The Ending of a Chapter

I have decided that I need to focus more on my school work and family so I will be leaving the book blogging community for now. However I will  be keeping this blog just incase I do ever decide to come back. I am also handing over my Topian Book Shop over to my dear friend Carolyn @geekgirlotp. She will do a great job handling everything I had begun, after all she is the one who sends me those beautiful cover designs. So this is Good Bye and Thank you to all my fans...

TopianGirl

Blitz Tour: The Designed by Kate Tailor

Welcome Everybody,

We are proud to present the Blitz Book Tour! This week's book release is The Designed by Kate Tailor, hosted by Xpresso Book Tours!

Read about the book, discover more about the author, join the small contest to win an ebook copy of  The Designed, and participate in the book blitz wide giveaway. Now on to the launch and please enjoy!

Title: The Designed
Author: Kate Tailor
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre Type: Fiction, Dystopia
Publication Date: January 16th, 2015
Publisher: BookBaby
Format: Ebook
Pages: 202 pages

What if the next new drug was you? Raleigh’s body produces a drug that could define the future of medicine if the dangerous world surrounding it doesn’t kill her first.

Eighteen-year old Raleigh Groves can sense disease in others and is suffering from her own unexplained illness as well. After years and dozens of doctor visits, she has given up hope of ever finding a cure, let alone a diagnosis. Then she meets a man who explains that her talent and curse are linked. Her body produces a drug, Lucidin, which allows her to sense others. She’s rare, and the drug she makes is coveted.

Rho has spent the last few years on the run. The Lucidin that is racing through his system makes him a target. Surrounded by addicts and dealers on one side and scientists and doctors on the other, he has to rely on his wits and his team to stay one step ahead. So far he has stayed afloat, but some of his brothers haven’t been as lucky.

As Rho and Raleigh collide they must face the perilous world of Lucidin together. Nothing is black-and-white and Raleigh must decide where her alliances lie. Sometimes the hardest heart to sense is your own.

AUTHOR BIO:

Kate Tailor lives in Boulder, Colorado. She has a background in molecular biology and pharmacology. Writing has been a passion of hers since she was young.

Author Links:
 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

My Review:

Kate Tailor creates a unique and dazzling sci-fi tale in her debut book, The Designed. Bring a new evolutionary level in humanity, Tailor writes a very realistic scenario consisting of human genetic engineering, a naturally produce drug, and a cast of characters who bring the story into a believable Darwin advanced world. The Designed is a tale that has readers wanting more.

We began the story with the escape of a boy who has been captured, drugged, and is on the brink of death. After his escape, we are then introduce to our leading character Raleigh Groves, an eighteen year old girl. Raleigh however is not a normal girl, she suffers from a disease that causes her to have unexplainable blackouts while gifting her with the insight into other people’s physical illnesses. Doctors can’t give her a reason as to why or what the disease is, let alone a cure for it. That is until a new doctor, named Henry Orman, comes and tells her that he would like to run some tests. He soon informs Raleigh that he has discovered that her disease is linked a powerful and rare drug produce by the body and mind, called Lucidin, which allows people to have full control of their own bodies and even influence other people as well. With her diagnoses, Raleigh is transferred into Henry’s care for the cure.

While in the care of Henry, Raleigh is asked to help a young man name Rho, one of the Designed, who suffers from the same disease and is at the moment of the verge of death. With a Lucidin transfer Raleigh is able to save his life and soon finds that Lucidin is more than just blackouts and being able to sense others. With Rho and his team, Raleigh discovers that Lucidin may be more a problem than a gift. Following Raleigh through her story of Lucidin and the Designed, we are brought though the world of power, corruption, betrayal, and “some-what” romance (more like a hint of romance, no more like flirting or longing, yeah, it doesn’t really hit the romance thing full on).

Tailor tells the story in a third person perspective, allowing us to not only realized what is happening in the mind of Raleigh but also all the people she encounters. At one point in the story, we get the perception of five different characters in less than two page. The way Tailor transitions the perceptions is flawless, an unseen line in character flow. She present the characters in a way that make them realistic and believable. Raleigh, being unknown to this disease is somewhat naive and (as Rho would put it) “innocent”. But as the story evolves Raleigh grows with it, turning into a capable and understanding girl who gains her own power and self-control. Though there was not enough of Rho (I wish there was more of him), you can feel the connections he makes with each character he enacts with. Rho come across as friend and trustworthy. Tailor has put a lot of emotion in every character that she has created. Even the selfish, Lucidin crazed scientists and Receps, are painted in detail with a distinctive personality all their own.

However, there is quite a bit of info dump in The Designed. Often times there is a repeat of the backstory, but in different ways. The Designed says it went this way, the scientists say it went that way and the info dump becomes somewhat necessary when trying to keep the story line together. (Pretty much you are caught up in a lie and following Raleigh, you don’t really get to decide who or what the truth is, but you get to hear the he said she said thing.) Even with all the info dump the action in the story never ends and you keep asking what will happen next.

The Design ended with the worst cliff hanger even and I for one can wait for the sequel. I look forward to seeing how Tailor will take the plot and the characters forward. (Hoping for more Rho and Raleigh romance)

*Want to Win a Ebook Copy of The Designed by Kate Tailor*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't Forget to join the Blitz-Wide Giveaway (open: INTL)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Big Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to join this wonderful event. You can find more Blitz Book Tours and how you can join by going to http://xpressobooktours.com/book-blitzes/.

Thank you for joining and hope you stop by again soon.

Waiting on Wednesday: June 3rd, 2015 (14)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights those can't-wait-to-get-my-hands-on-them books that we are eagerly awaiting!

Coming out on April 5th, 2016 is The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows.

Title: The Mirror King
Author: Jodi Meadows
Series: The Orphan Queen #2
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre Type: Fanstany
Publication date: April 5th, 2016
Publisher:  Katherine Tegen Books

HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right.

HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.

HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.

In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen.

Waiting on Wednesday: May 27th, 2015 (13)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted at Breaking The Spine that spotlights those can't-wait-to-get-my-hands-on-them books that we are eagerly awaiting!

Coming out on February 23rd, 2016 is A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab.

Title: A Gathering of Shadows
Author: V.E. Schwab
Series: A Darker Shade of Magic #2
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre Type: Fanstany
Publication date: February 23rd, 2016
Publisher:  Tor

Four months have passed since the shadow stone fell into Kell’s possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Rhy was wounded and the Dane twins fell, and the stone was cast with Holland’s dying body through the rift, and into Black London.

In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games—an extravagant international competition of magic, meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries—a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again—meaning that another London must fall.

Time to Talkback: Review on The Heir by Kiera Cass

The Authors had their time to talk now it's Time to Talkback. This gives me the chance to review the book or books I have been reading. Now I'm all for a honest review and at times I can be a bit harsh with some of the judgements I voice, as far as book go. But it has nothing to do with the author(s) for without them what would my imagination be (goodness help us all). It is just my own opinion, constructive criticism (I say) and I just want to state it as so many of us sometimes do. Good or Bad, I am always thankful for the books I read and the author(s) who wrote them. So, welcome to Talkback and here to a honest review.