Starters and Enders #0.5

STARTERS AND ENDERS:

Portrait Of A Starter: An Unhidden Story by Lissa Price

A Drawing Of Things To Come!

   

When he first put pencil to paper it was to capture her likeness, to capture the essence of a girl he knew and trusted. In this new world after the war there was little that was for curtain anymore but this was, she was. Until his curiosity and protective nature got the better of him and he realized that maybe he didn't know her as well as he thought. When he had finally finished her likeness he realized that he captured more them just an image of a girl, it was a portrait of a starter.

Portrait Of A Starter is Michael's perspective of life as a sixteen year old in this post war world. It is a world where the Enders, those who are over sixty, have it all while the Starters, those who are under twenty, are left to live on the streets or worse in institutions with nothing more then what they can beg, borrow or steal. It is an introduction to a unique dystopian world, an introduction to boy living with nothing more then what he can draw, an introduction to a girl with secrets.

Lissa Price Webpage

Lissa Price @ Random House

On sale: 14 February 2012
Price eBook (AU): $2.95
ISBN: 9781448121304
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Portrait
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Tova Gallagher #1

TOVA GALLAGHER:

Ecstatic Evil by Amanda McNeil

It's Good To Be A Little Bad!

Tova would be your average country girl moved to the city to own and run a book store with her best friend if it wasn't for a few small but crucial details. Her father was a demon making her a half-demon, or halvesies as they are known, and for her whole life she has been visited by two guides, one her cousin Bartleby who also happens to be a demon and the other a fairie named Fay.

It has been Bartleby and Fays' job to convince Tova to choose a side and the time has come for Tova to make a decision. Either join the side of 'good' and let the fairies help her suppress the demon within or join the 'evil' demons and embrace her dark side, denying her humanity but still getting to keep her demonic powers. With not just her own soul at stake but the future of all humanities, Tova had better make the right decision.

Ecstatic Evil is the first in a new series of serial books that is to have new entries published ever few months. An exciting, sexy, short story that easily fits into your day. Full of demons, fairies, werewolves, magic and a hot, steamy romance, this little tale will leave you wondering just what is in store next for this devilish new heroine.

eBook @ Amazon

On sale: 07 July 2011
Price eBook (US): $0.99
ASIN: B005C1AMK0
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Tova
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: probably
Star rating: three out of five
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The Narrow Escapes of Ves Asirin #1

THE NARROW ESCAPES OF VES ASIRIN:

Tower Of Parlen Min by Matt Xell

Can He Escape 'The Shadow'?

Ves is a boy with no past and no memory. Before the orphanage there is no record of his life or where he came from. He himself has no memories of his life before the orphanage, nor has he any memories of the previous years, months, weeks or days. Ves suffers from a rare condition that wipes his mind clean every 10 to 15 hours. Without his scrapbook to remind him of who he is, where he is, he would not remember anything at all.

With the opportunity of a life time to visit the Tower of Parlen Min, Ves finds himself thrown into a world of new friends, extreme challenges, werewolves, witches, ghosts, murderers and a chance to win twelve million dollars in the Sword Challenge. However surviving the Sword Challenge will be nothing compared to surviving the serial killer stalking the inhabitant's surrounding the Tower.

The Tower Of Parlen Min is an epic children's story with violence, death and a lot of history lessons. For a story of a boy with a faulty memory who happens to be somewhat of a daredevil, he has no trouble remembering when he needs too. Through all the danger Ves faces and puts himself through he comes through little scathed but in a curious position. A very long and jam-packed story that's not too bad for a self published story.

eBook @ Smashwords
Ves Asirin

On sale: 23 July 2010
Price eBook (US): $2.99
ASIN: B0058EALC0
Recommended age: 14-18
In a word: Ves
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: possibly
Star rating: two out of five
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The Story Of Solomon Bear

The Story Of Solomon Bear by Phillip Laird

All You Need Is Love!

On the edge of a magical forest sits a lonely house that is under a spell. A spell of forgetting. All who dwell within this house have fallen under its spell, all that is but one girl and her teddy bear, Solomon. While the others living in the house have forgotten kindness, happiness and most importantly the power of love, one girl and her bear have promised to keep love alive.

The others living in the house pay little attention the girl and Solomon. Although left alone the girl is never lonely, not like the others, for the girl and Solomon are bound by an unbreakable bond of unconditional love. But when the worse happens and the girl leaves the house, something that no one must ever do for it is far too dangerous, Solomon is left alone to find a way to bring home the girl he loves.

The Story Of Solomon Bear is a short romantic fable of the courage of one special bear and his ability to love. The greater complexities of love, belonging and friendship are explored through the tender and heartfelt relationship of a girl and her bear. Although the in-depth look at these themes may be a little over the heads of smaller children, they and adults alike will enjoy reading this tale over and over, each time taking away something more and something precious.

eBook @ Smashwords
Beloved Teddy Bear

On sale: 14 June 2011
Price eBook (US): $3.95
ASIN: B0053ZMPJ6
Recommended age: 6+
In a word: Love
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Mommy, Where Do Baby Unicorns Come From?

Mommy, Where Do Baby Unicorns Come From?

by Renee Adams

 

But Unicorns Don't Exist!

It is the one question that she could ever dread coming from the mouth of her daughter, the one question that she was hoping to avoid, and the one question she never wanted her little girl to discover the answer to. But when her five year old daughter asked this question her heart froze, "Mommy, Where Do Baby Unicorns Come From?"

When she first spotted the horse, the horse that had a horn on it head, she was enchanted. It was beautiful and magical and for some reason no one else seemed to notice it there on the other side of the fence; no one believed it to be real. But here it was, the brightest white with a horn on its forehead, and it made her wonder. If there exists a grown unicorn it must have once been a baby. But just where did it come from?

Mommy, Where Do Baby Unicorns Come From? is a short and bittersweet tale of one mothers anxiety to explain, or avoid explaining, to her innocent daughter the dark and heartbreaking truth of where baby unicorns come from. A story of one girl learning just how it is unicorns can exist and how in a heartbeat life can change forever. Not so much a story for children, this powerful and beautifully haunting short story is one that will stay with you.

Mommy, Where Do Baby Unicorns Come From? - click for FREE ebook

Renee Adams Webpage
eBook @ Smashwords

On sale: 28 March 2011
Price eBook (US): $- Free
ISBN: 2940011254734
Recommended age: 9+
In a word: Innocense
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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The Steampunk Chronicles 0.5

THE STEAMPUNK CHRONICLES:

The Strange Case Of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

'Normal Girls Don't Have Something Inside Them That Makes Them Capable Of Remarkably Violent Things'

Being thrown unceremoniously out of a house closely followed by your carpetbag is no way to be fired. Although when you hit a governess so hard she's sent flying across the room without half of her teeth, well one can hardly blame others for thinking her the spawn of Satan and dismissing her without a reference. And so left on the streets with nowhere else to go Finley returns home to her mothers.

Finley is hardly home a day when a job opportunity lands in her lap. However why Lady Morton, a friend of her former employer, is happy to take her on knowing the circumstances of her termination is beyond her. But despite her reservations and the mystery surrounding her new employment, Finley is happy working for Lady Morton. That is until she discovers the sinister reasons behind a Lord Vincent's actions.

The Strange Case Of Finley Jayne is a compact yet feisty story of a girl who is unlike other girls. Finley is intelligent, bold and strong. Incredibly strong. She also has an other self that takes her over in times of stress and anger. As an introduction to the world of automatons, high society and mad scientist, this is the perfect prequel to the Girl in Steel Corset and if it's any indication of things to come, the Steampunk Chronicles should every bit as dark and exciting as this.

The Strange Case Of Finley Jayne - click for FREE ebook

Kady Cross Webpage

On sale: 01 May 2011
Price eBook (US): $2.99 - But Free For A Limited Time
ISBN: 9781459204140
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Finley
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four 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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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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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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Banana Kiss

Banana Kiss by Bonnie Rozanski

Crazy In Love!

There are voices in her head, voices no one else can hear. They tell her not to believe Whitecoat, not to believe anyone but them. They tell her she is God and they are right. She is God. She created the world, by observing the world she allows it to exist, and yet people do as they please without her commanding them. But this too is her doing for she created free will.

Whitecoat tells her that the voices in head are not real, that they do not exist. But if they do not exist, if they are not real, then how can she hear them in her head? Whitecoat tells her that she should trust him, that he is here to help her. But being asked 'how she feels' about everything does not feel like help, waking up in a fog and being strapped to a bed does not feel like help.

Sometimes when the voices in her head contradict the voices without it is difficult at times to know who to listen to, who to believe. With medication the voices in her head quieten but she does not feel herself. Without medication she is free to be herself but finds it difficult to know who she is with so many voices in her head telling her who she should be.

Banana Kiss is a story of Robin, a girl who has lost herself amongst the voices in her head, a girl who converses with her long dead father on visits he makes into her mind. Robin has had to deal with a number of losses in her life. Disappointments and heartaches have left her broken, despondent and disenchanted with those who have claimed to love her. Through betrayal, love, death and pills Robin must find a way let go of her past if she is to have hope for the future.

eBook @ Amazon

On sale: 08 December 2010
Price eBook (US): $2.99
ISBN: 9780889842762
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Voices
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Iron Fey Book 1.5

IRON FEY:

Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa

Who's Afraid Of The... !

Having made a deal with Ash, the fey Winter Prince, to return with him to the palace of the Winter fey in return for his help in rescuing her brother Ethan from the Iron fey, Meghan, having had only a moment to say goodbye to her home and family, is once again entering the faery world of the Nevernever.

With Ash as her guide the journey to the fey Winter Palace should have been a simple one, however things get complicated when they find that they are being followed. One of the most ancient, feared and deadly beings to inhabit faery is after Meghan and not even Ash with all his powers will be able to stop this beast. But even if they survive Meghan may still lose the Winter Prince she loves.

Winter's Passage is non stop action from start to finish, picking up exactly where The Iron King ended. Therefore I highly recommend you read that first as this novella draws heavily from that first book in this series. Here we learn that there is more to faery land then just faeries, as ancient beasts of fairy tales are just as real and dangerous than any troll or redcap you may come across in any bar or nightclub.

Winter's Passage - click below to read

Julie Kagawa Webpage

Iron Fey

On sale: 01 June 2010
Price eBook (US): $2.99 - But Free For A Limited Time
ISBN: 9781426858321
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Snow
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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