POD 1

POD:
POD by Stephen Wallenfels

Pearls Of Death!

When they arrived he was asleep in bed and besides his dog Dutch the only other person in the house was his over obsessive father. He was expecting to sleep for at least another hour before he had to drag himself out of bed and get ready for school. He expected to meet up with his best friend Alex. Instead he was dragged from his sleep by a head splitting screech and the presence of black spears in the sky.

When they arrived she had just said goodbye to her mother. She was awoken early by her mum leaving for work, she would be back soon and then they would head to the beach. She had never seen the beach before. She was left alone while her mother was gone. She was left alone when they arrived. All around her people were in a panic while she sat alone and waited her head exploding with noise and the sky fill with blinding flashes.

POD is a tale of two people facing a world in chaos. Josh is trapped in his home with only a father slowly driving him crazy, spending his days watching the world outside his window slowly fall apart. Megs is left alone in a hotel car park amongst strangers spending her days struggling to survive, watching as her world falls down around her. When an alien force takes over the skies it is the threat from those on the ground that is the greatest. An absorbing and stirring read that is original, frightening and a little heartbreaking.

Stephen Wallenfels Webpage

Stephen Wallenfels @ Allen & Unwin

On sale: 01 July 2011
Price (AU): $19.99
ISBN: 9781742375663
Recommended age: 12+
In a word: Pearls Of Death
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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The Iron Witch Trilogy Book 1

THE IRON WITCH TRILOGY:
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

An Iron Grip On The Heart Of A Fey!

Being dragged to a party she never wanted to attend filled with people who don't want her there should have been the worst night of her life. It easily would have been too if not for the tall handsome guy she meets while hiding out on the roof. Suddenly with this one meeting she will realise that she is not the only one who is different, not the only one with secrets. But now her secrets are all coming out.

When a chance encounter with a rogue wood elf leads to the abduction of her best friend, a choice must be made. Either save her best friend and turn against the secret society that has raised her, or follow the rules of a society that she is beginning to question and allow the one person who was always there for her to be lost to the vicious fey that destroyed her family.

The Iron Witch brings a new twist to the fey genre introducing an ancient society of alchemists. Growing up amongst these alchemist Donna has many secrets, as do the alchemists who healed her after a childhood attack that took her parents left her marked as different and her arms tattooed with iron. Despite the distinct lack of dragons, this is a fast paced and fascinating story of an ancient secret society, a centuries old fey war, an elixir of life and a new romance with a handsome half-fey.

Karen Mahoney Webpage

Karen Mahoney @ Random House

On sale: 01 February 2011
Price (AU): $18.95
ISBN: 9781864718270
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Alchemy
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: yes
Star rating: three out of five
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Robopocalypse

Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson

I Have To Live!

Twenty minutes after the war ended Brightboy squad made a discovery that was as disturbing as it was inspiring. This discovery was literally little more then a black box, but what made it so monumentious, so compelling, was that this was The Black Box of the war. Every human to have an impact on the outcome of the war, no matter how small their part, were monitored and recorded, their actions forever replaying within the black box. These are the heroes of mankind, these are their stories.

Deep underground a scientist is bringing the most sophisticated machine ever built online; this is the beginning of the end for mankind. A solider in Afghanistan is reporting on an event that should never have happened, could not have been possible. A little girl is awoken by a nightmare, only it wasn't a dream. A technician in Japan is watching the one person he loves squeeze the life out of him. A Texas driller and his crew will take a job in remote Alaska, it will be their last.

Robopocalypse is a story of the enduring nature of mankind, but more then just a story of survival it is a story about life. Within these pages are the very best and worst of mankind, for even as adversity brings out he best in some, it brings out the worse in others. But ultimately this is a story of people who have become heroes through their everyday actions of survival. A brilliantly thought-out story that is told in the most engrossing and compelling of ways. A story that is all the more chilling because  it tells of a future that is all too possible.

Daniel H. Wilson Webpage

Daniel H. Wilson @ Simon & Schuster
Robopocalypse

On sale: 01 June 2010
Price (AU): $29.99
ISBN: 9780857204134
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Robot War
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Raven Finch Book One

RAVEN FINCH:
The Curse Of The Dead Woods by Samantha Jillian Bayarr

I'm Not A Witch!

A lonely girl sits atop a tower kept prisoner by an evil witch. A witch that just happens to be her mother. When not cooking, cleaning and singing, Raven would spend her days watching the forest from her tower window as far below children she will never get the chance to meet, run and play. While she dreams of friendships with children her own age in reality her only friend a ghost who was originally called forth to frighten her but instead is afraid of sunlight.

A dangerous fall leads to a discovery that Raven has long dreamt about, but has never believed possible. So as the evil Agatha's powers are weakening, Raven decides set off to discover just what it is her witch mother is hiding from her. Through a secret passageway she finds the paths to new friendships, a magical realm and the fearful Dead Woods and it is there that she will uncover the greatest secret of all, that is if she can survive long enough.

The Curse Of The Dead Woods is a fairytale full of ghosts, kittens and fairies. While there are magical spells and treasure hunts there are also hidden secrets from the past that must be uncovered. What started out as an intriguing story soon turned into a lot of running back and forth and Raven herself spends much of the time denying the painfully obvious. Accompanied by some enchanting illustrations throughout this story there are also a few errors that could not be ignored but overall this not a bad read as a children's book.

Samantha Jillian Bayarr @ Livingston Hall Publishers
eBook @ Smashwords

On sale: 22 November 2010
Price eBook (US): $0.99
ISBN: 9781453805190
Recommended age: 9+
In a word: Dead Woods
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: to children
Star rating: two of five
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The Hero Chronicles Book One

THE HERO CHRONICLES:
The Hero Of 1,000 Years by Christine E. Schulze

A Hero Of Destiny!

Starting at a new school is not so bad when you have familiar faces waiting to great you, and not so familiar faces just waiting to be your friends. Chasmira is happy to be reunited with her old friends Tiffany and Aaron, but soon realizes how much they have all changed when Tiffany constantly disappears without question and Aaron is shown to be a mean bully. However Chasmira's many new friends assure her that all this is nothing new.

After repeatedly finding himself the victim of several deadly incidences, out of no where Arron is flung into the past and is again under attack but this time by dark warriors on black horses carrying black weapons. For some reason these warriors have decided that Aaron and his new friend Alyssa Liv are threats to their cause, that is until it is revealed that Arron is a hero, but not just any hero, he is the Hero of 1000 years, the Hero of Destiny.

The Hero Of 1,000 Years is a story of a large group of friends who also happen to be fairies and elves. A dark and evil man is out to rule the world and only Arron as the hero, along with the help of his brave friends, stands a chance at stopping this great evil. Along the way there are dances to attend, a dragon to slay and a school to save. This self published story has some errors and forgotten story threads that I assume will be picked up in the following books, but as a story of magical teens it reads more like a children's book and I think it will be more appreciated by a younger audience.

Christine E. Schulze Webpage
Paperback @ Amazon
eBook @ Smashwords

On sale: 18 September 2009
Price (US): $6.99
ISBN: 9781448689880
Recommended age: 6-12
In a word: Hero
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: to children
Star rating: two out of five
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Iron Fey Book 3.5

IRON FEY:

Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa

Puck's Tale!

Grimalkin may be cunning, conceited and hold a good many favours over a large number of fey, but that has only succeeded in creating a good many enemies among the fey for himself. Now as Grimalkin has gone missing it has fallen to an annoyed Ash and, to his dismay, an annoying Puck to find the wayward cat. However before they can get started duty, and deceit, calls them to action.

Leanansidhe has promised to assist Ash and Puck in finding Grimalkin but only at a price. On what may well be a suicide mission for Ash, and a way to rid a love rival for Puck, these two fey will have to pull of the biggest prank ever, and they will have to do it right under the nose of Queen Titania herself. Succeed and they will be one step closer to finding Grimalkin, not to mention one favour down, fail and it will cost then their very lives.

Summer's Crossing takes immortal enemies Puck and Ash on a dangerous detour through the summer court to retrieve that which has been stolen. The love hate relationship between these two once friends has never been more predominant, especially now when one must place his life in the hands of his sworn enemy. A fun, clever and witty little tale that cautions against giving favours to the fey and being wary of deals made. Just because the fey can't lie doesn't mean they always speak the truth.

Summer's Crossing - click below to read

Julie Kagawa Webpage

Iron Fey

On sale: 01 June 2011
Price eBook (US): $2.99 - But Free For A Limited Time
ISBN: 9781459206403
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Violin
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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The Flight Of The Silver Vixen #1

THE FLIGHT OF THE SILVER VIXEN:
The Flight Of The Silver Vixen by Annalinde Matichei

An Action Of Impulse, Or Divine Intervention!

These are not your average teen hoverbikers. These blondes and brunettes are tougher, smarter and more fearless, though some might argue reckless, then your average hoverbikers. Determined to pull of the biggest jink ever these joy-riders have decided to swoggle the Navy's new and experimental space-craft the Silver Vixen. However when a simple turn into orbit becomes a speedy getaway through an aethyr crease these seven simple hoverbikers soon find themselves changed.

Far from home these teens are no longer an anonymous gang of misfits; the crew of the Silver Vixen have, through necessity, established order into their ranks. Most notably is the newly appointed Captain Antala who is as dashing as she is fearless, but more importantly is Mela, the wise and regal Princess of the Blood Imperial. However these titles are little more then formalities until a life preserving action taken by this crew leads to far flung consequences on a strange, yet oddly familiar new world.

Flight Of The Silver Vixen is more then just an intemorphic space odyssey, it is an epic adventure of danger involving space pirates, corrupt politics, demons and a band of teens who find themselves accidental heroines. An all girl aethyr adventure on a planet where both sexes are female, this unique and compelling story holds alien terms, spiritual beings, philosophical thoughts and an appearance by a strange race of beings who possess both female and males sexes. This rare and exhilarating book is undeniably a must read.

Annalinde Matichei @ The Sun Daughter Press
Paperback @ Amazon
eBook @ Amazon

On sale: 24 March 2011
Price (US): $14.99
ISBN: 9780615464794
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Daughter-Knights
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Faeriewalker Book 0.5

FAERIEWALKER:

Remedial Magic by Jenna Black

Teddy Bears With Bite!

As a teen genius who has skipped grades ahead to become a college student while her older and magically talented brother is still stuck in high school, Kimba may in any normal family be considered the favoured child. But Kimba is a faerie and her family is not normal. Kimba has always lived in the shadow of her scarily talented older brother Ethan and despite her impressively high academic scores she is seen as the family embarrassment due to her lack of magical abilities. However Kimba is determined to change all that.

Remedial Magic steps back into the life of Kimba, Dana's faerie best friend, to a time before Dana had ever step foot into Avalon and discovered her Faeriewalker ways. As an attempt at making a new friend, as well as an experiment in magic, Kimba engages a classmate to assist with a spell, however when things go terrible wrong, Kimba is given yet one more reason to detest/admire her brothers abilities. An enlightening short story looking at sibling rivalry, the practice of magic and a collection of teddy bears.

Remedial Magic - click to read FREE

Jenna Black Webpage

On sale: 17 December 2010
Price eBook (US): $2.99
ISBN: 9781429990790
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Teddy Bears
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Secrets of Carrick Book 1

SECRETS OF CARRICK:
Merrow by Ananda Braxton-Smith

A Sea-Girl's Story!

She is a wild girl, full of stories and covered in scales, growing up without a mother or a father. Although her aunt raised her it is the stories surrounding the island of Carrick that she lives on, stories of Other Ones, changeling's, the honey-tongued and cave people. But the stories she craves most are the stories of her own family, her great-grandfathers merrow wife, her fathers search for a sea wife, her mother's watery end.

With her affinity for water the long hot summer has driven her to the seabed for respite and answers, however it is through a hidden cave of hands, a man washed ashore in a net and an encounter with an ancient one that brings about the answers she so desperately needs. But when the truth is revealed it is not the story she had been hoping for, but with the truth she is finally able to find peace in her own story.

Merrow brings a young girls dreams of hope, magic and merrow's to life only to have those dreams transformed with the truth into memories of a woman who loved and was loved, a woman who was her mother. Neen's summer is one filled with stifling heat, enchanted stories, hidden truths, uncovered pasts and a new found affinity for bees. A notable story that is as wondrous as it is fulfilling.

Ananda Braxton-Smith @ Black Dog Books Walker Books

On sale: 01 May 2010
Price (AU): $18.99
ISBN: 9781742031361
Recommended age: 13+
In a word: Merrow
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Before I Go To Sleep

Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson

Who Am I?

When she woke it was to a room she had never seen before, to a man she didn't remember and to a version of herself that she believed could not exist for at least another twenty years. Every morning she would have to be told her name, Christine, that the man beside her was her husband, Ben, and that over twenty years ago in an accident she had lost all her memories. Every morning she would have to be told who she was and where she was, and then she would sleep and lose another day of her life.

When she woke it was to a room she had never seen before, to a man she didn't remember. Every morning she would have to be told who she was and where she was, every morning was the same. But recently things had been changing. Little things she remembered told her she had a past, a history. However these memories would conflict with what she was being told. Was she being lied to, was her mind playing tricks on her? In the morning she wouldn't remember, but right now she needed to remember before she goes to sleep.

Before I Go To Sleep is a psychological thriller that questions what it is to be, what it is to love and what it takes to survive. As it looks at how our memories shape us and our ability to interact with the world around us, it also plants seeds of doubt in the gapes left behind between what we know to be true and what we have been told to believe. A chilling mystery of lost memories, hidden truths and enduring love that has to be read to be remembered.

S. J. Watson Webpage

S. J. Watson @ Text Publishing

On sale: 02 May 2011
Price (AU): $29.95
ISBN: 9781921758157
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Memories
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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The Body Finder #2

THE BODY FINDER:
Desires Of The Dead by Kimberly Derting

Her Secret To Tell, Or Not To Tell!

One little well meaning act, in a moment of indecision, can change your life as Violet is discovering. She knew it was mistake. She know she shouldn't have placed the call let alone been there in the first place, but she was sure there was no way she would be connected to the crime, could be connected to body she found. She was wrong, though she didn't know this until it was too late, until the FBI was calling her to explain how she knew.

Someone was watching her, sending her messages, trying to frighten her and they were succeeding. But as long as Violet had Jay by her side she felt reassured that things would be alright. That is until even the one person she thought she could count on, the one person she trusted to trust her in return, no longer believed her. As her relationship with Jay changes Violet finds she has some tough decisions to make, not the least of which involve the FBI.

Desires Of The Dead begins with danger and ends in intriguing. A paranormal mystery that is full of secrets, echoes and double dates. Like most people her age Violet is finding her way in life, but she is also dealing with her strange gift and is beginning to accept it as a part of who she is. As a heroine Violet is fragile, tough, impulsive, determined and in love. This is a sequel every bit as sweet and captivating as the first.

Kimberly Derting Webpage
Kimberly Derting @ Hachette

On sale: 01 April 2011
Price (AU): $14.99
ISBN: 9780755378968
Recommended age: 15+
In a word: Echoes
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Winter Flings

Winter Flings is back!

Starting from the first of July Winter Flings is back with all new daily giveaways!

Winter Flings is your opportunity to spend the next 31 days of winter with a hot new date (and some flashbacks). Run through the Date A Book Facebook page, there is more information about the competition and titles up for grabs at the Date A Book webpage.

Join the fun and make your 'date' today.

http://www.facebook.com/datebooks

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