet Victoria at a local coffee shop and she is so much fun to just sit and chat with! I haven't read The Near Witch yet but I am looking forward to reading it ASAP!
So I made sure I got an extra signed copy of The Near Witch and some bookmarks to have for giveaways to my blog followers! I'm giving one lucky winner a signed copy of The Near Witch and 5 lucky winners a signed bookmark!
I am late in participating in BBAW, but there are a lot of fabulous blogs I know that have totally earned the bragging rights! So here they are:
First up are my favorite bloggers, Patricia and Jaime from Two Chicks on Books! They have been absolutely fabulous. When we first started chatting, on a whim we decided to meet for the first time and travel together to see Melissa Marr! So I experienced my first author signing with my new favorite bloggers! I also found out that Jaime had an ARC that I would roll over and die to read and she was more than willing to let me borrow it. I feel bad because I have been horrible about returning it! But I will be driving to her house this week to deliver it personally. Patricia is a book pusher; if she is passionate about a book, she is the best at cheering that book on. If it wasn't for Patricia, I probably would have put off purchasing the Iron Fey series.
Next, I wanna brag about another fave blogger, Julie from My 5 Monkeys! I look forward to reading her opinion about every book, but because she seems to have the same taste in books as me, I especially like to read her opinion about a book that I really want to read. She also has been very kind to me whenever I have chatted with her. And if she reviews a book that I am interested in, she ALWAYS offers to let me borrow it. She is a blogger who I would totally pimp as being a fave!
And then there’s Andrea from The Bookish Babes. As far back as the beginning of my book blogging (only 6 months), I feel like she has always been around! I am always confident that she will comment on a review and I feel like we have very similar taste in books. I really like watching her vlogs. She is also a lot of fun to just chat with!
Lastly, I have to pimp Rachel from Fiktshun, Fiktshuns Ramblings and Book Bloggers Corner. She has helped me out tremendously with multiple issues! Whenever I’ve run into something negative in the blogosphere, I’ve run screaming to her for advice and she has always had the best answers for me. I also love reading her Ramblings. They all seem to say the same things that I am thinking! And I am always quick to enter her giveaways!
Dear followers, fans and peeps! Some of the books I review on Magical Urban Fantasy Reads are provided to me for free by either the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. Please know that I am in NO WAY compensated for my reviews. All opinions are mine and I am not required to give a positive review in exchange for a free book! But some of the purchase links on my blog are monetized through places like Amazon, Book Depository or Barnes & Noble.
The author I am speaking of is Jennifer Armentrout and the book that has been pirated is Half-Blood. I was given the privilege to review Half-Blood by Spencer Hill Press (see my review HERE) and I was thrilled with the book! I truly appreciate that I was given the opportunity to read and review Jennifer’s book! If you want to learn more about what had happened, Jennifer has blogged about it here: Half Blood and Pirates.
