I am so excited to be a part of the tour for MOONSET by Scott Tracey who happens to be one of my very favorite authors. I had the chance to read MOONSET early and may have read it more than once… more than twice… more than that, even… and I can only say that it was amazing and where’s the sequel?

While I won’t be posting my review as part of the tour – apparently I have several posts scheduled for today – it will be up on the blog on Wednesday. So if you’d like to see what I thought about the Moonset coven, its legacy and its characters, feel free to stop back then.

For today, though, I have an awesome interview with children of MOONSET and with the author. And while I’d love to ramble on for awhile, because this post is long and because the interviewees are much more interesting than I could ever be, I’ll stop now.

Of course I have to share the book’s description – just in case you haven’t seen it – some places where you can find it online, a short bio of this incredibly talented author (with photo) and places where you can find him online.

If you’re already a fan and know all about this book and author, then just skip ahead to the interview and be sure to check out the giveaway below for a chance to win one of five copies of the book!

Now, without any further ado, may I present to you….

About the Book…

Moonset, a coven of such promise . . . Until they turned to the darkness.

After the terrorist witch coven known as Moonset was destroyed fifteen years ago—during a secret war against the witch Congress—five children were left behind, saddled with a legacy of darkness. Sixteen-year-old Justin Daggett, son of a powerful Moonset warlock, has been raised alongside the other orphans by the witch Congress, who fear the children will one day continue the destruction their parents started.

A deadly assault by a wraith, claiming to work for Moonset’s most dangerous disciple, Cullen Bridger, forces the five teens to be evacuated to Carrow Mill. But when dark magic wreaks havoc in their new hometown, Justin and his siblings are immediately suspected. Justin sets out to discover if someone is trying to frame the Moonset orphans . . . or if Bridger has finally come out of hiding to reclaim the legacy of Moonset. He learns there are secrets in Carrow Mill connected to Moonset’s origins, and keeping the orphans safe isn’t the only reason the Congress relocated them .. .

GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | FLUX

About the Author…

Scott Tracey is a YA author who lived on a Greyhound for a month, wrote his illustrated autobiography at the age of six, and barely survived Catholic school (and definitely not for the reasons you might think).

He is the author of WITCH EYES, chosen as one of Amazon’s Best LGBT Books of 2011, as well as an ALA Popular Paperback in the Forbidden Romance category. The final book in the WITCH EYES trilogy, PHANTOM EYES, will be released in the fall of 2013.

He is also the author of MOONSET, a new series which will be released April 8, 2013, as well as a contributor to the SHADOWHUNTERS & DOWNWORLDERS anthology, edited by Cassandra Clare.

His career highlights include: accidentally tripping a panic alarm which led to nearly being shot by the police; attacked in a drive-thru window by a woman wielding a baked potato, and once moving cross country for a job only to quit on the second day.

His gifts can be used for good or evil, but rather than picking a side, he strives for BOTH (in alternating capacity) for his own amusement.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | TUMBLR

 The Interviews

Justin…

Even though you’re not the oldest you seem to be the one in charge, the one trying to keep the peace. How do you feel about shouldering this burden? Are you angry that Mal hasn’t taken the lead?

It has to be someone’s job. I don’t mind that it’s me. I mean, it’s not easy all the time: trying to keep everyone from killing each other is a full time job on even a good day. Mal gets too angry sometimes, he wouldn’t make a good mediator. So I think it’s a good thing that it’s me. At least I can try to make everyone happy.

Would you rather be normal – no magic, not related to the Moonset coven – or is having magic worth all the negatives?

Ouch. Give up my family just to be free from who I am? Never. I mean, sure magic might have its downsides, but I wouldn’t be who I am if I didn’t have all of them. They’re my family. I like who I am. I like who they are. And how would I ever make up for what my parents did if I didn’t have the gifts that I have?

Jena…

What do you think about Carrow Mill? If you knew your last expulsion would land you in this town would you have done it anyway?

We moved from the middle of No-One-Cares to a town filled with Witches and Covens? I call this a win-win. Sure, things in town are a little…off. But we’re always being taught by sideshow talents with only a few tricks up their sleeves. I want to know the things the Covens know. Where better to start learning?

No one wants to talk about how stifling our last town was. There are a lot of places we’ve gone where the town is small and in the middle of nowhere, but you can tell the witches know what’s up. This wasn’t one of them. We didn’t even get any real training. Kids my age should be able to cast a decent glamour on themselves. I can barely eavesdrop on someone in the next room. Tell me how that’s fair?

What is your favorite way to piss Justin off?

Some days all it takes is a smile, did you know that? It drives him crazy, wondering what’s going on in my head. That’s the thing about Justin – I always know what he’s thinking, and he can never really figure me out. So sometimes I walk around with a smug little smile and wait for him to implode.

Malcolm…

How does it feel to be stuck with your siblings? You’re the one most likely to be able to live a normal life, do you think that’ll ever happen?

A normal life? You’re kidding, right?

Look, we are what we are. There’s nothing that I can do about it. I leave schools when they have to leave, I move when they move. Wherever they go, I have to follow. Normal has a restraining order out on me. I can’t get within five hundred feet of it.

Do I think it’ll ever happen? No. I’ll be with the rest of them until we die.

Cole…

If you could pull a prank on one of your siblings, who would you prank and why?

Mal, of course. Bailey cries too easily, and no one in their right mind pisses Jenna off. And Justin’s boring. Besides, Jenna gets dibs on that. But Mal freaks out and it’s always hilarious. This one time, I took pictures of him sleeping and posted them up around the school, and girls wouldn’t leave him alone! They had to have a sexual harassment assembly just for him. I mean, not like for him, like he was the only one there. I mean there was one for the whole school, because of the way people treated Mal.

What do you think about the Witchers? Cool or creepy?

Dude, have you seen them? They’re so badass. One of them saved my life, y’know. Quinn’s cool. He has this knife thing and he can use all kinds of wicked magic with it! He used it to stop this gash on my face from bleeding and then turned around and blew up a building like it was nothing!

I tried asking him to show it to me, but he said not until I was older. Which is lame, because Justin and Jenna and Mal are older, and they don’t do anything fun with knives. They don’t do anything fun anyway, but especially not with knives.

Bailey…

What are the best and worst parts of having Jenna as your sister?

Oh…I don’t…is she going to read this? I don’t know.

Jenna’s sweet, she really is. She shows me how to do stuff, she makes sure I’m taken care of, she protects me when she thinks I need it. It’s just…she’s under a lot of pressure. I think it’s harder for her than the rest of us, and she doesn’t want us to know that. I don’t think she wants us to get in trouble, but she just doesn’t know of any other way to make her point.

I just wish people would stop treating her like she’s the worst of us. She’s really not. Evil people don’t take their little sisters shopping and stay up half the night talking about boys. Or do makeovers together. I just wish people could see the Jenna I see, sometimes. I wish Jenna could see. Because I think she’s starting to believe what they tell her. And that scares me.

My Thoughts…

Justin – Your answers just prove why you’re the perfect one to “lead” your family. You rock!

Jenna – Ha! A “little off”???? Really, Jenna? Though it is totally unfair that you can’t glamour yourself. That would be an awesome skill to have. Oh, and I didn’t know that about Justin, though I should have guessed.

Mal – You sound a little resigned, a little depressed. Time for a coffee run? Maybe Justin could make one for you.

Cole – Hehehe! Poor Mal. But you totally chose the right sibling to prank. Love it! As far as the Witchers, I have not had the chance to see them first-hand. And as much as I’d love to, if they were around, that would mean something really bad was going to happen.

Oh, and Cole, you’re scaring me just a little bit with your fascination with knives….

Bailey – Somehow I don’t think Jenna wants everyone to see just how great a person she can be. And I agree, she’s not evil. But magic can be a dangerous thing….

Scott Tracey…

If the Moonset coven were pitted against the Lansings and the Thorpes who do you think would win? Whose magic would you say is strongest?

Well, the Moonset kids have the curse that protects them from being separated/killed, so in a full out assault I’d say they’d win out. But if the Lansings/Thorpes did their research, they might find alternative ways to deal with them.

Magic wise, definitely the Moonset kids. At least the potential is there. In Witch Eyes, everyone has a certain level of strength and/or skill. Jason and Catherine are leagues above most witches, and Braden is leagues above them. But in the Moonset world, you’re only as strong as what spells you’ve learned, but anyone can be a powerful badass. At that point, it becomes a numbers game, and there’s 5 Moonset kids, and only two adults. Moonset all the way.

Who would you say is the strongest character in MOONSET? The most magically inclined? The most clever? The most secretive? The most complicated?

It’s funny, because I’m working on the second book now, and my answers would change significantly between the two books. But since we’re talking MOONSET, here’s what I would say.

Strongest: If we’re talking straight up ‘witch fu’ it’s a tie between Illana Bryer and Quinn, the kids’ guardian. Quinn doesn’t really get a chance to flex his muscles too much in Moonset, but his reputation is well earned.

Magically inclined/clever: These go hand in hand. Jenna is the MacGyver of the group – she has a knack for taking a dozen harmless spells, and finding a way to combine them towards explosive results. Justin is clever, but in different ways, and his gifts would suit him well in rivaling Jenna for most magically inclined. The two of them have the potential to be the most dangerous (in a much different way than Bailey) out of all the Moonset kids. Which is to be expected, because their parents were the most magically gifted members of the original Moonset coven.

Secretive: Justin. The adults keep a lot of secrets, but Justin has an inherent distrust of anyone outside of his family unit, even when keeping secrets is to his detriment. Maybe it’s because he knows that sometimes, a good leader has to hold back, but he has trust issues on a monumental scale.

Complicated: Jenna for sure. Yes, she can come across a thoughtless, spiteful person, but I think there’s a whole interior of mushy emotions and fear that she’s trying to conceal. Jenna to me is the most layered character of the five, because I think that there’s always something deeper at play with her. That’s part of the reason she dislikes Ash so much, because in a way they’re too much alike.

Quinn was another character who played a fairly significant role in the story. How would you describe him and his role? Do you think Justin and his siblings see Quinn the same way you do?

To me, I see Quinn as the older brother that the kids always needed. Even if they don’t understand it like that. He’s someone in a unique position – he’s one of the heir apparents to the witch Congress (as the grandson of the two most politically powerful witches around), he’s one of the most highly regarded Witchers to come out of training, and he’s one of the few people who doesn’t look at Justin and the others and think “Moonset.” It affords him a position where he’s able to look out for the kids, and try to guide them, in the way that an older sibling should.

Quinn’s one of my favorite characters, because I see him as being something different to each of the Moonset kids. He models himself after what he thinks each of them need, so as a result the relationships he forms with each of them is just a little bit different. It’s not just that he’s looking out for the kids, but he knows them. He knows how they behave, what they want out of life. And he genuinely wants to be a part of their lives.

If you could pick one line of dialogue that made you grin while writing it, what would it be?

“You look like Betty White’s grandmother, and you smell like a Kardashian!”

Basically, any time Cole is in a good mood and feeling mouthy, it’s my favorite.

Each of your chapters offers up a little bit of Moonset’s history. What made you decide to reveal pieces of the dark coven’s past in that way? And is this something we’ll see more of in the sequel?

I’m not sure where the idea first came from, but I remember latching onto it as soon as I wrote the first one. I needed something in terms of Moonset’s history, and it became an extension of the worldbuilding, because of course in a world where magic was regulated there would be books written, interviews done, investigations, etc.

Each book will probably continue this trend, but not in the same way. Book one was the ‘setting the stage’ book, so it was mostly about Moonset and the war they started. The second book’s epigraphs will be tailored to the mysteries of that book. But so far, I only have one written for sure. (I don’t write the epigraphs until after the book is done).

You’re working on the sequel to Moonset right now. How is the research for the second book different than what you had to do for the first?

Well, with the first book, most of my actual research was just in putting together the theories about how this world worked. How the government operated, who was in control, how Moonset had happened, etc. So I spent a lot of time figuring out the structure of the world. My goal was to create a world of witches that was bogged down in bureaucracy and ineffective because of its size. Shades of our real world government, in a way.

With the second book, I’ve had to do a lot more actual research. The first book was all about setting the stage, and the second has become more about advancing the story. I’ve had to do a lot of research into psychopathy in teenagers, what causes psychotic breaks, other types of disorders that stem from a loss of control.

And then of course there’s the fun stuff: there’s a wealth of websites that deal with abandoned structures, and the people who investigate them. Second to actually going to these places to investigate for yourself, a website full of stories and high-res pictures of it’s current state are incredibly inspiring. I like to think of Carrow Mill as a quintessential New England kind of town, but it’s a town with a big history. So I think that probably around the time Moonset came to it’s end, the town reincorporated itself, shedding layers and buildings that no longer fit it’s “new” image. The idea that there are parts to the town that were just cast aside or swept under the rug fascinates me.

My Thoughts…

Yay for the children of Moonset! Though I’d still love to see a full out Lansing/Thorpe assault. That would be awesome!

Woot, I love Quinn! And not just because he’s older, has mad skills and is a great guardian. But what he does… oh, I probably shouldn’t say, should I?

LOL re: the MacGyver reference. Explosive, I totally agree. But I think her results are more of the “happy little accidents” variety. And I love that you dropped the reference to Bailey in there. And oh Justin and his trust issues. Though I think Jenna probably has some major ones, too.

Love Jenna! And I love layered characters. Makes them much more interesting. I’d love to see a story from her POV at some point.

I’m so glad to hear from you that Quinn is in fact genuine. As much as I do love him, I always have trust issues with characters in his particular position. The fact that you tell me he’s genuine makes me smile. Of course, I am a little worried you’ll change your mind down the road…. Yes, I have trust issues as regards authors and their characters, too.

Cole is awesome! That line, LOLOLOL!

I love those peeks into Moonset’s history. I don’t usually pay attention to things at the beginning of a book’s chapters as I find they pull me out of the story, but in MOONSET they were tidbits of info that I was excited to discover.

Ahh research…. I would say it doesn’t sound like fun, but “psychotic breaks”? “Psychopathy”? Yeah, that could be very interesting. But… OH MY GOSH what is going to happen in book two!?!

Those neglected buildings from a bygone age fascinate me, too. I can’t wait to see what you do with all of that… and your other… research. So… how long again until the sequel?

Forget about these tours, KEEP WRITING!

And I just have to say a huge THANK YOU to the author and his characters for sharing all sorts of insights with me and my blog’s readers. You totally made this final stop on the tour ROCK!

The Giveaway

The very awesome publisher is offering up for giveaway FIVE copies of MOONSET. It is US ONLY and you must be 13 and older to enter.

There are no requirements to like or follow, just answer the question from the Rafflecopter in the comments section about which witches sound more like your kind of witches – those from the author’s Moonset coven or those from his Witch Eyes series. (The description for WITCH EYES can be found HERE.)

There are also a few extra entry opportunities (not required).

Just enter in the Rafflecopter below…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Tour Schedule

As this post is super long, I’ve only included the tour schedule for this last week of the tour. But if you’d like to check out the full schedule you can find it on Rockstar Book Tours HERE.

Below are the YA books releasing this week that I am spotlighting for my “Book Watch: Releasing This Week” post.

These are books for the week of April 2nd-April 8th that I have pre-ordered.

NAMELESS by Lili St. Crow will be released in the U.S. on April 4, 2013 in hardcover and ebook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Razorbill, the print edition is 336.

NAMELESS is the first book in author Lili St. Crow’s new series Tales of Beauty and Madness.

NAMELESS sounds just so amazing and I’m so excited it’s releasing on Thursday. While I won a signed copy in a charitable auction, I didn’t want to read it because it was signed and I try to never read them if I can help it. So, I’m anxiously awaiting its download to my Kindle on Wednesday Midnight. And I plan on finding some time at the end of this week to dive in.

I am just so curious how this tale is an “evocative update of Snow White” given the book’s description which makes it sound like a completely unique story. Well, aside from the fact that Cami is taken in and cared for by the head of one of seven Families, much like Snow White who was “adopted” by those seven dwarves.

I can’t wait to meet Cami and find out just what her secrets are and why she was scarred and mute when she was found. I’m also very interested in meeting the mysterious Tor and finding out about his past.

I love that this story has the addition of “A Tale of Beauty and Madness” as part of its title, as it makes me all the more intrigued by it. And if I manage to get just a bit more caught up with my must read for review books, I will definitely be diving into NAMELESS later this week.

THE COLLECTOR by Victoria Scott will be released in the U.S. on April 2, 2013 in paperback format – the eBook was released on March 25th. It is currently available to pre-order (and order) online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Entangled Teen, the print edition is 400 pages.

THE COLLECTOR is the first book in the Dante Walker series by author Victoria Scott. The sequel, THE LIBERATOR, is slated for release on August 27, 2013.

I actually already have a copy of THE  COLLECTOR on my Kindle from when it downloaded last week. But I decided to order a print copy to add to my collection, too, and I will hopefully get it on Tuesday.

I’ve already read THE COLLECTOR and fell madly in love with it so there will be no guessing about what Dante Walker was up to in this book. Because I already know. Of course I won’t say what he was up to. That would be spoiler-y. But as you can imagine, if you’ve heard anything about this book, not all of what he’s up to is good.  He is a collector after all.

I will just say that the book lived up to its hype. Dante may not have been at all what I expected, but I loved who he actually was much more than the hyped version. Of course I may just have to re-read it now that I’ll have a couple copies of the finished version. Especially since the release date for the sequel is almost five months away. And that’s way too long to be without Dante Walker.

VENGEANCE BOUND by Justina Ireland will be released in the U.S. on April 2, 2013 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, the print edition is 320 pages.

I have been dying to read VENGEANCE BOUND since the moment I checked out the description ages ago. It sounds so completely awesome – bloodlust, the Furies, justice… revenge. And I cannot wait for its release on Tuesday.

I can’t wait to meet Cory and learn just how she managed to escape the asylum. But more, I want to know how she can live with the Furies constantly in her head. And I also can’t wait to meet Niko and find out why the Furies are quiet around him and what it all means.

The description calls this book “edgy” and I am so excited to finally be able to go along on Cory’s “quest for revenge.” Even if it means there won’t be a happily ever after in her future.

If I can’t find the time to read it this week, I definitely hope to add VENGEANCE BOUND to the pile next week.

DARK TRIUMPH by Robin LaFevers will be released in the U.S. on April 2, 2013 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, the print edition is 400 pages.

DARK TRIUMPH is the second book in the His Fair Assassin series by author Robin LaFevers. The third book, MORTAL HEART, is slated for release in 2014.

I am so excited that DARK TRIUMPH releases on Tuesday and that everyone will have a chance to read this amazing book, which I am currently reading. Sybella is awesome. Seriously, seriously awesome.

As I already spotlighted it for my Book Watch post a couple of weeks ago, I will be brief. But I just have to say that I love that this second book in the series follows a new character, even though I totally adore Ismae. I think the world that author Robin LaFevers created is so richly detailed and so easy to get lost in that I have no idea why I didn’t read this book the moment I had a copy in hand.

And I think Sybella’s story is just as exciting as Ismae’s…. maybe a bit more so because I already know I love the world and its characters.

If I hadn’t already wanted to read this book, the description would have completely sold me on it when it mentioned that DARK TRIUMPH “serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure….”

But I already very much wanted to read it. So the fact that I had pre-ordered a copy for my Kindle should come as no surprise. To anyone.

THE RISING by Kelley Armstrong will be released in the U.S. on April 2, 2013 in hardcover, audio and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in all formats at AMAZON and in hardcover and eBook formats at BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by HarperCollins, the print edition is 416 pages.

THE RISING is the third and final book in author Kelley Armstrong’s Darkness Rising trilogy.

While I am a little bit behind on this series – I still must read book two – I have THE RISING pre-ordered and cannot wait to read it later this month. After the major cliffhanger at the end of THE GATHERING I was slightly hesitant to pick up the next book in the series without having the final book on hand.

Well all that changes this week as the end of the trilogy is upon us. And I am so stoked that I will be able to read the rest of the series without having an excruciating wait. And, I don’t have to re-read the first book as it is still totally fresh in my mind… most likely due to the killer cliffhanger ending.

But I am so excited to get back into this series and see just which of the characters from the author’s other series make their appearance in this one. But I also cannot wait to find out what’s going to happen with Maya… though I refuse to read the description since I haven’t found out exactly what happens in THE CALLING.

I am so sad that this, too, is a short series as I’d love to see a longer YA series by the author. Her paranormal series for adults is quite a bit longer, and as I love all of her characters in this series and her Darkest Powers series, I wish these series would be longer, too.

At least this final book will be releasing this week and I won’t have to wait to conclude this series…. Still not sure I’m ready to see it end, though.

THE SWEETEST DARK by Shana Abe will be released in the U.S. on April 2, 2013 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Bantam, the print edition is 352 pages.

THE SWEETEST DARK is the first book in author Shana Abe’s series of the same name. The sequel, THE DEEPEST NIGHT, is slated for release on August 13, 2013.

I fell for THE SWEETEST DARK because of its cover and the last two lines of the description, so of course I had to add it to my list of pre-orders. And I cannot believe that it’s releasing on Tuesday. Especially with the sequel releasing just four months from now.

No. No, I’m not complaining about that.

But I cannot wait to get lost in post-Victorian England and in a “love story that defies time.” I cannot wait to discover Lora’s secrets and see just what powers she does have.

And I can’t wait to choose whether I’ll be rooting for Jesse or Armand to be a part of that love story. As both boys seem to be equally appealing from the description, I haven’t the first clue who I’d choose.

I really hope to get the chance to visit Iverson and meet these most intriguing characters later this week.

MOONSET by Scott Tracey will be released in the U.S. on April 8, 2013 in paperback and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both forats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Flux, the print edition is 384 pages.

MOONSET is the first book in author Scott Tracey’s The Legacy of Moonset series. Information on the second book in the series is not yet available.

MOONSET releases next Monday. Wow. I cannot believe it is really going to be on shelves in less than a week. After such a long, long wait, it’s finally almost here! And while I may have read it more than a few times, that fact makes me no less excited for its release which will hopefully download on Sunday night.

Of course I will be stalking the bookstore next weekend in the hope that it will be on shelves a few days early. Fingers most definitely crossed.

And while I could have included MOONSET with next week’s releases, as I follow release weeks from Tuesday through Monday, I just had to list it among this week’s releases.

As I have read it, and talked about it on the blog A LOT, my lips will be sealed from any further praise. Until my review, that is. But I just have to quickly say that I love this book. I love the fact that the story surrounds a coven of witches and that there is dark magic and a dark past. And I cannot wait to see this story continue in the sequel.

RISE by Anna Carey will be released in the U.S. on April 2, 2013 in hardcover, audio and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in all formats at AMAZON and in hardcover and eBook formats at BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by HarperCollins, the print edition is 320 pages.

RISE is the third and final book in Anna Carey’s Eve trilogy.

I am so excited that RISE is releasing on Tuesday. Even though I only recently met Eve and Caleb, both already released books have lived on my Kindle since their respective release dates. And so I feel like I’ve known them forever.

And as I am reading ONCE, I am not going to even glimpse at the Goodreads description. Because I have been burned by spoiler-y descriptions in the past and don’t want to have the ending spoiled when I’m so closed to reaching it.

So, I will just say that while I only started reading this series the other week, I am incredibly excited to be finishing it up this week. I love not having to wait between each book, because it allows me to stay immersed in the world, to remain connected to the characters and their plight, and to feel like I’m on this incredible adventure with them.

There is no question that I will be reading RISE on release date, even though it is a series ending book. Because I am not ready to leave the world just yet. I only hope I’ll be ready to say goodbye when the time comes….

WHITE LINES by Jennifer Banash will be released in the U.S. on April 4, 2013 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.

Published by Putnam Juvenile, the print edition is 304 pages.

WHITE LINES will be releasing on Thursday and I cannot wait for my copy to download. I did receive a couple early copies, which I just had to take a peek at. And from what I read so far I absolutely loved the author’s writing style and was intrigued by her main character, Cat. So I had just to pre-order a copy of this book for my collection.

But it was the description that first grabbed my attention. The setting – New York City in the 1980′s – is one that immediately made this a must read. And the fact that the main character tries to escape into NYC’s nightlife makes this story one that is very relatable to me.

The description promises a “gritty, atmospheric” story and I cannot wait to find out if that is true and whether I’ll be held captivate from start to finish.

My plan is to read my early copy before release date. But if I don’t finish reading it by Thursday, I will definitely switch to the finished eBook copy in my collection once it downloads.

IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS by Cat Winters

Pub. Date: April 2, 2013

Publisher: Amulet Books

(AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE)

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LIGHT (Gone #6) by Michael Grant

Pub. Date: April 2, 2013

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

(AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE)

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My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi

Pub. Date: April 2, 2013

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

(AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE)

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IF HE HAD BEEN WITH ME by Laura Nowlin

Pub. Date: April 2, 2013

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

(AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE)

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FEARLESS (Mirrorworld #2) by Cornelia Funke

Pub. Date: April 2, 2013

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

(AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE)

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STUNG by Bethany Wiggins

Pub. Date: April 2, 2013

Publisher: Walker Childrens

(AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE)

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RENEGADE (Ripper #2) by Amy Carol Reeves

Pub. Date: April 8, 2013

Publisher: Flux

(AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE)

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NATURALS (The Lost Souls #2) by Tiffany Truitt

Pub. Date: April 2, 2013

Publisher: Entangled Teen

(AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE)

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I knew the week of April 2nd was a big release week. I just don’t think I knew I had nine books on order. Wow. Plus, I really want to buy IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS, but as it isn’t available to pre-order in electronic format, I’m doing a wait-see and will hopefully buy it on release date if it is.

I already read two of the books I have pre-ordered and plan on finishing four more this week – RISE, THE SWEETEST DARK, DARK TRIUMPH and WHITE LINES. Though I really want to be able to read NAMELESS, too. But I think four books are more than I can handle, so I’d say my plan is overly ambitious. But who knows….

And I don’t think next week is quite as packed full of new titles as this week is. But if it is, I hope I’ll be able to read most of them and avoid making my TBR pile grow any larger.

Anyway…

I hope that you found some amazing titles to add to your collection this week. And if I’ve missed anything, please let me know so that I can check it out and potentially add it to my collection, too.

And if you have a favorite title releasing this week, I’d love to know which one it is you’re most excited for and whether you’ll be moving it immediately to the “currently reading” pile.

As always, I would love to hear what you’re hoping to add to your collection this week!

And if you have any great suggestions of “must read” books to buy that are releasing this week, please let me know!

I was lucky enough to be able to get the chance to read MOONSET just a bit early. In fact, I had enough time between when I first got my hands on an early copy and its release – which is coming up on April 8th – that I was able to read it more than once.

And I absolutely loved the characters that author Scott Tracey created for this new series. I loved the fact that there were so many dark secrets about the Moonset coven in this first book in the series. And I love that not everything has been revealed at the story’s end.

As the author is one of my favorite new authors, whose writing I love a little bit more with each story of his I read, I just had to offer up a few copies of his very-soon-to-be-released book MOONSET.

All the details are below. But first, if you haven’t yet heard of MOONSET, I’ve included the Goodreads description which reveals a little bit about the story but doesn’t even begin to hint at the book’s awesomeness.

Moonset, a coven of such promise . . . Until they turned to the darkness.

After the terrorist witch coven known as Moonset was destroyed fifteen years ago—during a secret war against the witch Congress—five children were left behind, saddled with a legacy of darkness. Sixteen-year-old Justin Daggett, son of a powerful Moonset warlock, has been raised alongside the other orphans by the witch Congress, who fear the children will one day continue the destruction their parents started.

A deadly assault by a wraith, claiming to work for Moonset’s most dangerous disciple, Cullen Bridger, forces the five teens to be evacuated to Carrow Mill. But when dark magic wreaks havoc in their new hometown, Justin and his siblings are immediately suspected. Justin sets out to discover if someone is trying to frame the Moonset orphans . . . or if Bridger has finally come out of hiding to reclaim the legacy of Moonset. He learns there are secrets in Carrow Mill connected to Moonset’s origins, and keeping the orphans safe isn’t the only reason the Congress relocated them . . .

A paperback copy of MOONSET by Scott Tracey to THREE (3) winners

• Only ONE entry per household
• You MUST be 13 or older to enter
• There will be THREE (3) winners
• Winners will be chosen by Random via Rafflecopter
• Winners will be announced in the Rafflecopter form and contacted by email
• Winners will have 48 hours to respond after notification
• Books will be pre-ordered and sent from Amazon or The Book Depository depending upon location

There is no requirement to like or follow, but spreading the word would be awesome!

Enter in the Rafflecopter below…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I cannot believe that MOONSET’s release is only a month away. I remember when I heard the author first mention his new series, and the date for its release felt a lifetime away. Now it’s just a month.

Of course I grabbed it when it was made available on NetGalley. Of course I read it way to early for me to even think about writing my review. Of course I had to read it again just to be sure I didn’t miss anything.

And…

Of course I just had to take part in this book blast to help spread the word about this super awesome author’s upcoming release. As such a huge fan of his writing, his characters and the worlds he builds, I couldn’t resist. Though I will resist the temptation to reveal just what happens in MOONSET, just what it means to be a member of the Moonset Coven, and just what happens to Justin, Jenna, Cole, Malcom and Bailey after landing in Carrow Mills.

Even though MOONSET’s release is a month away, I’m already pining for the sequel. But for those who haven’t yet read about MOONSET, be sure to check out the description below to learn more. And be sure to visit the author’s website for all sorts of information about his new book and series.

As part of this blast there is also a giveaway being shared across all the blogs hosting this post. You can find details on that below.

Moonset (Legacy of Moonset #1)

Author: Scott Tracey
Release Date: April 8, 2013
Publisher: Flux
Pages: 384

Justin Daggett, his trouble-making sister, and their three orphan-witch friends have gotten themselves kicked out of high school. Again. Now they’ve ended up in Carrow Mills, New York, the town where their parents—members of the terrorist witch organization known as Moonset—began their evil experiments with the dark arts one generation ago.

When the siblings are accused of unleashing black magic on the town, Justin fights to prove their innocence. But tracking down the true culprit leads him to a terrifying discovery about Moonset’s past . . . and its deadly future.

PRE-ORDER NOW FOR ONLY $5.55
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

About Scott Tracey

Scott Tracey is a YA author who lived on a Greyhound for a month, wrote his illustrated autobiography at the age of six, and barely survived Catholic school (and definitely not for the reasons you might think).

He is the author of WITCH EYES, chosen as one of Amazon’s Best LGBT Books of 2011, as well as an ALA Popular Paperback in the Forbidden Romance category. The final book in the WITCH EYES trilogy, PHANTOM EYES, will be released in the fall of 2013.

He is also the author of MOONSET, a new series which will be released April 8, 2013, as well as a contributor to the SHADOWHUNTERS & DOWNWORLDERS anthology, edited by Cassandra Clare.

His career highlights include: accidentally tripping a panic alarm which led to nearly being shot by the police; attacked in a drive-thru window by a woman wielding a baked potato, and once moving cross country for a job only to quit on the second day.

His gifts can be used for good or evil, but rather than picking a side, he strives for BOTH (in alternating capacity) for his own amusement.

Find him…

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | WEBSITE | TUMBLR | GOODREADS

The Giveaway

The Prizes
1- $25.00 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
1- $25.00 iTunes Gift Card
Open Internationally
Gift Card to be delivered electronically

Enter in the Rafflecopter below…
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today is the LAST day of Top 10 of 2012.

A week of Looking Back…

…and Looking Forward.

I am so excited to be able to co-host this event again this year with Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic and Jaime from Two Chicks on Books. I am even more stoked that Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads has joined us as a co-host this year.

In case you hadn’t heard of our week-long event, it runs for five days, ending today, where we have been sharing some of our FAVORITE lists and inviting YOU to share yours in the Linky list each day.

Throughout the week, each of the hosts has offered up some bookish items for giveaway that you can enter, so be sure to check out all of our stops this week. Of course, if you’re just as curious as I am, you’ll want to check out as many of the top ten lists being shared this week as possible.

And if you haven’t yet signed up, that’s OK, there’s still time, though not much…. Just check out THIS POST for all the details.

Even if just want to join in for just today that’s okay. We’d love to check out your post.

The topic for today is…

Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2013

The only requirement seems to be that the book releases in 2013. So of course that means I’m going to cheat, just a little. Because I can’t possibly list only ten books releasing in 2013 I’m dying for. Though I will make them exclusively YA books I just can’t wait for.

So….

There will be TWO lists of top ten books I’m looking forward to. Those that are books in a series whose sequels I’m dying for and new books I can’t wait to read. But that second list will be making its appearance on The Annex or else this post would be WAY too long.

And sadly they won’t include any of the seven books listed below, as I’ve already read them and either reviewed or rated them and just didn’t think it would be fair to list them….

Top Ten Books in a Series I’m Dying to Continue Reading in 2013

1.

WITH ALL MY SOUL (Soul Screamers #7) by Rachel Vincent

Why Top Ten? Tod Hudson… Well, yes, him. But also because this series is one of my all-time favorites. The author is a brilliant writer. The characters are near – and oh so dear – to my heart. The ride has been one heck of a roller coaster. Who knew banshees could be this kind of awesome?

Sadly this series is coming to its heartbreaking end. Okay, so maybe the book won’t be heartbreaking – though I think it will be – but my heart will be broken that it’s ending. And that after getting to know Kaylee, Tod, Nash, Sabine and Emma as well as I have, having no more books to look forward to will be devastating.

So, yes, there was no question WITH ALL MY SOUL would top my list of books I’m just dying to read this year. I just hope I’ll be ready to say goodbye on release date.

2.

PHANTOM EYES (Witch Eyes #3) by Scott Tracey

Why Top Ten? Because that ending in DEMON EYES was devastating. Because the story is amazing and intense. Because the characters are ones whose safety I fear for constantly. Because the writing has moments of beauty, humor, snark and tension.

Yet another series I’ve fallen in love with is coming to an end in 2013. I wouldn’t be able to bear the thought of having to say goodbye to this series if I didn’t get the chance to read the first book in the author’s new series – MOONSET. If there wasn’t the promise of more of that, I’m not entirely sure how I’d cope.

Because saying goodbye to Braden, Drew, Trey and Jade is something I’m not fully prepared for. Three books is way too short a series and I’m ever hopeful for a prequel story in this world. Whether that be one about Jason and Catherine or one all about Drew and Jade.

3.

ENDLESS KNIGHT (The Arcana Chronicles #2) by Kresley Cole

Why Top Ten? That ending. It killed me. I am obsessed with finding out just what happens next. I’m also super curious to know more about the Arcana. Especially Death. As I may have mentioned yesterday, I’m intrigued by Death.

As there is not even the littlest of hints about what is in store for the characters in this upcoming book on Goodreads, I’m even more desperate for answers, a tiny clue… anything.

But even if my curiosity wasn’t quite as piqued as it is, this book would still make my top ten because the world is amazing, chilling, horrifying. The characters are ones I could read about forever. The chemistry between them is electrifying. And the possibilities seem endless.

4.

A TOUCH MENACING  (A Touch Trilogy #3) by Leah Clifford

Why Top Ten? Because I’ve never been more scared to read a series-ending book than I am with A TOUCH MENACING. Because it is one of the darkest series in YA I’ve ever read. Because it’s so unique and evil and brilliant.

I’m terrified of seeing just how this series ends. I’m not at all looking forward to… okay maybe I am, just a little, morbid curiosity and all… finding out just how cruel the author has been to her characters. She pulls no punches. Ever.

And I have this feeling… a bad, bad feeling… that I’m going to be shocked, heartbroken, devastated when I reach that last page. Which is why I’m so glad that there weren’t any ARCs made available in 2012.

Because I think this book is one I’m going to have to fight to start reading and when I do, I’m sure I’ll be reading it with squinted eyes or through the spaces between my fingers like I do with anything that has the potential to scare me. I’m sure it will be scary good… but it will be knife-through-the-heart terrifying too.

5.

AFTERGLOW (Wildefire #3) by Karsten Knight

Why Top Ten? Because this series is epic. Because the heroine is seriously, seriously fierce. Because the mythology is diverse and interesting. Because the story is action-packed, heartbreaking, and packs one heck of a punch. Because the writing is simply gorgeous.

I can’t imagine that this series will be able to come to a close in this third book. This story just holds so much possibility. There are so many gods and goddesses who have interesting backgrounds I’d love to know more about.

And Ashline Wilde’s “predicament” doesn’t seem even close to being resolved.

Of course I’m confident the author will be able to wrap things up in this third book. I just don’t want that to happen. I most definitely want more.

6.

SWEET PERIL (The Sweet Trilogy #2) by Wendy Higgins

Why Top Ten? Kaidan Rowe. That is all.

Okay, well I wasn’t being entirely honest. There is more to this book than Kaidan Rowe. There’s the fact that this world is so incredibly dark. The bad boy is incredibly bad – he is the son of the Duke of Lust after all. Oops… I somehow brought that back around to Kai again.

The writing is so incredibly good. The characters are interesting. The plot is immensely entertaining. And I’m just dying to know what’s next. Especially as I read the description….

Which leaves me with questions, questions and more questions. Release date is just too far away.

7.

DANCE OF THE RED DEATH (Masque of the Red Death #2) by Bethany Griffin

Why Top Ten? The writing is gorgeous and haunting and flows beautifully. The world is utterly intriguing and horrifying. It pays homage to Poe’s stories. It’s dark, disturbing and tension-filled.

I am so looking forward to continuing this story. I’m actually rather desperate since I took a peek at the description and read these two sentences:

“Araby’s world is in shambles—betrayal, death, disease, and evil forces surround her. She has no one to trust.”

Yeah. That makes me really worried about just what happened with the two boys I thought she could trust. Even though there already was that one incident….

If only April would get here quicker….

8.

BOUNDLESS (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand

Why Top Ten? This series is gorgeous. It’s made me cry so very many tears over the heartbreaking moments. It left me almost equally torn between the two boys in Clara’s life. The writing is simply beautiful. Did I mention how often it made me cry?

I don’t want this series to end, even if this final book is as “riveting” as the description promises. I want it to go on for at least another two books… or more.

Although I’m not ready to face “The End” or witness the final battle, I am looking forward to this next installment. I just wish it wasn’t the final one.

The description talks of “sacrifices” and “betrayal” but gives no answers as to who will make the sacrifice, who is being sacrificed, who gets betrayed or who does the betraying. All I know is that I’m very, very nervous about just how the author will have her characters say their goodbyes.

Yet even with all of that I cannot wait until BOUNDLESS releases and I can discover those answers for myself.

9.

GODDESS (Starcrossed #3) by Josephine Angelini

Why Top Ten? Because I read DREAMLESS way too early and the wait has been torturous. Because I am desperately anxious for just what will become of the star-crossed lovers – Helen and Lucas. Because after that last epic journey that kept Helen and Lucas apart, I’m even more nervous for their future.

I fell madly in love with STARCROSSED. I loved the crazy and intense connection that Helen and Lucas made. I loved how they had to fight their urge to destroy one another. I loved how the author resolved that situation…. Nope, sorry, no spoilers here.

In DREAMLESS I ached for the situation that Helen was being put through. I was terrified about this new connection she was making. I was intrigued by the mythology that was explored. And when I reached the end I nearly screamed because I wanted more, more, more.

Well, it’s almost 2013. The wait is just about over. Of course the fact that this is yet another series-ending book has me totally devastated. But the description promises there will be “no question unanswered.” Yet at the same time it says no heart will be “untouched.” Oh no!

So… of course this book made my top ten list. I only wish there was another one to make the list in 2014.

10.

UNBREAKABLE (Unraveling #2) by Elizabeth Norris

Why Top Ten? Because UNRAVELING was such an amazing surprise. Because that book tugged on every heartstring. Because that ending left me desperate for the sequel. And because I read the description for UNBREAKABLE and oh my gosh….

I have absolutely no right to be tormented about the wait for UNBREAKABLE. Because I joined this party late – I only read UNRAVELING this fall. But  I feel tormented. I am tormented.

That description definitely did its job. It’s left me at the edge of my seat wanting to know just what happens next. It leaves me with so many questions. It makes me want answers NOW. And it makes me so very nervous about a certain character I didn’t ever want to be nervous about.

As this sequel also has its own sort of countdown clock, I just know it will be every bit the nail-biter that UNRAVELING was. Which makes me more than look forward to its release. Words like desperate, maybe a little despondent, slightly inconsolable, and perhaps a touch wretched come to mind.

So that’s my top ten… well, one of them anyway. As mentioned above, I couldn’t possibly list just ten books releasing in 2013 I’m looking forward to. So these are just those books in a series I’m looking forward to continuing in 2013.

My top ten picks for new books in a series, standalones, debuts or other books that will be a “first” for me, can be found on THE ANNEX.

Last year I went a little crazy with my Top 10 Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2012 list. I’m thinking the numerous honorable mentions are what prompted the suggestion this year that we don’t go overboard. Yes I did a top ten “best of” list and then did a list of the “rest of” the books I was dying to read.

So this year I’m keeping the honorable mentions to just five books I have on my radar. Of course I did create that other list on The Annex… but still, that totals a mere twenty-five books. A much more reasonable number than the 100+ I had on last year’s list.

SCARLET (Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer

UNTITLED (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth

DARK TRIUMPH (His Fair Assassin #2) by Robin LaFevers

CLOCKWORK PRINCESS (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

THE LOST SUN (The United States of Asgard #1) by Tessa Gratton

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It’s still not too late to sign up for the event, even though it ends today. Whether you want to go back and post your Top Ten Lists for any of the missing posts or you just want to start today… you can!

For those of you who are participating, I can’t wait to check out your Top Ten posts – and most especially today’s post as I just know there are a ton of books coming out in 2013 that I haven’t heard of yet. Just leave your link in the Linky List below so everyone can take a peek.

And don’t forget to check out today’s giveaway on…

PLEASE NOTE: This is the SAME Linky List that is on each of the co-hosts blogs, so please just enter your links once!