Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner

Author: James Dashner

Publisher: Chicken House

Release date: June 2014 for my edition (originally released Oct 2009)

Genre: YA Dystopian

No.pages: 371

Synopsis

When the lift cranks open, the only thing Thomas remembers is his first name. But he's not alone - an army of boys welcomes him to the Glade, an encampment at the centre of a terrible maze.


The Gladers have no idea why they're there, or what's happened to the world outside. All they know is that every morning when the walls slide back, they will risk everything to find out.

Keep reading to see my review!

Last Minute Gift Guide Part 3: for Fans of YA Books

Welcome to the third part of my last minute gift guide, which focuses on gifts for fans of YA books like The Hunger Games, Divergent and Maze Runner series.

Below are some of my recommendations for YA book merchandise that you should be able to get hold of quickly in-store or through Amazon Prime next-day delivery.

Happy Shopping!

Book Review: Meritropolis by Joel Ohman

Title: Meritropolis

Author: JoelOhman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Release date: September 8th 2014.

Genre: YA Dystopian

No.pages: 226

Synopsis

The year is AE3, 3 years after the Event. Within the walls of Meritropolis, 50,000 inhabitants live in fear, ruled by the brutal System that assigns each citizen a merit score that dictates whether they live or die. Those with the highest scores thrive, while those with the lowest are subject to the most unforgiving punishment—to be thrust outside the city gates, thrown to the terrifying hybrid creatures that exist beyond.

But for one High Score, conforming to the System just isn’t an option. Seventeen-year-old Charley has a brother to avenge. And nothing—not even a totalitarian military or dangerous science—is going to stop him.

Where humankind has pushed nature and morals to the extreme, Charley is amongst the chosen few tasked with exploring the boundaries, forcing him to look deep into his very being to discern right from wrong. But as he and his friends learn more about the frightening forces that threaten destruction both without and within the gates, Meritropolis reveals complexities they couldn’t possibly have bargained for…

Book Blitz: Impervious by Heather Letto, with excerpt and giveaways!

Today I'm taking part in the blitz for the YA dystopian novel Impervious by Heather Letto.
Keep reading to discover the synopsis, read an excerpt and enter the giveaways to win ebook and signed copies of Impervious and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Book Blitz: Numbers Game by Rebecca Rode with author Q & A and giveaways!

Today I'm excited to be taking part in the blog tour for the YA dystopian novel Numbers Game by Rebecca Rode.

Keep reading to discover the synopsis, read a Q & A with the author and enter the giveaways for a chance to win a Kindle fire and an ebook copy of Numbers Game!

2014 End of the Year Book Survey

Once again I'm taking part in the 5th Annual End of the Year Book Survey hosted by Jamie at The Pepetual Page Turner.

I love reflecting on what I've read at this time of year. 2014 has been a busy year for me socially, so I haven't read as much as I would have liked to, but I'm still proud of what I've managed.

 If you'd like to take part, head on over to the blog and join up with the linky. Feel free to post a comment below and I'll visit your blog.

Banned Books Week: Which Outlawed Books have you Read?

As you may have heard, this week is Banned Books Week, an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. It's about celebrating the books that have been challenged, restricted and outright forbidden in some parts of the world.

According to the American Library Association, more than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982. A challenge is an attempt to ban or restrict materials based upon the objections of a person or group. When books are banned, they are removed from libraries and schools and people's access to them is restricted, so it's a type of censorship. Books have been challenged or banned for all sorts of reasons, including their sexual or violent content and religious or political messages.

The Sending Book Blast + $50 Giveaway!

Today I'm very excited to introduce you to The Sending, a YA dystopian novel by Jandy Salguero.

About the Book

A city's peace is shattered when two university students go missing, and only Daneel and his friends know the shocking truth of what happened. Finding themselves under attack, Daneel leads them in a race to escape the mounting violence.

Mara is willing to kill for the beliefs of the faction that raised her. But as she seeks out her mark, using a rare, mystical form of travel known as the Sending, Mara discovers a powerful connection that challenges the truth of everything she’s been taught.

While Daneel fights to protect those he cares for, Mara must choose whether to cling to the ideology of her home—or open her scarred heart to a searing attraction and the promise of a new life.

Praise for The Sending

The Sending reads like a dystopian Romeo and Juliet where strong, full characters from very different places inevitably collide with passion and conflict. Salguero fills a fresh, vibrant world with a nerve-tingling fast plot. Prepare to be immersed.

~Tamara Ward, author of Hidden Betrayal

The Sending is a thrilling, fast-paced, science fiction-romance that's impossible to put down. Edge-of-your-seat action scenes, and a romantic attraction so intense that it will make you want to turn down the air conditioning, The Sending is a great read that left me hungry for more. I loved this book!

~Sterling R. Walker, author of The Orphan Ship

Purchase Your Copy

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Keep reading to discover an excerpt from the book, author info and giveaway for a $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash!

Cover Reveal: Walled by Anne Tibbets

Today I'm hosting an exciting cover reveal for Walled by Anne Tibbets, coming from Carina Press (HQN) in December. Walled is a New Adult book in the Dystopian genre and is the 2nd book in The Line series, following on from The Carrier.

Synopsis

Freedom means brutal choices.

Rebel lovers Naya and Ric have survived one year in hiding, raising Naya’s twins from infants to toddlers in the shadow of the brutal Auberge dictatorship. They’re alive, and they’re together, but the city is crumbling around them and the haunting memory of Naya’s dark days on The Line have never fully left them. Living in isolation won’t be an option forever.

When a mysterious revolutionary seeks their help to infiltrate Auberge’s electronic heart and shut it down, it’s an opportunity—it’s risky, yes, but if it works they’ll get out of the city and taste freedom for the first time. Naya needs this. They need this.

Beyond the broken walls of Auberge, Naya and Ric find the paradise they’ve always longed for. But with anarchy reigning and Naya’s children lost amidst the chaos, they’ll need to forfeit their post-apocalyptic Eden…or commit an unspeakable act.

Be sure to add Walled to your Goodreads 'to read' shelf!

Ready to see the stunning new cover? Click on 'read more' for the big reveal!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'd Give To Readers Who Have Never Read Dystopian Fiction

Today is Top Ten Tuesday, a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!  Every week they post a new top ten list and everyone can join in and share their own picks. If you'd like to take part, hop on over to the blog and sign up with the linky. If you don't have a blog, feel free to post your answers in the comments.

This week's topic is: Books I'd Give To Readers Who Have Never Read X. I've chosen Dystopian fiction.

Top Ten Tuesday: Worlds I'd Never Want to Live In

Today is Top Ten Tuesday, a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!  Every week they post a new top ten list and everyone can join in and share their own picks. If you'd like to take part, hop on over to the blog and sign up with the linky. If you don't have a blog, feel free to post your answers in the comments.

This week's topic is: Worlds I'd Never Want to Live in.

Waiting on Wednesday (12)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I can't wait for:

Allegiant by Veronica Roth- 

22nd Oct 2013

One Question Q&A Blog Tour with Gennifer Albin

Today Creative Therapy is the next stop in the One Question Q&A Tour featuring Gennifer Albin, author of Crewel. During the tour, ten bloggers will each be posting a question for Gennifer Albin to answer. Crewel was released on 16th Oct (check out my release day post) and you can purchase a copy here.

Divergent Casting News and Fan Art

If you're a big fan of Divergent by Veronica Roth, you will have heard that a movie is in the making for 2014 and will have probably put quite a lot of thought into who your ideal cast would be. Fans have suggested actresses such as Saorise Ronan (YES!) and Taissa Farmiga to play Tris, and actors like Steven R McQueen (Jeremy in The Vampire Diaries) and Max Irons to play Four.

But this weekend it's been announced that Shailene Woodley is in final negotiations to play Tris. This has sparked a lot of heated debate among fans on various facebook groups, many of whom disagree with the casting choice because of her 'un-Tris-like' appearance. I admit that when I first saw a pic of her, I thought "What? No way! She looks nothing like Tris!" Then I realised that it's nothing a bit of hair dye and eye contacts can't sort out. I've not seen her in a film before, but she has had good reviews for the part she played in The Descendants alongside George Clooney. At the end of the day, the acting ability of the person who gets the role of Tris matters more to me than their appearance, and I'm hopeful that Woodley will do a good job.

Crewel Release Day Tour and Scavenger Hunt!

Today I'm excited to announce that Gennifer Albin's debut novel, Crewel, hits the shelves! Visit Amazon to purchase a copy of this unique book-you won't be disappointed. Today, several members of the Soul Spinsters Street Team will be posting reviews and details of the scavenger hunt taking place in which you could win a box set of ARC Fierce Read Titles!

Crewel Street Team Update (3) Book Trailer

 My Crewel street team, team Time Warpers are now through to round three, which ends on Oct 13th. As I'm part of the blog tour I'll be recieving a copy of the book any time now and I can't wait to read it! I also have another copy on preorder which I plan to use in a giveaway for you guys! When I've read it I'll post up the review and start taking snaps of it in all kinds of wacky places to earn more points for my team. Also I'll be taking part in Gennifer Albin's 'twenty questions' tour on Monday 8th, so do look out for that.   

Crewel Street Team Update (2) Fan Art

As you may have heard on twitter or facebook, I'm part of the street team promoting Gennifer Albin's upcoming YA novel, Crewel. I'm pleased to say that my team, Time Warpers, managed to get through round one and are busy earning more points for round two, which ends on 1st October.

Today I did some fan art based on the book.

Crewel Street Team Update (1) T Shirt Design

I'm so thrilled to be on the Soul Spinsters street team to promote Gennifer Albin's upcoming novel Crewel. For the past week I've been taking part in a number of challenges to promote the book and it's been so much fun. Today I designed a T-shirt to show my team spirit.

POLL: Which of Crewel's covers is your favourite?

Which is your favourite cover design for Gennifer Albin's upcoming novel, Crewel? Take a look and vote below.

Crewel Street Team

Today I was excited to find out that I've been picked to be part of the Crewel Street Team, meaning I'll be helping to promote Gennifer Albin's upcoming novel Crewel, due to be released this October. My fellow team mates and I will be helping to spread the word about the book on our social networking sites and blogs, and it seems like it's going to be a lot of fun.

I haven't been lucky enough to get hold of an ARC of Crewel, but my copy is on pre-order from Amazon and I cannot wait to read it!