Wednesday, November 26, 2014

The Black Tower by Steven Montano {Blog Tour: Review}


Today's the day. The final day of The Black Tower Blog Tour and I get to wrap things up with a review of the last book in this trilogy. It is always honor to work with Steven Montano. He is not only an incredibly talented author, but he is also a great friend. I am definitely glad I met him on the Twitterverse some one and a half years ago. Now let's get on with it.

Please make sure you enter to win the signed paperback copy of Vampire Down at the bottom of this post. Miss the other posts on the tour? Check out the schedule here.

*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Blurb:
War returns to Malzaria in this epic conclusion to The Skullborn Trilogy. 
Deep in the wastes called the Bonelands, rival crime guilds and renegade Bloodspeakers battle through the ruined streets of Corinth.  At the heart of the doomed city lies a magical portal which grants access to the dark citadel of Chul Gaerog, wherein lie the secrets of the long dead Blood Queen.
 
Armies amass to the south as powerful forces from the Jlantrian and Den'nari Empires make ready to clash with the monstrous Black Army and its frightful leader, the black giant called Ghul, agent of the Cabal and ally of the dreaded Iron Count.

And deep in the heart of the black tower, the dream witch Ijanna Taivorkan comes face-to-face with the dark angel Calladar, once guardian to the Blood Queen and self-appointed master of the citadel.  Only the fallen knight Azander Dane can help her survive her trials, but first he must face the demons of his past, as well as a merciless squad of Jlantrian hunters sent to destroy the woman he's sworn to protect...

Return to a world of dark magic, tainted heroes and dark plots in this action-packed sequel to City of Scars and Path of Bones.


My Review~

What can I say about The Black Tower? No, seriously, what can I say? Maybe shorter would be better here because there really isn't much I can say without giving something away, so let me say this.

The Black Tower was one action sequence after another. Again author Steven Montano dazzled me with his ability to weave incredible action into his well developed and complex story. There is no possible way for you to get bored in this book. The story is constantly moving forward, moving to that destination that only the author knows. That deep dark secret that you know in your gut to be true, the one that maybe you don't want to face or accept. And that's just one thing that makes this book so exciting. There are things, dark things occurring in this book. And each of these actions or events leads to the one thing that could mean the end of everything. 

Like the other books in the series we follow multiple characters and story lines as they all converge on each other. As the reader you know this is going to happen from the minute you read City of Scars and with each page of each book the tension builds, until finally it all comes together in one epic ending. Was it a satisfying ending? Well maybe, but this really isn't the end of this series, so I expected that. I didn't expect sunshine and rainbows when this book ended.

Steven Montano has incredible talent for building amazing worlds, that are easily imagined allowing his readers to become completely immersed in the story. He understands the fine art of giving the reader just enough information to build a world in their imagination. A talent that is hard to find.

The Black Tower will make you bite your nails, cringe, and maybe even wish you could unsee those things you envisioned when you devoured the words on the page. It is a non-stop thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end and is a true Fantasy tale that will definitely fill your bookish appetite. 


"All the measure of his worth, all he'd done to redeem himself, and again the need for him came down to his capacity to slaughter." (kindle, loc. 4820)

This is just one example of why I love the main character Azander Dane. He is unlike most main characters. He isn't the perfect hero. He has a dark past and struggles to make amends for his crimes. He is a hero on a path to redemption, his just isn't an easy path.





About the Author:
Steven Montano is an author, geek, and accountant.  He also spends way too much time drinking wine, hiking, and watching bad 80s movies.
 
Steven is the author of the Blood Skies series, the Skullborn Trilogy, and something black... 
His upcoming novels are The Last Acolyte, the first novel in the military sci-fi/space opera sequence The Rike Chronicles; The Alchemist, the first in the paranormal action Tooth & Claw series; and Colder, a mystery/thriller. 
Steve and his family live in Michigan.  They’re still wondering how they got there.
 
Find out more at http://steven-montano.com/ 

Stalk Him: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

~Giveaway~



Goodreads Book Giveaway

Vampire Down by Steven Montano

Vampire Down

by Steven Montano

Giveaway ends December 10, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to win


Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Anomaly by Tonya Kuper {Book Blitz}


Blurb~
Anomaly (Schrodinger's Consortium #1)
by Tonya Kuper
Release Date: 11/25/14
Entangled Teen


Summary from Goodreads:
Reality is only an illusion.
Except for those who can control it…

Worst. Birthday. Ever.
My first boyfriend dumped me – happy birthday, Josie!- my dad is who knows where, I have some weird virus that makes me want to hurl, and now my ex is licking another girl’s tonsils. Oh, and I’m officially the same age as my brother was when he died. Yeah, today is about as fun-filled as the swamps of Dagobah. But then weird things start happening…
Like I make something materialize just by thinking about it.
When hot badass Reid Wentworth shows up on a motorcycle, everything changes. Like, everything. Who I am. My family. What really happened to my brother. Existence. I am Oculi, and I have the ability to change reality with my thoughts. Now Reid, in all his hotness, is charged with guiding and protecting me as I begin learning how to bend reality. And he’s the only thing standing between me and the secret organization that wants me dead…

~Excerpt~

Cut Scene from ANOMALY by Tonya Kuper
-told from Reid’s POV-
I walked a few feet to the studio, Josie followed and stood in the doorway. She looked totally drained.  “Really?”


“Yup.” I sat and patted the floor next to me, which earned me an eye roll.
She plopped down, not making eye contact. “Where’s Hannah?” I whispered.


Still not looking at me, she carefully placed her water and towel in their exact places, and checked her phone. “She’s not gonna make it tonight.”


“Mmmm. Lucky you then.” I pointed to the sign on the door. “It’s partner night.”


Josie’s face swung to mine, her eyebrows arched high. I gave her a “suck it” smile.
The class started with slow stretching, working our way up to sun salutations. It was hard for me to concentrate. I watched Josie lower herself to the floor with control and strength, hover just above the mat then thrust her hips forward into upward dog, pushing her back into a beautiful arch.


Holy hell.


The instructor turned the music down with the remote control and said, “Find your partner for the night, the one who will help you identify if we are engaging your core.” She switched the music to a contemporary song with a heavy beat, far from our usual flute and steel drums yoga tunes.


Josie, still avoiding my gaze, got into Warrior I position, her front knee bent and arms reaching for the ceiling. The yoga teacher instructed us to first check the position as a whole before moving onto the abs. Partners, all women, stood behind the other placing their hands on the others hip bones, making sure they pointed forward. Moving behind Josie, I straddled her extended leg, watching her back expand and contract as she breathed. Easing closer, I slid my hands around to the front of her hips. Josie dragged in a rugged breath as I leaned into her. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to stop the dizziness initiated by her gardenia perfume and surge of energy rushing through my veins. The very essence and proximity of Josie gave me a natural high. Opening my eyes, I was surprised to find Josie’s irises locked on mine, almost daring me.


The instructor weaved through the yogi pairs. “Let’s check to make sure those ribs aren’t popping out. We want the abdominals fully engaged, not letting the torso arch or break.” She illustrated on a student and expected us to the do same to our partners.


Josie focused on the front of the room as my right hand skimmed over her tank, just under her chest. My fingers drifted over her ribs to her stomach, my lips close to her ear. “You’re connected,” I whispered.


Her intense gaze hung on mine in the mirror as my hand hesitated over her navel, my chest pushed against her back. For a moment, my heart and breath stopped. Time seemed to slow and the world around slipped away. It was in her eyes – questions and confusion, but also a longing, a burning, a desperation. She felt the electricity between us, the intangible, undefinable something that drew us to each other. Every nerve ending in my body burned.


“Switch,” the instructor yelled.


Josie’s body flinched under me and her cheeks darkened, a sliver of smile playing on her lips. She cleared her throat and turned her head toward my face so my nose, lips, and chin brushed her cheek. Then she stepped out of her stance, away from me.


Facing me, she smiled. “You’re turn, pretty boy.”



I settled into the position. Josie’s warm hands swept over my shoulders and pulled down. I was not prepared for her hands to be anywhere besides my stomach.


“Relax,” she whispered behind me. “Pull down your latissimi dorsi muscles, it’ll create more space between your shoulders and ears.” Two fingers skated down my lats on each side, making my spine straighten more and the air in my lungs rush out in surprise.


Her unabashed hands wrapped around my hips, her fingers searching for the edge of the hip bones. Once she literally held my hips in her hands, she twisted them to the front of the room in one quick, rough motion. My blood was sure to boil and cook me from the inside out.


Her hot hand shot over my ribs, her fingers spread wide then crept down my shirt to my lower abs. She popped up to her tip toes and whispered, “Your ribs aren’t popping. It feels engaged. Do you feel the connection?”


Keeping my body directed to the mirror in front of us, I watched her. “You have no. I. Dea.” I turned my head over my shoulder and she was right there, our noses almost touching. I could feel her chest expanding faster against my back as her lips parted ever so slightly. Her always serious, calculating face waivered for a second, like when it was her turn. I wasn’t sure what I’d caught a glimpse of, but I liked it.


The rest of class continued, Josie avoiding more contact at all costs. I now had a new goal in addition to everything else: Make whatever flashed across Josie’s face appear more often.

About the Author~
Tonya Kuper's debut, ANOMALY, the first in the Schrodinger's Consortium young adult scifi trilogy, releases November 2014 by Entangled Teen. She lives in Omaha, NE with her two rad boys and husband, is a music junkie, and a chocolate addict. Star Wars & Sherlock fan.


Find Her: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

~Giveaway~


Prize Pack 1

Prize Pack 2

Prize Pack 3

Prize Pack 4

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