Feature: Daughter of Smoke and Bone trailer

So, I have this friend who makes these amazing SIMS trailers for books. I've linked to them or tweeted about them in the past, but a little while back, I forced her to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.  And she ended up loving the book as much as I did!  Maybe even more because she was inspired to create the amazing SIMS trailer you see below.

Anyway, when I asked April if I could feature her DoSaB trailer on the blog, her only request was that I make sure to give full credit to Jessica, the artist behind the drawing of Brimstone.  Jessica's work can be found on deviantART.  I don't think I could have imagined a more perfect image of Brimstone than her representation.

Also, if you want to read a little more background on how April created the trailer and such, check out her post about it. I can't imagine the work she puts into these trailers, but they are full of awesome.  She also did one for Fifty Shades of Grey, which had me rolling on the floor.  April is currently working on a trailer for the sequel.

And, without further ado, here is the beautimous SIMS trailer for Daughter of Smoke and Bone, created by the wonderfully-talented April:




You can find April on Twitter, on her blog - Sim~Sational~Books, and on YouTube.  Please stop by and tell her how awesome her trailer is!

Also, when I was working on adding the links to this post, I noticed that the cover for the sequel to DoSaB was up on Goodreads.  When did that happen?!?  In case you, too, missed it, here's the cover for Days of Blood and Starlight:

What do you think? Awesome, right? Can't wait to get your hands on it, right? Yeah, me either!

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Labels: apes, book bloggers, book trailers, daughter of smoke and bone, favorites, features, laini taylor, must-read

Feature: Tempest by Julie Cross

The word about Tempest (my review here), the first novel in a trilogy by Julie Cross, is already spreading like wildfire.  And thanks to the wonderful people at Macmillan/St. Martin's Griffin/Griffin Teen, I have some goodies to share to prepare you for this time travel adventure!




First up, I have an audio clip of the first chapter of the Tempest audiobook:

If that's not enough of a time-traveling Jackson fix for you, you can read an excerpt of the first four chapters of Tempest on the book's Facebook page.  And if that's still not enough Jackson for you, here's a bonus short story from Julie Cross that takes place before the events of Tempest: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Facebook



Tempest will be released on January 17, 2012, by St. Martin's Griffin.

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Labels: features, freebies, teasers, tempest

Feature: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Maggie Stiefvater is one talented woman.  Yet again, she's created another awesome book trailer, this time for The Scorpio Races, due out in October of this year.  On her blog, she calls this book "basically the most me novel that I've ever written."  I was excited to read it before, but now I must have it!  I don't think I can wait until October!  And I might not have to...Maggie is giving away three ARCs as part of a contest to get the word out about the novel!  Click here for the details on the contest, then scroll down to view the Maggie-created trailer for the novel.  Also, to pre-order a signed, Maggie-doodled copy of your own, visit Fountain Bookstore.

From Goodreads:

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.
 
And here's how Maggie describes the novel:
 
"The book started as a short story written for a tiny anthology I did with the Merry Sisters of Fate, back when we began. It's based on a legend I've always loved (Irish water horses) and deals with two character types I adore. A fierce girl with loads of brothers (I have lots of brothers myself) and a Mr. Darcy sort of love interest (my first Mac was named Mr. Darcy. You know, difficult to get to know but worth it in the end. GET IT?). It's about a deadly horse race run at the base of chalk cliffs, and it is all about siblings, repressed love, and revenge. I spent months researching cliffs and islands and Irish horse racing and buns made with lots of honey to write this novel, and it's basically the most me novel that I've ever written."
 

 

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Labels: book trailers, features, maggie stiefvater

Feature: Pottermore

Pottermore has finally (almost) arrived!!!



I got my email addy in to be part of the beta group on July 31st (Harry's birthday!), did YOU?  If not, you'll only have to wait until October.  You've waited this long, right?  :)

Here are some images from the site's Press Room to hold you over:

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Labels: features, harry potter

Feature: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

I only recently discovered Born Wicked, the first book in the The Cahill Witch Chronicles by Jessica Spotswood, but it's already generating a lot of buzz, and it's not even due out until February of 2012!  And now it has a cover!  And to celebrate, the author is hosting a contest!  She'll be giving away some awesome Penguin ARCs, including Crossed by Ally Condie, Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer, and Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins.  For your chance to enter, visit the author's blog and leave a comment by noon today!

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Labels: features, giveaways

Feature: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Okay, if you've already read my review of Wither, you already know how much I loved the first installment of the The Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano.  Well, now's your chance to win not only a personalized ARC of Wither, but also one for Fever, which hasn't even been printed yet!  Interested, you say?  Well, go check out the author's blog for all the details.  And help spread the word.  This is one of my top 5 picks of the year!  Everyone should read it!!!






And in case you still aren't convinced, here's the trailer for Wither:

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Labels: book trailers, chemical garden trilogy, features, giveaways

Feature: Solstice by P.J. Hoover

So, I only recently heard about this novel, which was published this month as an ebook by the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, but the tagline alone has ensured its spot at the top of my TBR pile.  If ever a book's premise was actually aimed directly at me, this would be it:  "Where Mythology and Dystopia meet..."








Did you see that gorgeous cover?!?  And it has an awesome trailer to go with it:


This shall be my "sitting by the lake" holiday read, so be sure to check back soon for my review!  And be sure to check out the author's blog for more information, extras, and other fun stuff!

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Labels: book trailers, features, solstice