DNF Books {1}

DNF = did-not-finish.

These posts aren't meant as reviews, but only to state why you might have seen me reading a book through my Goodreads gadget on the sidebar, but never got a review for it (because I do want to review every book I read).

Title: UnEarthed

Author: Rebecca Bloomer

Release Date: July 2nd 2012

Publisher: Odyssey Books

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads

How far I got: 21%

Why I didn't finish this: I couldn't tolerate the main character. Now, you might have seen this being my same reason for hating books but still finishing them i.e. here, here, or here, but in this case, the writing didn't make the story appealing for me, so I just didn't have a reason to go on. 

Do I recommend this: If you're really into sci-fi.

Title: Tempestuous: A Modern-Day Spin on Shakespeare's The Tempest (Twisted Lit #1)

Author: Kim Askew & Amy Helmes

Release Date: December 18th 2012

Publisher: Merit Press

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads

How far I got: 25%

Why I didn't finish this: The story was slow to take off. For me, it's important to immediately entice the reader to continue reading, especially with contemps. The first 20% of Tempestuous was spent introducing a myriad of unessential characters, and by the time the snowed-in part of the blurb happened, I still couldn't find a reason to sympathize with the main character. Also, said main character often felt superior to her "geeks and misfits" co-workers at the mall, and that irritated me.
Do I recommend this: Only if you're patient.

Title: Cephrael's Hand (A Pattern of Shadow & Light #1)

Author: Melissa McPhail

Release Date: September 22nd 2010

Publisher: Outskirts Press

Source: ecopy for blog tour

Goodreads

How far I got: Can't check anymore.

Why I didn't finish this: Slow. Too much vagueness right off the bat. Just too damn long. 

Do I recommend this: If you can handle the length (like GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire books, but FYI, I loved those books).

Title: Talisman of El (Talisman of El #1)

Author: Alecia Stone

Release Date: May 20th 2012

Publisher: Centrinian Publishing

Source: NetGalley (for blog tour)

Goodreads

How far I got: 19%

Why I didn't finish this: I honestly don't know. The story, writing, and characters were all good, but I got bored.

Do I recommend this: Yes. This just wasn't for me, I guess.

(covers and book data from Goodreads.com)

{Blog Tour} Spotlight + Excerpt: Talisman of El - Alecia Stone

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Title: Talisman of El (Talisman of El #1)

Author: Alecia Stone

Release Date: May 20th 2012 

Publisher: Centrinian Publishing

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?

One Planet.

Two Worlds.

Population: Human ... 7 billion.

Others ... unknown.

When 14-year-old Char­lie Blake wakes up sweat­ing and gasp­ing for air in the mid­dle of the night, he knows it is hap­pen­ing again. This time he wit­nesses a bru­tal mur­der. He's afraid to tell any­one. No one would believe him ... because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago - the day before his dad died.

Char­lie doesn't know why this is hap­pen­ing. He would give any­thing to have an ordi­nary life. The prob­lem: he doesn't belong in the world he knows as home.

He belongs with the others.

About the author:
Alecia Stone is the author of Talisman Of El (Centrinian, 2012), the first book in the Talisman Of El trilogy. She graduated with a BA in Film & TV and has worked in television for a short period of time before branching out into storytelling. Alecia loves anything and everything paranormal. Her fascination with all things supernatural sparked her obsession with books, particularly young adult fantasy fiction, which she has never grown out of. She was inspired to become an author after reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen at the age of fourteen.

In 2008, Alecia started working on Talisman Of El, a contemporary young adult fantasy fiction inspired by people who disappeared mysteriously, including, but not limited to, Amelia Earhart and Percy Harrison Fawcett, who went on an expedition in search of an ancient lost city. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys going to the movies, listening to music, and travelling.

Talisman Of El is her first novel. At present, Alecia lives in England, United Kingdom with her family.

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