*This title will be released on April 24, 2012*

Title: Whisper Author:  Alyson Noël Series: Riley Bloom #4 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy Excerpt: Yes Source: Netgalley Reviewed by: Julia Reading level: Ages 9 and up Paperback: 240 pages Publisher: Square Fish; April 24, 2012 ISBN-10: 0312641567 ISBN-13: 978-0312641566   Sexual Content: Kissing. Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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See all the covers now after the jump! (Yay Julia for rebuilding the post)

This week several familiar series get new additions and Jeri Smith-Ready’s Shade trilogy gets a complete series make-over.  Things get a little meta as we comment on a cover that features a blurb from All Things Urban Fantasy (the kind of surprise that just makes our day), and my feelings about Photo-shopped tattoos finally spin out of control.  Not that I’m against them wholesale, but I think I like them better when the cover artist doesn’t even try to pretend they’re real.  Other than some wicked Gena Showalter butterflys and the gorgeous ink on AFTERLIGHT, I’m having a hard time coming up with a good example.  Can anyone suggest a series that “does tatts right”?  

Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready 

(Click to enlarge)

Description: No other love has burned so bright. Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced that she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves...even if that means betraying her own heart. “TA-DA! You thought you were getting just the SHINE cover today, didn't you? I'm excited to present the brand-new look for the entire SHADE trilogy! “ - Jeri Smith-Ready

Series: Shade #3 Photographer: Monica Stevenson Goodreads: Link	Publisher: Simon Pulse Release Date: May 1, 2012 Source: Fictitious Delicious
Julia’s Thoughts	Abigail’s Thoughts
Click on the Fictitious Delicious link to read Smith-Ready’s reaction to the cover redesign, I like her breakdown of how Aura grows throughout the series and the “mood” Smith-Ready would like for each cover.	I was never a fan of the original covers, so I’m thrilled that this amazing series is finally getting a design overhaul. Love the bright yellow colors & just the overall smoky effect.

Previous Covers in This Series

This week is a fascinating example of how changing a few details can sometimes make all the difference on a cover, or no difference at all.  Just a few minor changes to J. R. Ward’s LOVER REBORN tightened up the whole composition to make a good cover great, but changing the entire cover model wasn’t enough to get TANGLE OF NEED a thumbs up in my book.  

Black Heart by Holly Black 

Description: Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy. But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love. No Author Comment Available.

Series: Curse Workers #3 Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link	Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Release Date: April 3, 2012 Source: Tez Says
Julia’s Thoughts	Abigail’s Thoughts
This run of covers is much less cinematic than the ones with real models, a much more fantasy feel.  Given the edgy feel of the series, I think the live action covers fit the series better.  This one is rather generically YA.	This has to be the UK cover…it looks nothing like the US versions, but I still think the purple almost disco vibe is a wrong fit for this series in any country.

Previous Covers in This Series

Thank you all for entering this giveaway and to Zeitghost Media for providing the prize.

The winner (chosen by Rafflecopter) is…

Silver Thistle

Congratulations! I’ll be emailing you soon.  Please respond with your address within 48 hours or a new winner will be drawn.

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Didn’t win?  Buy your own copy of DREAMLAND:

Giveaway provided by Zeitghost Media

One copy of DREAMLAND by Alyson Noël

 

Riley’s finding that the afterlife can be a lonely place when all you do is focus on work. So she goes to the place where dreams happen, hoping to find a way to contact her sister, Ever. She meets the director, who tells her about the two ways to send dreams. As a Dream Jumper, a person can jump into a dreamer’s dream, share a message, and participate. As a Dreamweaver, an entire dream can be created in a studio and sent to the dreamer. But Dreamweaving was outlawed decades ago, and the studio was boarded up. Thinking it’s her only way to reach out to her sister, Riley goes in search of the old studio. There she finds a ghost boy, who’s been creating and sending nightmares to people for years. In order to stop him and reach out to Ever, Riley is going to have to confront and overcome her own fears.

 

Enter via the widget:

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Interested in offering a giveaway on All Things Urban Fantasy? CONTACT ME

Giveaway provided by St. Martin's Press via Zeitghost Media

One copy of EVERLASTING by Alyson Noel

Available June 7th from St. Martin's Press is the final book in Alyson Noel's beloved Immortals Series

The sixth and final installment of the epic love story that has enchanted readers across the world. Ever and Damen have spent centuries facing down bitter rivals, jealous friends and their own worst fears—all in the hope of being together forever. Now in Everlasting, their destiny is finally within reach.

Will they be united—or torn apart forever? Readers will finally discover the truth in this anxiously awaited conclusion!

 

Alyson Noel's Immortals Website:

http://www.alysonnoel.com/immortals/

Macmillan Publishing's Alyson Noel site:

http://us.macmillan.com/author/alysonnoel

Giveaway Guidelines

1. Open to US & CA only

2. Leave a comment that includes a way to contact you if you win

3. Winner will be announced on June 11, 2011

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Interested in offering a giveaway on All Things Urban Fantasy? CONTACT ME

Title: Evermore Author: Alyson Noel Series: Immortals #1 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Paranormal YA Excerpt: Yes Source: Bought Reviewed by: Abigail Reading level: Young Adult Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1 edition (February 3, 2009) ISBN-10: 031253275X ISBN-13: 978-0312532758 Sexual Content: Kissing. References to sex.  Reverences to homosexuality. A scene of sensuality. My Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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Description

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch.   Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste…

 

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition.  He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets.  Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head.  She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is.  Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

 

Review

EVERMORE is sort of like TWILIGHT through the looking glass.  Ever is the introverted mind reader who tries to stay away from the new student who she can’t read.  And Damen is like a combination of TWILIGHT’s Edward and HUSH, HUSH’s Patch.  He’s dangerously gorgeous with supernatural abilities and an inexplicable (at least to everyone else) attraction to the quiet freak aka Ever. He is also a shameless flirt, an occasional liar, and often a flat out jerk.  But it all worked together in a really compelling way.

 

What didn’t work as well were Ever’s two best friends.  It seems like they just banded together out of necessity at school without really liking each other or having anything in common. Haven is a pitiable disaster of a human being.  Her desperation is choking at times, and she had enough wild mood swings to drive me nuts.  And then there is Miles, the flamboyant, stereotypical gay friend who seems to be in scenes just so he can “pout” or “squeal” about how delicious a guy is:

"Are you guys talking about Damen?" Miles whispers, sliding onto the bench and placing his elbows on the table, his brown eyes darting between us, his baby face curving into a grin. "Gorgeous! Did you see the boots? So Vogue. I think I'll invite him to be my next boyfriend."

 

The mystery of what happened to Ever and who/what Damon is, is the core of this story and it’s strong enough to balance out the annoying supporting cast.  The writing is also thoughtful and emotionally evocative that I'm genuinely looking forward to catching up with this series. The sixth and final Immortal book, EVERLASTING, will be released on June 7, 2011. 

 

Previous Books in Series	Also Reviewed By:
N/A	Karin's Book Nook Darque Reviews Y.A. Reads