Blog Tour: Book Review: Elder (Firstborn #3) by Raine Thomas

Today, Emily is happy to be a part of the Defy Blog Tour

hosted by Raine Thomas.

Find the other tour stops here.

Elder (Firstborn #3) by Raine Thomas

Cover created by Devan Edwards of Nimbi Design.

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: December 27, 2012
Publisher: Iambe Books

Clara Kate is one of the eight beings needed to activate the Elder Scroll, an ancient artifact causing tragedy and darkness on the Estilorian plane. She knows that her focus needs to be on finding the final piece and stopping the evil Mercesti, but Ini-herit isn't making it easy.

He’s working closely with Clara Kate on the quest to stop their enemies…too close for her comfort. His presence serves as a constant reminder of the love they shared on the human plane, a love that he no longer remembers at all.

Her life and the lives of those she loves are at risk, and she knows she has to put aside her personal problems. So far on their journey, she's endured heartbreak, terror, pain and loss. She’s even been brought to the brink of death.

She thinks things can't get any worse.

She's wrong.

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View the book trailer:

Review:

Elder is the third and final installment in the Firstborn trilogy, so this review may have some spoilers for the first two books. You have been warned.

Elder is supposed to be the story of Clara Kate and In-herit, but written in multiple perspectives, it felt more like a finale for all of the characters. There isn't a whole lot that can be said about the plot that won't give away some aspect of the book. We begin almost immediately after book two, Shift, left off. Ariana and a severely injured Tate are locked in the library with Metis and Eirik, who plan to use them to find the final piece of the Elder Scroll. From there we go on an epic quest filled with twists and turns as the characters we've come to know and love fight to save the world.

While I enjoyed reading about Clara Kate and In-herit's relationship, and her struggles to return In-herit's memories of their relationship on the human plane, Tate and Zachariah are still my favorite couple. Tate's teasing and Zachariah's overbearing nature make for an odd pairing, but when you read about them together, they just fit. Ms. Thomas is excellent at giving her couples chemistry. Their relationships feel real, and unforced. Not only is the author good as writing relationships, but her characters all have realistic personalities. Each one was different, but they all meshed well together. No one felt like a filler, and everyone has their own role in the story.

The action in the plot was just as thrilling as in the first two books. Elder made me nervous in all the right places. It will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end! The plot was great. It was a fantastic continuation of the series! It tied in perfectly with the first two books. The novel also moved at a steady pace and will keep its audience engaged. I never felt bored while reading, which made me so happy. I've read a few stinkers lately, so it is nice that Elder was able to get me out of my rut and end the series on a good note.

The end of the novel felt very final, though it leaves you in a content place where you can imagine the future of the characters you've come to know in love, but you aren't left in need of answers. I think Ms. Thomas tied up the series perfectly and I'm sad to part with these characters as I have really come to adore them over the past year. I cannot wait to see what Ms. Thomas comes up with next!

I received an e-copy of this novel from the author for my honest opinion and review.

Cover Reveal: Elder (Firstborn #3) by Raine Thomas

Elder (Firstborn #3) by Raine Thomas

The cover was created by Devan Edwards of Nimbi Designs.

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: December 27, 2012
Publisher: Iambe Books

Clara Kate is one of the eight beings needed to activate The Elder Scroll, an ancient artifact causing tragedy and darkness on the Estilorian plane. She knows that her focus needs to be on finding the final piece and stopping the evil Mercesti, but Ini-herit isn't making it easy.

He’s working closely with Clara Kate on the quest to stop their enemies…too close for her comfort. His presence serves as a constant reminder of the love they shared on the human plane, a love that he no longer remembers at all.

Her life and the lives of those she loves are at risk, and she knows she has to put aside her personal problems. So far on their journey, she's endured heartbreak, terror, pain and loss. She’s even been brought to the brink of death.

She thinks things can't get any worse.

She's wrong.

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

Goodreads.Twitter.Website.Facebook

FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads

What do you think of the cover?

Blog Tour: Book Review: Shift (Firstborn #2) by Raine Thomas

Today, Edwin and Emily are happy to be a part of the Shift Blog Tour

hosted by YA Bound.

Find the other tour stops here.

Shift (Firstborn #2) by Raine Thomas

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: August 24, 2012
Publisher: Iambe Books

Having the ability to shapeshift, Sophia is familiar with change. But even she feels the rising tension in her homeland.

A shadowy male and deadly beast reside in their midst. The births of the newest Kynzesti loom. Hostile Mercesti continue to hunt for the Elder Scroll, and a traumatized female is too afraid to use her abilities to stop them.

Topping off Sophia’s stress is Quincy, the male she’s convinced can’t stand her. She rues the loss of their friendship, but can’t figure out how to move past it. She’ll soon learn, however, that mending that rift bears more significance than she ever imagined.

The search for the Elder Scroll takes on unexpected urgency, and Sophia finds herself in a race across the mainland. To stop the Mercesti led by Eirik, she and her companions must get past their differences and unite against them. If they don’t, Eirik will acquire the immense power he seeks, and two of the beings Sophia loves most will die.

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

Goodreads.Twitter.Website.Facebook

FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads.Amazon.Barnes & Noble

Review:

So, I was really hoping that there would be a blog tour for Shift, the second book in the Firstborn series by Raine Thomas. After reading the first book, Defy back in May for a previous blog tour, I was almost desperate to read the next book! Lucky me, right? As soon as I got an email from YA Bound Tours, I signed up! This series has completely captured my interest and I've found it to be unforgettable!

Shift is all about Sophia and Quincy - romance wise. Honestly, the romance is not the only part of this novel that really keeps your interest. (It's shocking that I've actually said this, I know. I'm quite surprised, too!) The conflict, minor characters, a prose will hook you from the very beginning. You'll have no choice but to follow Quincy and Sophia's story in utter fascination. The best part of that is that you won't have a problem, either! It's addicting!

I adore these characters! Especially the cameo of the couple that Defy revolved around, Tate and Zachariah. Tate is hilarious and awesome! Just reading her first appearance in this novel made me remember why I loved book one so much! She's witty and light-hearted with a flare for being rebellious. And Zachariah has that sexy alpha male thing going on. He and Tate are great for each other. My favorite character in this novel though, is definitely Quincy. He's such a sweetheart and has the best intentions at heart. Plus, he love for Sophia makes me sigh happily. Sophia got on my nerves some times. She has a tendency to overreact and not fully thinking things through. So basically, she's your everyday teenage girl. What I loved most about these characters is that none of them seemed forced or fake, each one had a role in the story and they carried it out perfectly. Plus, they all mesh together very well!

The plot line is as intriguing in this book as it was in the book before it. I couldn't help but be sucked in until the very end. There is so much to grasp that you really have to read carefully to make sure you caught all the information! I seriously enjoyed it and found myself, for the most part, unable to put it down because the conflicts and adventure had me on the edge of my seat. It should be noted that I did have to stop a few times to do some laundry and cook dinner, it was not of my own free will.

I would honestly recommend reading the prequel series before starting Defy and Shift. The world that Ms. Thomas beings to life can hard to keep up with if you don't learn everything about it with the original characters. It's a great series, so definitely get a copies of the previous books. I can't wait to see what the author gives us in the next book! I'm sure it will be a phenomenal addition to a great series!

I received a free e-copy of this novel from the author  for a blog tour in exchange for my honest review.

Teaser Tuesday: Shift (Firstborn #2) by Raine Thomas

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!

To participate all you have to do is:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!) 

 Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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"Quincy knew the polite thing to do would be to offer the elders something to eat or drink, but he didn't want to encourage an extended visitation. Instead, he took one of the two chairs adjacent to the couch."
Chapter 6, 15%
Shift (Firstorn #2) by Raine Thomas

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Giveaway Winner

Ed and I hosted a giveaway of Defy by Raine Thomas hosted by YA Bound.

The winner chosen by Rafflecopter via random.org was:

Tayte H.!

Blog Tour: Book Review & Giveaway: Defy (Firstborn #1) by Raine Thomas

Today, Emily is happy to be a part of the Defy Blog Tour

hosted by YA Bound.

Find the other tour stops here.

Defy (Firstborn #1) by Raine Thomas

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: April 30, 2012

Publisher: Iambe Books

285 Pages

Seventeen-year-old Tate is about to make her parents’ dreams come true. Unfortunately for her, their dreams foretell her death.

Eager to explore more of the Estilorian plane and prove her abilities, Tate goes against her parents’ wishes and leaves the area of protection surrounding her home. Her choice puts her on a deadly path…one that leaves her alone, severely injured and battling for her life.

Her possible savior arrives in the form of Zachariah, a male who has removed himself from Estilorian society for more than fifty years. Fighting an unexpected connection to Tate, he must decide whether saving her life is worth destroying his.

As Tate struggles to find a way home, she ends up drawn into a dark Mercesti plot involving multiple murders and a powerful ancient artifact. With the unpredictable Zachariah as her only source for aid, she’ll soon find out if her abilities are strong enough to help her defy her Fate.

Check out the trailer!

Also check out the tour Home Page for the grand prize giveaway!

You can enter to win signed paperbacks of Defy, Becoming, Central and Foretold, swag and a custom hair piece that is valued at $100!

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

Goodreads.Twitter.Website.Facebook

FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads.Amazon.Barnes & Noble

Review:

Defy captured my interest after the first few paragraphs. I am not a huge fantasy lover, but I found myself really intrigued by the happenings in this strange world that Raine Thomas creates. Everything about it was unique. I've honestly never read anything like it.

I love how the author is able to write from both an adult and an adolescent point-of-view. Some authors really can't pull that off, but Ms. Thomas does with ease. I barely noticed the transition. The writing is brilliant. Turning my kindle off for a bit to sleep, do chores or eat was an almost impossible feat. That's how good and addicting the writing was.

The characters in this book are awesome. Tate has a great sense of adventure. I love her perspective. She doesn't have the best patience or self-control, but that's how many teenagers are. She likes danger and doesn't want to be held back. She wants to get her wings - both literally and figuratively. Her father, Caleb, is another great character. He truly loves his wife and children and will do anything to keep them safe and healthy. My favorite character would have to be Zachariah, though. He's sarcastic, and fierce, and loyal. He really learns to care for Tate. THEY ARE JUST SO SWEET TOOGETHER. OMG, I'M SORRY FOR THE SHOUTY CAPS, BUT I CAN'T STOP. Characters like Quincy, Sophia, Skye, Tiege only add more… awesomeness… to the book.

The fantasy aspects in this story are great. I love the families and their names. For the most part, they all have very original names that only contribute to the fantasy. And as you read, you get so involved in the plot that you can't help but picture all of the scenes in your mind. I love when a book can really pull out your imagination.

I also enjoyed that even though the blurb really makes the book sound like it revolves around one character, there are multiple stories within. It was unexpected, but extremely intriguing. The ways it's done is phenomenal. I really enjoyed reading from multiple characters' perspectives.

My only "issues" with the book were that I didn't really like the cover. I was worried that because I didn't like the cover that I wouldn't like the content of the novel. Sorry guys, but while it fit with the book, I just didn't think it looked very good. Also, I found four big spelling issues. Most likely, they were just from a typing slip-up, but they really stuck out to me. There were also a few grammatical issues that should've been seen by an editor.

After stalking searching the author's profile, I've come to find that there is a series that prequels this one. It's great that this reads like a stand-alone series though. I really enjoyed it before I knew there were prequels. They are about the parents of the main characters in this series. I LOVE WHEN AUTHORS DO THAT. MUST READ THEM NOW. I'm literally going to go buy them as soon as I have money.

Even with my little squiggles, I loved this book. I couldn't put it down! Tate and Zachariah are a great pair that are sure to make people swoon and laugh. I cannot wait for book two!

I received a free e-copy of this novel from the author for a blog tour in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway Details:
1 Winner will receive an e-copy of Defy by Raine Thomas
Open Internationally
Ends 5/13/2012