Friday, August 26, 2016

The Reader Campaign + Giveaway

Happy Friday Everyone!

Today I'm part of a promotional campaign for The Reader, the first book in the Sea of Ink and Gold series by Traci Chee. In this world society as a whole is illiterate and there are no books to be had – GASP!–, so as part of the campaign I've been asked to list for you a few of the books that I just couldn't survive or imagine life without.

As I'm sure is the case for so many of you, that list is a long one, but I've managed to narrow it down to three. If you don't count the fact that some are series, which I don't. Series = one book using Jenny Logic.



I am a huge fan of antihero characters, and Jericho Barrons might just be the antihero to end all antiheroes (to me anyway). He's absolutely infuriating, a complete a-hole, and a sadist, but damn if he's not attractive as all get out too. I've never loved, hated, and then loved a character again as much as I did Barrons throughout this series, and even just mentioning his name brings a smile to my face. Though this series went off the rails a bit for me after Iced and Mac in general could be trying at times, the first five books will forever have a special place in my heart. A place that likes to be tortured by enigmatic bastards named Barrons ;-)



Like Twilight, this series tends to have a pretty polarizing effect - readers either love it or loathe it. This was one of the first series I read when I started really getting back into reading after a long, long break during which I only read class-required books, and it truly made me see how much fun reading could be. It's not going to find its way onto the classics shelf anytime soon, but it's a series that changed my life as it, along with Twilight, was the catalyst for me starting this blog.



I remember the exact moment Throne of Glass hit my radar: BEA 2013. I added it to my "if I have time" list knowing very little about the author or series, and when the Moms and I showed up to stand in line about an hour ahead of time – we thought we'd be first – we found ourselves a solid hundred plus people back. We actually ended up being the last three people who were allowed to get our books signed as Sarah's signing hour was up, and seeing that reaction had me absurdly excited to dive in as soon as I got home.

To say I was underwhelmed by this book would be putting it politely. I had expected magic. A captivating world. A heroine made of wit and badassery. What I found instead was a young woman who did a lot of talking about how epic an assassin she was, but did very little to back it up. It wasn't until Bloomsbury published all five prequels in a single installment (which I devoured) that I truly fell in love with this series, and it's been a source of joy and tears for me ever since.

So there you have it, the books that have made a huge impact on me in one way or another, and those select few that find themselves with spines nearly worn through from re-reading:)

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THE READER

Sefia knows what it means to survive. After her father is brutally murdered, she flees into the wilderness with her aunt Nin, who teaches her to hunt, track, and steal. But when Nin is kidnapped, leaving Sefia completely alone, none of her survival skills can help her discover where Nin’s been taken, or if she’s even alive. The only clue to both her aunt’s disappearance and her father’s murder is the odd rectangular object her father left behind, an object she comes to realize is a book—a marvelous item unheard of in her otherwise illiterate society. With the help of this book, and the aid of a mysterious stranger with dark secrets of his own, Sefia sets out to rescue her aunt and find out what really happened the day her father was killed—and punish the people responsible.

With overlapping stories of swashbuckling pirates and merciless assassins, The Reader is a brilliantly told adventure from an extraordinary new talent.


You can read the first two chapters HERE!

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TRACI CHEE


Traci Chee is an author of speculative fiction for teens. An all-around word geek, she loves book arts and art books, poetry and paper crafts, though she also dabbles at piano playing, egg painting, and hosting potluck game nights for family and friends. She studied literature and creative writing at UC Santa Cruz and earned a master of arts degree from San Francisco State University. Traci grew up in a small town with more cows than people, and now feels most at home in the mountains, scaling switchbacks and happening upon hidden highland lakes. She lives in California with her fast-fast dog. The Reader is her YA debut. 


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GIVEAWAY



In partnership with Penguin Random House, I have a fantastic giveaway to share with you today! One lucky winner will receive a copy of The Reader as well as a snazzy branded "I Am The Reader" tote bag. Win. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US addresses only, and all prizing is provided by Penguin Random House.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

25 comments:

  1. Outlander, Moning's Fever series, Evanovich's Plum series, Dorsey's Serge Storms series, Adrian's Midnight Breed, Kenyon's Darkhunters....this are all autobuys for me.

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  2. Jenny, I totally agree with you re: Barrons. That entire series was such an emotional roller coaster and I'm upset by the recent installments which can't compare to the original five books. I'm not a Throne of Glass fan, but I did enjoy VA quite a bit (except for that love triangle!). Great post, dear--if I had to pick three books they'd probably be impossible to narrow down but I love your list! :)

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  3. I adored the first books (and Barrons) on the Fever series, but I must confess I haven't read the most recent ones.
    Vampire Academy, I haven't read yet... *hangs head in shame*

    And Throne of Glass, I'm currently re-reading it in preparation for Empire of Storms!!

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  4. Throne of Glass by Sarah Maas. My absolute favorite! Also Harry Potter.

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  5. Could not live without Harry Potter. Or The Enchanted Forest Chronicles. Or anything by Janette Rallison (that counts as one series, right? Ha ha!)

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  6. I love HP, Janet Evanovich books, and so many other YA series, don't make me choose just one!

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  7. A society without books would be one of my worst nightmares Jenny! It makes me sad just even thinking about it. ;)
    Have an amazing weekend!!

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  8. I wouldn't be able to survive in a society without books. *Shudders* I keep seeing this book around the blogosphere and I'm very curious about it. Looking forward to reading your thoughts on it.

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  9. I still need to read VA and the rest of Throne of Glass. I agree with the Fever series... which I still need to catch up on. I'm so behind.

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  10. I loved the Fever Series, I need to catch up on Throne of Glass. I can't imagine a world without books, that would be awful.

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  11. Huge yes to the Fever series! I haven't been a huge fan of the books after Shadowfever, but the first five were incredible. Barrons...mm. Gotta love that asshole.

    Night Huntress and Kate Daniels are two for me!

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  12. That's so nice! I'm late with KMM I need to read Iced (and I have it as well as Burned)

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  13. The series I couldn't live without is the Peter and the Starcatcher series.

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  14. Other than the obvious Harry Potter I would say Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. I have them all even the novellas on my keeper shelf at home.

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  15. No books..the horrors. Hmm, Potter, The Others, Yes to Maas.

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  16. Couldn't live without Wizard Of Oz! Obsessed lol

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  17. Couldn't live without the Night and Nothing series by Katherine Harbour!

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  18. I could not live without the SHATTER ME series by Tahereh Mafi! I adore all her work and I love it so much!

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  19. I can't imagine a world without books, too awful to contemplate! I do love KMM's series and there's just so many I need to finish!I can't wait to read The Reader, it sounds like something I would love.

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  20. Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings, no contest. I NEED it.

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  21. The Lord of the Rings. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  22. Looking forward to reading The Reader! It sounds so good!

    One series that I will always have in my shelf is the Harry Potter series.

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