Riordan sets bar for diversity in middle-grade | The Hammer of Thor

The Hammer of Thor
By Rick Riordan
(Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #2)
Published October 4, 2016
471 pages
Middle Grade, Mythology, Fantasy, Diverse

Thor's hammer is missing again. The thunder god has a disturbing habit of misplacing his weapon--the mightiest force in the Nine Worlds. But this time the hammer isn't just lost, it has fallen into enemy hands. If Magnus Chase and his friends can't retrieve the hammer quickly, the mortal worlds will be defenseless against an onslaught of giants. Ragnarok will begin. The Nine Worlds will burn. Unfortunately, the only person who can broker a deal for the hammer's return is the gods' worst enemy, Loki--and the price he wants is very high.

Blog Tour + Review | Omega by Lizzy Ford

Omega
(Omega #1)
By Lizzy Ford
Publication Date: October 25, 2015
Dystopian, Young Adult, Mythology



I received a free copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected my opinion of the book in any way.

Synopsis:

In a modern world ruled by territorial Greek gods, the human race has been oppressed, exploited and now, nearly destroyed by the constant infighting of gods.However, a human girl with the power of a goddess is coming of age. Alessandra is the Oracle of Delphi – the last prophesized – and bears the mark of the double omega. Soon after she turns eighteen, Alessandra is told her destiny: to step between the warring gods and the human race and save her world from certain ruin.For the gods, her appearance marks the beginning of the end – their end. They and the Triumvirate – leaders of the human elite – who serve them will stop at nothing to preserve their power. Alessandra emerges from the forest where she spent her life hidden from gods and men and immediately plummets into a race against time, gods, and herself to discover who and what she is in a world where everyone she meets has a hidden agenda, and those pulling the strings remain in the shadows. Before she can determine exactly what kind of savior her world needs, she must first master her power by completing three trials devised by the Triumvirate to enslave her.One lone girl stands between warring gods and the people she’s destined to protect, but it’s the battle to understand who she is that she must win first.

Amazon * Barnes and Noble

Blog Tour | Prophecy by Julie Anne Lindsey

Prophecy
(Calypso, #1)
by Julie Anne Lindsey
Release Date: 10/06/14
Kensington Books

Summary from Goodreads:

On the other side of death, is destiny.

Callie Ingram is spending her senior year focused on one thing: swimming. Her skill as a competitive swimmer is going to secure a scholarship and her future, or so she hopes. She has big plans, and Liam Hale, her gorgeous new neighbor, isn’t going to affect them. But when Callie sees Liam beheading someone, she learns his family has a secret that will change everything. The Hales are Vikings, demi-gods who’ve been charged by The Fates to find their new destined leader.

Callie’s caught in the middle of a budding Norse apocalypse, in love with Liam Hale and desperate to protect her best friend...who the Hales believe is marked for transformation. 

Putting the clues together as fast as she can, can discovers she has the power to rewrite destiny, 
for herself and all humankind.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kensington│iTunes

About Julie:

Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. She’s 

a self-proclaimed nerd with a penchant for words and proclivity for fun. Julie lives in rural Ohio 

with her husband and three small children. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day 

she plans to change the world.

Find Julie online:

Julieannelindsey.com
Find Me on Facebook!
Tweet Me!!
Read with me on Goodreads
Pin with me on Pinterest
Blogging at Musings from the Slush Pile
Capturing life on Instagram

Prophecy Playlist
AKA Songs my neighbors are completely sick of hearing

By Julie Anne Lindsey

I couldn’t create without music, so it makes sense that music is a huge part of my writing
process. I leave my list on shuffle for the most part, but there are times....scenes....songs that
*need* one another. These are a few of the songs I played to death as Prophecy came to life.

American Kids – Kenny Chesney (playing on hidden speakers in deli as story opens chp 1 – also for some general school scenes)
Redneck Woman – Gretchen Wilson (while Callie’s getting ready for school chp 2)
Florida Georgia Line – Cruise (Playing in Justin’s Jeep when he picks her up and they hang before work chp 5)
Just Like Heaven – The Cure (school pool scenes)
Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) – Big and Rich (As Justin’s bonfire begins chp 10)
Cobrastyle - Teddybears (fight in the forest chp 10)
Come Home – One Republic (Liam & Callie’s first kiss chp 11)
Leave out All the Rest – Linkin Park (Liam’s headspace as he toils with the danger to Callie he can’t
control)
This Afternoon – Nickelback (In Callie’s kitchen when they all have lunch chp 14)
I Will Follow you into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie (when Liam and Callie kiss outside her house chp 14)
Never Say Never – The Fray (in Liam’s room...<3 chp 19)
She’s Country – Jason Aldean (Callie arrives at school embracing her curves, clothes & heritage chp 21)
Legions of Doom – Audiomachine (Battle scene)
Unwritten- Natasha Bedingfield (Final scene. We know absolutely anything can happen for her now – and it will *spoilers for sequel* Goddess, coming 2016)
Hope you enjoyed the look inside my process!
Xoxox
Julie

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YA Bound Book Tours

Upcoming Releases | Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Well guys, the end is finally coming. The Percy Jackson series one of few series that I have been religiously following since the beginning (the other ones being the Harry Potter series, the Divergent trilogy, and The Mortal Instruments series).

We have been through a lot together; an amazing five series starter, a spin-off with Egyptian mythology, and two terrible movies. We have been left with some pretty awful cliffhangers (no pun intended).

The Blood of Olympus, the last book in the Percy Jackson series, is going to be released in two days, on October 7th, 2014.

*IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE REST OF THE SERIES, STOP HERE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE SPOILERS!*

The summary from Goodreads:

"Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them—and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake.

The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it "might" be able to stop a war between the two camps.

The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over."

I have a few crackpot theories about what is going to happen:

1. This one may be more of a wish then a theory, but I think that something bad is going to happen to either Jason or Piper. Honestly, I never really liked either of them. Jason is so detached from everything, and he is like the opposite of the Percy Jackson we have all come to know and love. Sorry Jasper fans.
2. Leo is definitely going to go back for Calypso, but I do not know how. IT JUST HAS TO HAPPEN!
3. Nico is going to have to face Percy and say how he really feels. I still am not entirely on board with this whole turn of events, but I feel bad for Nico. We all know that someone is going to die, and I can honestly see Nico as that person, like he is about to confess to Percy, then, BAM! dead.
4. Octavian is going to try to destroy Camp Half-Blood, but he is going to end up dying. No question.
5. There is going to be a fight between the Seven to see which of them is going to sacrifice themselves as the two demigods that Gaea wants to kill. And of course, Percy and Annabeth are going to be the first ones to volunteer. Jason is going to want to be the mighty hero who sacrifices himself, so I predict a huge fight among the Seven is going to happen.

Other than that, I cannot imagine what else is going to happen. Riordan's books are always so unpredictable, but I have faith in him. But, if anything happens to either Percy or Annabeth, the only blood that will be spilled in Riordan's. (Not really, but come on, haven't they been through enough?)

What are your theories? Who do you think is going to die? Do you agree with my ideas, or do you think I am completely wrong? I would love to read anything you have to say!

If you really want to get pumped for the release, watch Xtinemay's (polandbananasbooks) Crackpot theory video!

Blog Tour | Prophecy of the Most Beautiful by Diantha Jones

Prophecy of the Most Beautiful
(Oracle of Delphi #1)
by Diantha Jones
Release Date: 03/01/12

Summary from Goodreads:
She has a destiny so great that even the gods fear her.
Constant hallucinations and the frequent conversations with the voices in her head, have earned
eighteen-year-old Chloe Clever the not-so-coveted title of "Whack Job" in her home town of
Adel, Georgia. Fed up with prescription meds and therapists, she wishes for a life where she is
destined to be more than the butt of everyone's jokes and mockery.
Be careful what you wish for has never rung more true.
After a vicious attack and learning that her favorite rockstar is an Olympian god, she is thrust
into her new life as the Oracle of Delphi, the prophesier of the future. Setting out to fulfill the
prophecy she has been given, Chloe learns of how great she is to become, all the while fighting
mythical monsters and trying to outwit the ever-cunning Greek gods who harbor secrets of their own. While on a mission to discover the Most Beautiful, she strives to uncover the mysteries of the demigod Prince who has sworn to protect her with his life...and threatens to win her heart in the process.

Barnes and Noble * Amazon * Goodreads

 

 

About the Author

Diantha Jones was born the day thousands of turkeys sacrificed their lives to fill millions of American bellies on November 22 which also happened to be Thanksgiving Day (Her mother says she owes her a turkey). She is a Journalism graduate who wants to be a career novelist (of books, not Facebook posts). When not writing or working, she is reading on her Nook, being hypnotized by Netflix or on a mission to procure french fries. The Oracle of Delphi fantasy series is her first series. She is also the author of Mythos: Stories from Olympus, a companion series, and there is another fantasy series in the works. She also writes (new) adult fantasy/paranormal romance under the name A. Star.

 

Website * Twitter * Goodreads * Facebook
 

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Rebel Belle

Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Rebel Belle #1
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Pages: 352
Review by: Max

Southern belle Harper is prepared for a lot--for every meeting she's required to have as president of every club/organization physically possible, dates with her perfect boyfriend, and most importantly, becoming homecoming queen.

What she's not prepared for is becoming the 'Paladin' guardian to her arch-nemesis David Stark, a job that comes with some crazy and  dangerous responsibilities.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test


Author: Aimee Carter
Series:  Goddess Test #1
Release Date: April 19, 2011
Pages: 297
Review by: Tessa
      
       Usually I love anything that has to do with Greek culture; their architecture, myths of curses and heroes, and gyros, but The Goddess test was more chick lit than the myths I know and love.
All you have to know is that it is a bad mix of Percy Jackson and Abandon by Meg Cabot. Separately, they were both amazing, but if you combine them the gods will curse you.
       The plot is a continuation of the myth of Persephone. Hades needs to find a new wife after Persephone left him. Obviously, only the worthy could marry Hades and become the goddess of death, so they hold a contest that is like The Princess and the Pea.
       Kate is chosen to be the next tested, but she does not know it. She only agrees to it for the sake of her mother who is dying of cancer. She has to go through a series if tests to determine if her character is strong enough to survive in the harsh landscape of the Underworld. But there is another problem for Kate to deal with-- all the other girls who have taken the test were murdered.

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Abandon

Author: Meg Cabot
Series: Abandon Trilogy #1
Release Date: April 26th, 2011
Pages: 304
Review by: Max

Ever hear of the tale of Persephone?
Hades like, captured her, and she ate a pomegranate or something, so she had to stay *gasps* down there forever.
But since her mom (Demeter) was a goddess, she bargained with Hades so she only had to live in hell for half a year/six months.
Get it? Got it? Good!
(That was a terrible summary of this myth, but as long as y'all get the basic gist of it, it's fine. Ish.)

Abandon is kind of like that.