The Maze Runner Blog Tour: 5 Days to Go and a Special Giveaway!

It's only 5 days to go until The Maze Runner hits cinemas on the 10th October and I'm so excited to go and see it! I first read The Maze Runner way back when I first started blogging in 2010 (you can check out my rather poor attempt at a review here, do try not to laugh, I was only a newbie!) and it's one of the first books I recommend to fans of The Hunger Games who are looking for something similar. If you can't wait to see Mockingjay and need your adrenaline fix I'd recommend checking this film out. In case it's been totally off your radar until now here's your chance to check out the epic trailer!

   

I don't know about you but I prefer to read the book before I go and see the movie adaptation and so I'm giving one lucky UK reader the chance to win a copy of The Maze Runner signed by the author James Dashner. Simply read the rules and fill in the Rafflecopter to enter. Good luck!

Giveaway Rules 

 To enter you have to fill in the Rafflecopter

 Open to UK residents only 

 End date: Sunday 12th October 2014 

 The winner will be drawn and contacted by email with 1 week to reply else another winner will be selected 

 Make sure you complete what the form asks of you - I do check! Any winner who has not completed an option will be disqualified 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Stop by The Overflowing Library tomorrow for the next stop on the tour 

The Maze Runner is out now in paperback (£7.99, Chicken House)

The 5th Wave Blog Tour: My Survival Pack, Audio Extract, Trailer and How to Win a Signed Copy!

Welcome to my stop on The 5th Wave global blog tour! The 5th Wave is not only one of my favourite books of this year but one of my new all-time favourites, so I’m really honoured to be one of the blogs from around the world selected for this tour.

First of all if The 5th Wave isn’t on your radar yet I urge you to stop what you are doing right now and check out my review here to get a better picture on what this amazing book is about and to hear my thoughts on what makes it so mind blowingly good, then when you’re done come back to this post as I have four exciting things to share with you today!

The Trailer 

Find out more about the waves that shatter our world in this trailer! 

Listen to an Audio Extract! 

What I’d Pack if I Was a Survivor 

• Books on Survival, First Aid, Plants and their Properties etc: 

Admittedly I know very little about survival in the wild, how to heal certain injuries, which plants are poisonous or good for healing etc. so I feel like these books would be vital to my survival. Plus how many characters get snuffed out over something as simple as not knowing if a plant is poisonous or how to properly dress and clean an infection? 

• As many none perishable food items and bottles of water that I can carry along with water purifying tablets. 

• My copy of The 5th Wave 

To feel less alone and for some helpful tips and tricks! 

• First Aid Kit 

• Matches

 No rubbing sticks together for me! 

• Basic hygiene supplies 

• A journal and pens 

I need to write to keep sane. And I’d like to think if my time was up somebody would find it one day and learn our history if there were any survivors. 

• Photos of my family 

• Sleeping bag, tent, blanket 

• As many knifes as I could carry

• Solar torch 

• A change of clothes and sewing kit 

• My phone 

In The 5th Wave power is gone and a phone would be useless but I’d like to keep mine in case the power ever came back on. It may be a way of contacting people I used to know when this is all over. 

• Compass and Map 

 Win One of Ten Signed Copies of The 5th Wave! 

Listen closely to the audio extracts on each tour stop to find the answer to the following question: What is Cassie's Name Short For? Got the answer? Email it to: puffin@penguin.co.uk with the subject heading '5th Wave Comp' by Monday, May 20th 2013. 

 Find Out More About The 5th Wave www.the5thwaveiscoming.com 

Be sure to check out the banner in my sidebar for the rest of the stops on this tour!

Win a Copy of Icons by Margaret Stohl! (UK Only)

To celebrate the upcoming publication of Margaret Stohl’s (one of the best-selling authors behind Beautiful Creatures!) Icons the UK publishers are providing me with one copy of the book to giveaway to one of my UK readers (sorry to any international readers this was at the request of the publishers as they are the ones providing the book.) In case this book isn’t on your radar yet here is what it’s about…

 

Goodreads Synopsis

"Your heart beats only with their permission. Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting. Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid. She's different. She survived. Why? When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy. Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths. Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future."

The Trailer

 

Rules 

To enter please fill in the Rafflecopter 

 Open to UK residents only 

 End date: Friday 26th April 2013 

 Winner will be contacted by email and will have 1 week to reply else another winner will be selected. 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway for Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black! (UK/ Ireland Only)

Hello lovelies! Today I wanted to bring to your attention an exciting upcoming February release that I am really looking forward to Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black which is being published in the UK on the 12th February by Bloomsbury. This book is being pitched as Black Swan meets Gossip Girl and I can’t wait to read it! And thanks to the publisher I have one proof copy to giveaway to one of my UK readers but in case this book isn’t on your radar yet here’s a little bit more about it…

Synopsis
"Vanessa doesn’t believe that her sister is a runaway. She wouldn’t leave her family behind without saying a word. The only way Vanessa can discover the truth behind her mysterious disappearance is to follow in Margaret’s footsteps, but to do so she risks her sanity and maybe even her life . . .

Vanessa Adler is one of the talented few to get a place at the acclaimed New York Ballet Academy. Between backbreaking rehearsals for the school’s production of The Firebird she desperately tries to find out what happened to her sister before she vanished. There are rumors that the pressure of performing the lead role, the same role Vanessa is now rehearsing for, drove her mad. Other girls have gone missing too. Can the role be cursed? Vanessa’s new relationship with leading-man Zep only seems to complicate things further. What is he hiding from her and can she really trust him?

Black Swan meets Gossip Girl in this thrilling first book in a new series. Sexy, sinister and full of secrets, readers will be hooked on Dance of Shadows from the first page. Look out for the sequel in 2014."

 Watch the stunning trailer! 

You can also like the Facebook page, add to your Goodreads wishlists, or even download the first three chapters for free from Amazon UK to get a taste for the book! For your chance to win simply read these rules and enter the Rafflecopter good luck! 

Rules 

To enter please fill in the Rafflecopter 

Open to UK/Ireland residents only 

End date: January 24th 2013 

Winner will be contacted by email and will have 1 week to reply else another winner will be selected.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bookish News! The First Official Hunger Games Trailer and Upcoming Dystopian Releases

So here I was earlier this week casually y’know just chilling on Twitter when BAM. IT Happened. Tweets galore “Have you seen The Hunger Games trailer yet?” “Have YOU seen The Hunger Games trailer yet?” “HAVE YOU SEEN THE HUNGER GAMES TRAILER YET??!!” “Why no I haven’t!” So off I went on search on the interwebs. I found it, I clicked play, I clicked play again, repeat, repeat, repeat. I scrutinized, I observed, and after a good half hour of watching and much scrutiny I went straight back on Twitter and said “HAVE YOU SEEN THE HUNGER GAMES TRAILER YET??!!” I declared my love for it, told everyone I could to watch it, and let a little sparkle of hope dance around my heart that this was going to be one of those movies that actually lives up to the book. Then I went and re-read it.

For those who haven’t seen it yet I have thoughtfully provided it bellow for your viewing pleasure. And if you have seen it tell me what do you think?

You are most welcome!

Keeping with the dystopian theme I also have some awesome news courtesy of the lovely Lauren at Random House Children’s Books UK. Random House are bringing out some fantastic dystopian reads in 2012 and 2013 and I’m really happy to be able to share with you a sneak peak on what they’re about.

The first book coming our way is Starters by Lissa Price, an American screenwriter, publishing in April 2012, Starters is an action-packed thriller set in a world where eternal youthfulness can be had – at a price. One girl has the ability to bring it all tumbling down . . .

Hot on its tail in July 2012 will be Struck by Jenifer Bosworth which is set in a post- apocalyptic Los Angeles. After the city is devastated by an earthquake, Mia Price finds herself in the middle of a power struggle between two fanatical cults; one that wants to save the world and another that wants to destroy it.

Then for the first of our 2013 releases we have Sangu Mandanna’s debut The Lost Girl which centres around Eva, a feisty teen girl who technically has no true identity of her own. Eva is forced to abandon everything she's ever known and loved, finding herself torn between two worlds.

And finally, children’s librarian Emma Pass, releases ACID in early 2013. This action-packed novel introduces us to Jenna Strong, a truly kick-ass heroine who is serving time in an all-male prison for the murder of her parents. Set one hundred years in the future in a Big Brother style society; Britain is now under the control of ACID – a terrifying all-seeing police force.

Ruth Knowles, Commissioning Editor comments, ‘Dystopian fiction is a much-talked about genre, particularly with the release of The Hunger Games movie next spring. We have acquired some fantastic futuristic thrillers that we know will appeal to this audience, and are confident that RHCB will have some of the most exciting novels in the genre. The worlds within them are very different from each other, but all completely hook you in from the first page and do not let go.’

They all sound awesome right? I have to say my personal favourites that I’m most excited for are Starters and ACID they just sound so brilliant! But as a huge fan of dystopian books I’m sure I’m going to love all of them!

All together I’d say that we’re in for a fantastic dystopian filled year next year whether dooms day comes or not…

Bookish News! Featuring Pandemonium Giveaway, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Velvet and Tesco’s Book Blog...

What better way to start the weekend than by telling you guys about some exciting book news! All info was emailed to me from reliable sources so big thank you’s to the publishers who email me giving me juicy info to share with my readers!

So first up is something I myself am hugely excited about. With Delirium by Lauren Oliver now out in paperback the lovely people at Hodder are celebrating by running a competition exclusive to the UK where you can win one of the first five UK proofs of Lauren’s upcoming novel, Pandemonium, the follow on from Delirium. Exciting much!? Anyone can enter as long as you live in the UK for more info follow the link to enter here.

Also from Hodder we have the final cover reveal for the highly anticipated Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I love this cover almost as much as I loved the book itself and can’t wait for it to be released into the wild on September 29th. Here is also the new stunning UK trailer, for more information on Daughter of Smoke and Bone check out my review here.

Click on image to enlarge

For more September news Mary Hooper is releasing her new book Velvet a creepy sounding historical fiction from this much loved author. She’s planning on making some public appearances in September to promote the new book. Here are the details below. If you’re around the area you really should stop by!

6pm, Tuesday 20th September
Just Imagine Story Centre, 64-68 New London Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0PD
Tel 01245 267748
Tickets: £5
info@justimaginestorycentre.co.uk
http://www.justimaginestorycentre.co.uk/content/writing-children-group-mary-hooper

2pm, Sunday 25th September
Guildhall, High Street, Bath BA1 4BX
Tel: 01225 463 362
Tickets: £5
bathboxoffice@bathfestivals.org.uk
http://www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk/celiareesandmaryhooper.aspx

And for my last piece of gossip Tesco have launched a fabulous book blog! I tend to get a lot of my books from Tesco thanks to their amazing offers and Tesco Books are sure to offer up some really exciting posts with sneak previews, author interviews, giveaways and competitions. I and some fellow UK book bloggers are also set to participate in some posts so keep your eyes peeled for those! Click on this link to take you to the blog and you can follow them on twitter @TescoBooks

That’s all from me for now, have a fabulous weekend!

Jess x