Book Promo [#16]: Gethyon (a Sci-Fi snack!)

I have yet another book for you to feast your eyes upon... OK, it's not the whole book but what kind of book blogger would I be if I didn't let you soak in that cover? I'm a tease, OK? But you might like to read this book by the twitter-wandering Pippa Jay, like all authors- she wants us to read her book. But why should you? Let me tell you about it & you can decide for yourself. I don't like to dictate ;)

Thanks Pippa for allowing us this post today! Without any other yabbering...

BURST

 RELEASED 3rd June 2013!
Series: ý 
Gethyon is a young adult sci-fi, with a hint of romance and a male protagonist, you will be drawn to its pages... 

  

HIS father died. His mother abandoned him. In the depths of space, darkness seeks him. Abandoned by his mother after his father’s death, Gethyon Rees feels at odds with his world and longs to travel the stars. But discovering he has the power to do so leaves him scarred for life. Worse, it alerts the Siah-dhu—a dark entity that seeks his kind for their special abilities—to his existence, and sets a bounty hunter on his trail. When those same alien powers lead Gethyon to commit a terrible act, they also aid his escape. Marooned on the sea-world of Ulto Marinos, Gethyon and his twin sister must work off their debt to the Seagrafter captain who rescued them while Gethyon puzzles over their transportation. How has he done this? And what more is he capable of? Before he can learn any answers, the Wardens arrive to arrest him for his crime. Can his powers save him now? And where will he end up next?  ~Geython, published by BURST Buy elsewhere: Amazon UK | Omnilit | B&N

About The Author: Pippa Jay
 S pippajay.co.uk website ¦ Facebook  ¦ Twitter ¦ Goodreads ¦ Blog ¦ Amazon  S

Adventures in Scifi...

A stay-at-home mum of three who spent twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay bases her stories on a lifetime addiction to science-fiction books and films. Somewhere along the line a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moments trying to learn guitar, indulging in freestyle street dance and drinking high-caffeine coffee. Although happily settled in historical Colchester in the UK with her husband of 20 years, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.

Writing science fiction with a romantic soul...


So, someone needs to read it? Will it be YOU? What are you waiting for? It may never happen... Don't wait. Just read.
It may not be in your name, but it's in mine.
Amy Bookworm

Reviewing... [57] Anthem for Jackson Dawes

I just gotta write this somewhat 'bleh' (that's bleh, not blah, but... yeah) review cos I don't like having reviews hanging over my head but also, ones which aren't the most positive? They suck even more to hang on to. I feel so bad for only liking this with a little chunk of my heart when it's been written with such... seriousness. It should have been an emotional overload of a book...

Reviewing... [57] Source: Bought as kindle edition :) Publisher: Bloomsbury (in most cases) Author: Celia Bryce  Genre Recommendations: Not really sure, I partly liked this but... it's not one I found really worth reading.

But it wasn't. It's about cancer, guys. Touching stuff & I do feel sorry for Megan, I really do... With cancer & put on a baby's ward? But I feel like it wore off. There was only so much relating you could do to someone who just seemed... Cold. I don't think it's as she's a horrible character, maybe its the characterisation? We're supposed to like this girl, feel sorry for her. She was flat and didn't have the emotions I'd picture about half the time. Maybe some people would find it accurate but I couldn't process how she came across. We didn't really get an explanation why she was like that. It's annoying enough in real life but here? Why not? Cancer's not a reason. People react differently. Is this a generalisation? I just felt like the thoughts weren't justified- totally unfair. It made me empathize with others more than her.

The book shouldn't have been about that. It was about falling in love too, about friendships... So many things I think which could've been developed more. I don't just want to complain.

The issues I shall come back to but I liked that:

Other cancer patients were explored & not all for romantic reasons. I felt as if Kipper's personality was explained better (even though it was mainly from Megan's perspective so she could have been affecting it, but we expect to get her spin on things & it was one of the best bits for getting into Megan's head & not feeling like a stranger. I remember the playdough scene so well ;) Definitely one of the bits I believe I liked.

Jackson was for romantic reasons but he'd be a great friend too, someone who just brightens the ward for all in it; he was a great influence. It showed Bryce can great brilliant characters. Just, the only ones which I like aren't like Megan, but have cancer in common. I see the attraction between them both... it's convenience mainly though, at first. Both the only teens, both don't want to be stuck in such a boring ward... It really makes you think about the work- outside of books- to support those with cancer. The Teenage Cancer Trust often build wards just for teens. It's not just cancer though, which affects teens.

I'm not bored of the cancer stories though, yet. One factor in reading this which must have had an impact, it simply must, is hearing things along the lines of "UKYA TFIOS"... Why does anyone make this claim?

In hindsight, I've now checked the Goodreads rating. Average is around 3 & a half stars. No, it's not comparable. I haven't even read TFIOS but no- don't compare them.

I hope some people actually look at that rating and think- what do you want from this book? Do you want a mix of experiences and emotions? Do you want the book to take you on a journey which ends with happy and sad? It has them. But do you expect to cry? I didn't; you might. It clearly doesn't have the same odds as an aforementioned book I'm gonna shut up about (I don't know if I'll read it, what if once again I'm possibly missing something?)... I just wish I could eradicate that total influence. This book wasn't all it was cracked up to be. There are flaws that I'd still notice, anyway. One little bug I had was, while the author's writing style was mostly fantastic, the grammar wasn't English as I know it. Mum reckons it's Irish but I don't even know if it should be for that author. It's not an offence to anybody who uses 'Will I?' etc. instead of 'Should I?' when asking if you would like them to do something. That's the example that stands out and did disrupt my reading a bit. It shouldn't have confused me as much as it did, right? Well, tough luck. It did, sucks and all.
Mostly, Bryce wrote a good book. This isn't condemning, many enjoyed it more than I. It had good bits, I've said. I was expecting a dashing book to blow my mind. It didn't even separate one neuron of my brain from another... It was just readable, a bit enjoyable, rather interesting and had sad points too. Some may call it a rollercoaster, I'd prefer to just call it a journey and as it's my review...
I'm confused. I know I liked it somewhat...

End of the day... leave it at:

Amy Bookworm (@Amy_Bookworm) rated this book:

Book haul (#8)

This is the indie edition as I think most of what I've downloaded recently has been indie... Having said that I've never actual participated in...

This meme is run by Tynga's Reviews.
This week I have stacked my shelves (quite literally).

Oh look! What's that? I'm getting a haul..
Mum took this as I was opening some- I was just looking at Curious Fox's goodies :)

But before I get into the parcels, these are from book swaps/gifts given at OUP by the bloggers there! Thanks Julianne for The Butterfly Tattoo, Kerrie for The Ghost & the Goth, Orli for Ketchup Clouds & Fiona for the Numbers Trilogy. I haven't read the top three so am looking forward to those :) ((I've linked to their blogs, not Twitters :P))

We also got books from OUP themselves at the event- you can see the beauties above! I got Who Framed Klaris Cliff signed, as well as my proof copy of Storm & Stone. I loved the event for many reasons (the books helped- especially for ice-breaking).

I got these books from a library sale at school. I'm not a huge fan (mainly of the noise levels in there) but these cost me 20p altogether and it was a chance I couldn't miss so I don't regret buying them! I bought more books but we'll get to that...

(Sorry it's a weird photo BTW- its just I don't want to show the library stickers & bits.)

Well, there's this new Sarra Manning which I won- thanks to Goodreads' First Reads Giveaway Program. Atom provided the book for the giveaway so thanks for that... It was a fantastic opportunity to receive it :)

Returning to the opening of the review books... TA-DA! Look, it;s the CF catalogue as well. I'm really looking forward to reading their May release Alex As Well. I also have shown you the sampler for The Ruby Airship (second book, Diamond Thief review here) as I'm looking forward to that in April, I believe :) They always have good books & send me such treasures...

Also can't wait to dig into Rachel Riley's The Time Of My Life which I received from OUP actually for review & as I'm part of (a bit of a spoiler) the blog tour soon! :P

But, now...

Last, but not least, the books I bought from The Works. Not quite for 10p each XD But still, quite good bargains! More good reads, YAY! (no pun intended). I hope you liked this haul... What do you think? It has been a month but it's still quite good. I'm not complaining...