Happy Birthday to Me!

Hi all!

My birthday is coming up so I’m going to take a short blog break. You’ll still be able to find me on twitter @demitrialunetta, so you won’t miss me too much J

I’ll be back next Monday, March 4^th with a new IN THE AFTER giveaway followed by an ARC Spotlight of RUSH by Eve Silver on Wednesday March 6^th.

See you next week!

 

The Blog Chain - An American Classic Goes Post-Apocalyptic

The Blog Chain topic this week is:

Pick a book or story and imagine it in a new genre. For example, what would Oliver Twist be like if it was a sci-fi novel. Would Fagin have been a robot? Do you prefer you new creation or the original?

 

 

For my genre reassignment, I chose THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS by James Fenimore Cooper. Even if you haven’t read the original novel, you’ve probably seen the movie featuring a young, rugged Daniel Day Lewis. Let's have look shall we...

 

 

 

 Even though the plot is completely different the movie still covers the basics: Set during the French and Indian War, Hawkeye travels with his adoptive Native American father and brother, Chingachgook and Uncas. They meet up with the newly arrived Munro sisters and take it upon themselves to protect the girls from all kinds of unexpected dangers. Characters run around the American wilderness, fall in love, and some die bravely. Everything you could want from an American classic.

I would love to see these characters survive a virus caused apocalypse. There’s so much survival in pre-revolutionary times, that the skills Hawkeye possesses would really translate. He could even have the same weapons and his adoptive family. Filled with not so subtle racism and sexism, (in the book, English and French hate each other and the Native Americans while the Native Americans hate the English and any other tribe of Native American. There are some interesting jibes about how the English are dogs to their women and the Delaware wear skirts). Even these elements could stay…a post-apocalyptic world would not be completely politically correct. The English and the Native Americans can be updated to two competing factions, while the French would translate well as humans effective by a virus…probably with some horrific mutation. Not quite zombies, but aggressive, violent, sub-humans.

If you’ve read (or seen) LAST OF THE MOHICANS, you know that’s there’s a ton of action, a solid romance, and some heart-breaking loss. The characters are courageous, and fueled by a strength of character required to survive the early days of America.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, but I’m really digging the idea of an updated version.

What about you guys, which books would you reimagine and how? 

Keep following this topic on the chain and check out Michelle’s blog on Monday, or look back at Katrina's post from yesterday.
 

Silence IN THE AFTER

Today I’m over at the 2K13 blog talking about the importance of sound IN THE AFTER, so head on over and check it out. I’ll also be manning twitter @TheClassof2K13 so come over and visit.

 

Speaking of 2K13, my 2K13 classmate, Liz Fichera, will be at THE BOOKSTORE in Glen Ellyn, IL tomorrow signing copies of her debut novel HOOKED. I’ll be out there, supporting her and she’ll be the first 2K13 writer I’ll get to meet in person! She’ll be there from 6-8 so stop by too!

The Bookstore - 475 N. Main Street - Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

ARC Spotlight – THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING by Ashley Elston

 

 

She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.

Recommended for fans of: YA Contemporary/Thriller

I loved how the plot of THE RULES FOR DISSAPEARING unfolded, unraveling a mystery with just enough suspense and action mixed in. “Meg” is a very relatable MC, having been plucked from her privileged carefree life and always fearful she will have to move again. She resents her parents and doesn’t understand the situation she’s been thrust in to. All of her frustrations are bottled up though, as she tries to be strong for her younger sister. There are also surprising twists and turns along the way, which make for an exciting read.

THE RULES FOR DISAPEARING is available for pre-order and will be released May 14^th.

ARC Spotlight – THE OATHBREAKER’S SHADOW by Amy McCulloch

 

 

Fifteen-year-old Raim lives in a world where you tie a knot for every promise that you make. Break that promise and you are scarred for life, and cast out into the desert.

Raim has worn a simple knot around his wrist for as long as he can remember. No one knows where it came from, and which promise of his it symbolizes, but he barely thinks about it at all—not since becoming the most promising young fighter ever to train for the elite Yun guard. But on the most important day of his life, when he binds his life to his best friend (and future king) Khareh, the string bursts into flames and sears a dark mark into his skin.

Scarred now as an oath-breaker, Raim has two options: run, or be killed.

Recommended for fans of: YA Fantasy

The premise for this fantasy novel is unique and I love the idea that there are real consequences to breaking a promise. You are immediately thrown into Raim’s world, and McCulloch’s world building is fantastic. I also like how severe and unwavering Raim’s society is. They have rules for a reason and breaking those rules means banishment. Even Raim’s status can’t save him. It’s a set up for a fast-paced, suspenseful story.

THE OATHBREAKER’S SHADOW is available for pre-order and will be released June 4^th.

ARC Spotlight – TAKEN by Erin Bowman

 

 

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

 

Recommended for fans of: YA Dystopian

I sped through this book, intrigued by the unique idea. I don’t want to give away too much, but Bowman does a great job of sucking the reader in and then rounding out the story. The concept of being enclosed in an area and never knowing what is beyond the wall is creepily brilliant. Would you accept your fate – the Heist – or climb the wall and almost certainly die? There is bit in the middle where the reader thinks… “What the what?!” but this echoes the characters’ feelings and Bowman doesn’t wait too long to begin the explanations. Great dystopian read!

TAKEN is now available for pre-order and will be released April 16th.

ARC Spotlight - TRUTH OR DARE by Jacqueline Green

 

 

When a simple round of truth or dare spins out of control, three girls find it’s no longer a party game. It’s do or die.

It all started on a whim: the game was a way for Tenley Reed to reclaim her popularity, a chance for perfect Caitlin “Angel” Thomas to prove she’s more than her Harvard application. Loner Sydney Morgan wasn’t even there; she was hiding behind her camera like usual. But when all three start receiving mysterious dares long after the party has ended, they’re forced to play along—or risk exposing their darkest secrets.

How far will Tenley, Caitlin and Sydney go to keep the truth from surfacing? And who’s behind this twisted game?

 

Recommended for fans of: YA Contemporary/Suspense
 

I loved the premise of this book: What would you do if someone threatened to expose your darkest secrets? Would you betray your friends? Hurt others? Damage your own rep? This book was very suspenseful, keeping you guessing as to the identity of the “darer” till the very end. You also get the POV from not one, not two, but three different characters, each with a unique (if purposefully limited) perspective that lets the reader have more clues and a more rounded picture than any one character. I also loved how each girl had issues but also their strong side, each a complete person and not a caricature.

TRUTH OR DARE is available for pre-order and releases May 14^th.