Once Upon a Twilight!: Claudia Gray

Showing posts with label Claudia Gray. Show all posts

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Series I've Been Meaning To Start But Haven't

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Series I've Been Meaning To Start But Haven't

This is a collection of pretty much everyone on the team. Some have read a couple of these, but a few haven't. You can't shame us though there are just so many books!

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What's on your list?

Blog Tour: Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray l Interview l Giveaway

Defy the Stars
Author: Claudia Gray
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Release Date: April 4th 2017
Review Source: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Noemi Vidal is a teen soldier from the planet Genesis, once a colony of Earth that's now at war for its independence. The humans of Genesis have fought Earth's robotic "mech" armies for decades with no end in sight.

After a surprise attack, Noemi finds herself stranded in space on an abandoned ship where she meets Abel, the most sophisticated mech prototype ever made. One who should be her enemy. But Abel's programming forces him to obey Noemi as his commander, which means he has to help her save Genesis--even though her plan to win the war will kill him.

Together they embark on a daring voyage through the galaxy. Before long, Noemi begins to realize Abel may be more than a machine, and, for his part, Abel's devotion to Noemi is no longer just a matter of programming.

TOP FIVE FAVORITE SCENES

This question is always trickier than it ought to be, isn't it? But I think I've narrowed it down to my five favorite scenes. A lot of these are fairly spoilery, so I didn't go into a ton of detail. Instead here are a few reasons why I love these scenes…

5) Abel and Noemi watch "Casablanca" together

* It's always great to write one character sharing something they love with another.

* This conversation leads to a very interesting suggestion from Abel.

* I adore "Casablanca" almost as much as Abel does, so I get to share the love just like he does.

4) They journey through the underground tunnels of Cray.

* Because it's a great moment to show off Noemi's ingenuity.

* And because it shows even ingenuity has limits.

* It's also a sequence of pure adventure, which is always fun.

3) Noemi and Abel meet for the first time

* Does it count as a "meet-cute" if they're trying to kill each other at the time? Hope so!

* They're so themselves here. I feel like if you only read this bit of the book, you'd still know about eighty percent of who these people are, both good and bad.

2) Abel has his final conversation with his creator

* While the relationship between Noemi and Abel is central to DEFY THE STARS, Abel's connection to Burton Mansfield is also incredibly important, and that comes through in this scene more than any other.

* For me, this may represent the single greatest moment of tension in the book.

* Certainly it's the moment when you realize how far both Noemi and Abel have come, because otherwise neither of them could react as they do here.

1) Noemi and Abel's last visit to the equipment pod bay

* Abel returns to a place that was once his prison and connects with it in an entirely different way, which is always interesting to write.

* I tend to structure a lot of scenes around dialogue, but this was one where the images and actions carry us forward, while the characters say relatively little.

*…. You'll know why when you read it.

About Claudia:

Claudia Gray is a pseudonym. I would like to say that I chose another name so that no one would ever learn the links between my shadowy, dramatic past and the explosive secrets revealed through my characters. This would be a lie. In truth, I took a pseudonym simply because I thought it would be fun to choose my own name. (And it is.)

I write novels full-time, absolutely love it, and hope to be able to do this forever. My home is in New Orleans, is more than 100 years old, and is painted purple. In my free time I read, travel, hike, cook and listen to music. You can keep up with my latest releases, thoughts on writing and various pop-culture musings via Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Goodreads or (of course) my own home page.

If you want to contact me, you can email me, but your best bet is probably to Tweet me. I don’t do follows on Twitter, but I follow everyone back on Tumblr, Pinterest and Goodreads.

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a signed finished copy of DEFY THE STARS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/27/2017- BookHounds YA- Guest Post

3/28/2017- Page Turners Blog- Review

3/29/2017- Adventures of a Book Junkie- Guest Post

3/30/2017- Novel Novice- Review

3/31/2017- Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Guest Post

Week Two:

4/3/2017- NovelKnight- Review

4/4/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post

4/5/2017- La La in the Library- Review

4/6/2017- Once Upon a Twilight- Guest Post

4/7/2017- Seeing Double In Neverland- Review

Waiting on Wednesday: Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Defy the Stars

Untitled #1

Author: Claudia Gray

Release Date: April 4th 2017

Publisher: Brown Books for Young Readers

Noemi Vidal is a teen soldier from the planet Genesis, once a colony of Earth that's now at war for its independence. The humans of Genesis have fought Earth's robotic "mech" armies for decades with no end in sight.

After a surprise attack, Noemi finds herself stranded in space on an abandoned ship where she meets Abel, the most sophisticated mech prototype ever made. One who should be her enemy. But Abel's programming forces him to obey Noemi as his commander, which means he has to help her save Genesis--even though her plan to win the war will kill him.

Together they embark on a daring voyage through the galaxy. Before long, Noemi begins to realize Abel may be more than a machine, and, for his part, Abel's devotion to Noemi is no longer just a matter of programming.

Waiting on Wednesday: A Million Worlds with You & Of Fire and Stars

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

A Million Worlds with You

Firebird #3

Author: Claudia Gray

Release Date: November 1st 2016

Publisher: HarperTeen

A million universes. A million dangers. One destiny.

The fate of the multiverse rests in Marguerite Caine’s hands. Marguerite has been at the center of a cross-dimensional feud since she first traveled to another universe using her parents’ invention, the Firebird. Only now has she learned the true plans of the evil Triad Corporation—and that those plans could spell doom for dozens or hundreds of universes, each facing total annihilation.

Paul Markov has always been at Marguerite’s side, but Triad’s last attack has left him a changed man—angry and shadowed by tragedy. He struggles to overcome the damage done to him, but despite Marguerite’s efforts to help, Paul may never be the same again.

So it’s up to Marguerite alone to stop the destruction of the multiverse. Billions of lives are at stake. The risks have never been higher. And Triad has unleashed its ultimate weapon: another dimension’s Marguerite—wicked, psychologically twisted, and always one step ahead.

In the epic conclusion to Claudia Gray’s Firebird trilogy, fate and family will be questioned, loves will be won and lost, and the multiverse will be forever changed. It’s a battle of the Marguerites . . . and only one can win.

Of Fire and Stars

Author: Audrey Coulthurst

Release Date: November 22nd 2016

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.

Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine (called Mare), sister of her betrothed.

When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two work together, each discovers there’s more to the other than she thought. Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. Soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.

But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.

Cover Reveal: Girl out of Water | A Million Worlds with You | Three Dark Crowns | Metaltown

There have been quite a few cover reveals in the bookish world lately. Here are a few that stand out to us.

Girl out of Water

Author: Nat Luurtsema

Release Date: June 2nd 2016

Publisher: Walker Books

A thoroughly British teen comedy starring a hilariously flawed heroine with a quip for every occasion.

Lou Brown’s life is going down the pan. Best friend Hannah sailed through the Olympic time trials and is off to her fancy-pants new swim training school, while Lou’s own failure to qualify leaves her without a hobby – or a friend. As Lou tries to navigate her post-swim world, a chance encounter with three boys with stars in their eyes takes her life in a surprising new direction. One that leads to a crazy world of underwater somersaults, talent show auditions, bitchy girls and one great big load of awkward boy chat.

Nat Luurtsema is a stand-up comedian, actor, BAFTA-nominated screenwriter and author of Cuckoo in the Nest, which is a Sunday Times Book of the Year.

Read more about this reveal here.

A Million Worlds with You

Firebird #3

Author: Claudia Gray

Release Date: November 1st 2016

Publisher: HarperTeen

A million universes. A million dangers. One destiny.

The fate of the multiverse rests in Marguerite Caine’s hands. Marguerite has been at the center of a cross-dimensional feud since she first traveled to another universe using her parents’ invention, the Firebird. Only now has she learned the true plans of the evil Triad Corporation—and that those plans could spell doom for dozens or hundreds of universes, each facing total annihilation.

Paul Markov has always been at Marguerite’s side, but Triad’s last attack has left him a changed man—angry and shadowed by tragedy. He struggles to overcome the damage done to him, but despite Marguerite’s efforts to help, Paul may never be the same again.

So it’s up to Marguerite alone to stop the destruction of the multiverse. Billions of lives are at stake. The risks have never been higher. And Triad has unleashed its ultimate weapon: another dimension’s Marguerite—wicked, psychologically twisted, and always one step ahead.

In the epic conclusion to Claudia Gray’s Firebird trilogy, fate and family will be questioned, loves will be won and lost, and the multiverse will be forever changed. It’s a battle of the Marguerites . . . and only one can win.

Three Dark Crowns

Untitled #1

Author: Kendare Blake

Release Date: September 20th 2016

Publisher: HarperTeen

Every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins. The last queen standing gets the crown.

If only it was that simple. Katharine is unable to tolerate the weakest poison, and Arsinoe, no matter how hard she tries, can’t make even a weed grow. The two queens have been shamefully faking their powers, taking care to keep each other, the island, and their powerful sister Mirabella none the wiser. But with alliances being formed, betrayals taking shape, and ruthless revenge haunting the queens’ every move, one thing is certain: the last queen standing might not be the strongest…but she may be the darkest.

Metaltown

Author: Kristen Simmons

Release Date: September 20th 2016

Publisher: Tor Teen

Metaltown, where factories rule, food is scarce, and hope is in short supply.

The rules of Metaltown are simple: Work hard, keep your head down, and watch your back. You look out for number one, and no one knows that better than Ty. She’s been surviving on the factory line as long as she can remember. But now Ty has Colin. She’s no longer alone; it’s the two of them against the world. That’s something even a town this brutal can’t take away from her. Until it does.

Lena’s future depends on her family’s factory, a beast that demands a ruthless master, and Lena is prepared to be as ruthless as it takes if it means finally proving herself to her father. But when a chance encounter with Colin, a dreamer despite his circumstances, exposes Lena to the consequences of her actions, she’ll risk everything to do what’s right.

In Lena, Ty sees an heiress with a chip on her shoulder. Colin sees something more. In a world of disease and war, tragedy and betrayal, allies and enemies, all three of them must learn that challenging what they thought was true can change all the rules.

An enthralling story of friendship and rebellion, Metaltown will have you believing in the power of hope.