{Promo} Excerpt & Giveaway: The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Ladies and gents, I am beyond excited to be able to share an excerpt today from Marie Lu's newest novel! But even better than that, Penguin is offering up a giveaway to celebrate the book's release!


                                               Some hate us, think us outlaws to hang at the gallows.
                                               Some fear us, think us demons to burn at the stake.
                                               Some worship us, think us children of the gods.
                                               But all know us.

THE YOUNG ELITES
By Marie Lu
In stores October 7th

Pre-Order The Young Elites: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Apple | Kobo
Here's the blurb:

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

About the author:

Marie Lu is the author of the New York Times bestselling Legend series. She spends her spare time reading, drawing, playing Assassin’s Creed, and getting stuck in traffic. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with one boyfriend, one Chihuahua mix, and two Pembroke Welsh corgis.

Find Marie:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumblr

LEGEND. PRODIGY. CHAMPION. ELITE. Don’t miss a word. Enter for your chance to win the full list of Marie Lu titles including the complete Legend trilogy and the all-new release The Young Elites.

Prizing & samples courtesy of Penguin Books USA.

Rules:

• This giveaway is US only. The publisher will be providing the prize for this giveaway.
• One entry per household. 
• Entries will be verified. Any entry found to be falsified will result in disqualification of all entries for that participant. 
• Winner will be notified via email. Winner will then have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be selected. Please check your SPAM folder!!! 
• We are not responsible for lost packages. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Marie’s NYT-bestselling Legend series will be available in paperback after September 7th. Reviews on the Legend series:

“Legend doesn’t merely survive the hype, it deserves it.” –The New York Times

“Marie Lu’s dystopian novel is a ‘Legend’ in the making.” –USA Today

“An action packed-love story full of inventive details.” -The Los Angeles Times


Good luck!

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Labels: excerpts, giveaways, legend, marie lu, penguin, promotions, the young elites

{Audiobook} Review: Champion by Marie Lu

Title: Champion
Author: Marie Lu
Narrator:  Steven Kaplan, Mariel Stern
Series: Legend, book #3
Length:  10 hrs 3 mins
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: November 5, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

The explosive finale to Marie Lu’s New York Times bestselling LEGEND trilogy—perfect for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT!

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

The way I feel after having finished Champion is the way I had hoped to feel after Allegiant.  Shoot, it's the way I hope to feel after reading any series finale but most especially those that have become favorites. This is how you write the ending to a trilogy.  This is how you say goodbye to characters that feel more like friends than simple descriptions in the pages of a book.

It's with a heavy heart that I do say goodbye to June and Day but not because their ending wrecked me.  On the contrary, the ending to the Legend series was quite hopeful.  It wasn't picture perfect, wrapped up like a Christmas present with a beautiful bow.  But it was spectacular in the way that it pulled you in, made you feel cozy like when you're sitting in front of a warm fire with a mug of hot cocoa.  I should know...I listened to the last ten minutes at least three times last night.  ;0)

I promise to try not to make any more comparisons to that other finale from a couple of weeks ago.  It's just that it's still so fresh on my mind that it's hard not to.  But this book deserves to stand on its own merits, especially because it was such a strong finish.  There were moments of extreme tenderness and love, but not minutes later, I was overcome with this insurmountable sense of grief over what one character specifically was facing.  It was difficult not to give into both of those emotions and wish to remain in that portion of the novel, but there's a war brewing, and I didn't have time for brooding over what might have been or what's been lost.  Not yet, anyway.  Though the characters themselves are often faced with their pasts and previous mistakes, they endeavor to overcome all of that and move forward.  In the face of all of their vulnerabilities, all of their perceived shortcomings, they were strong and self-sacrificing and proved to everyone just how resilient they could be.

Did you think there was a love triangle emerging in Prodigy?  'Cause I didn't.  And for those of you who think triangles are the foulest trope to grace the pages of our YA novels, rejoice.  It's practically nonexistent. No.  It IS nonexistent.  Shame on all ye who doubt June and Day's feelings.  Their romance has really blossomed over the course of this trilogy, and though it's not always sunshine and rainbows for them, they're the real deal.  Just don't expect them to realize it overnight.

The war, the plague, the biochemical warfare...it's all pushed to the forefront in this final book, and as much as we want our beloved Legend and Prodigy to get their happy ending, the country comes first.  The way this world has been set up has always frightened me...it's just so unbelievably plausible.  And it feels even more so in this installment.  It's militaristic but also chaotic, pitting government against government, citizen against citizen.  Even Antarctica gets in on the action.

This is the first time I listened to a book in this series on audio.  I remember the details of the other two books pretty vividly, this being a favorite and all, so I didn't feel compelled to listen to the first two books prior to picking up Champion. However, after listening to Champion on audio, I have to say, I kind of wish I had.  I loved the narrators chosen to portray June and Day.  They embodied these characters so perfectly, and they sounded like the teenagers that these characters are.  Right down to Day's "yeah".  *sigh*  I definitely see myself purchasing the other two audiobooks for a future re-read/listen.

Champion is a stunning conclusion: fast-paced, action-packed, and riddled with emotion.  Marie Lu knows how to bring the feels, and she knows how to use them against you.  But as with most good villains, I'm sure she'd say that the end justifies the means.  :)  If you're already invested in this series, you have to see it through, and I'm pretty sure you'll be happy with the ending.  Seriously, it was a truly satisfying and fitting end.  And if you haven't started the series yet, well, get to it, especially if you're coming off one of those (ahem) other unsatisfying series endings, yeah?  :D

About the author:

I write young adult novels, and have a special love for dystopian books. Ironically, I was born in 1984. I like food, fighter jets, afternoon tea, happy people, electronics, the interwebz, cupcakes, pianos, bright colors, rain, Christmas lights, sketches, animation, dogs, farmers' markets, video games, and of course, books. I suck at working out. I also get lost very easily, but am a halfway decent driver. At least, I like to think so. :)

I left Beijing for the States in 1989 and went off to college at the University of Southern California. California weather sweet-talked me into sticking around, so I'm currently in Pasadena with my boyfriend, two Pembroke Welsh Corgis, and a chihuahua mix. In my past life, I was an art director in the video game industry, but now I write full-time.

Find Marie:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: audiobooks, book trailers, dystopian, favorites, legend, marie lu, must-read, penguin, post-apocalyptic, reviews

{Promo} Champion by Marie Lu: Excerpt & Trailer

There are so many awesome finales releasing in the next few months, but one that makes the top of the list for me is Marie Lu's Champion.  After that epic cliffhanger in Prodigy, I've been waiting with bated breath for this final installment.  The wait's almost over, but in anticipation of Champion's release, the publisher has released an excerpt and trailer for your viewing pleasure, which I'll be sharing momentarily.  But first, a little more about this explosive final book in the Legend series:


Title: Champion
Author: Marie Lu
Series: Legend, 3rd & final book in the series
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publication Date: November 5, 2013

The explosive finale to Marie Lu’s New York Times bestselling LEGEND trilogy—perfect for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT!

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

Visit the Legend series website here for a two chapter excerpt:  http://www.legendtheseries.com/champion_excerpt.pdf





And here's the teaser trailer:



How excited are you for November to get here?!?  I think it's rather apropos that this book is releasing on Guy Fawkes Day, and I can't wait to see how well it's received. It's going to be an epic finish for a brilliant series, and if you haven't yet started these books, I highly recommend them!

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Labels: book trailers, dystopian, excerpts, favorites, legend, marie lu, must-read, penguin, promotions

Waiting on Wednesday: Champion by Marie Lu & The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection's are...

Title: Champion
Author: Marie Lu
Series: Legend, 3rd & final book in the series
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publication Date: November 5, 2013

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

I love this series. So. Much.  And June and Day's story just gets more and more complicated.  But after that ending in Prodigy, I thought I would die, having to wait to find out what happens.  I think Marie Lu could have a very lucrative career in torture.  And then for the release date to be pushed back!  Gah! What are you doing to me?!?

The Legend series:

Title: The Beginning of Everything
Author: Robyn Schneider
Series: n/a
Publisher: Katherine Tegen
Publication Date: August 27, 2013

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?

Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.

For those of you unawares, this book was previously titled Severed Heads, Broken Hearts.  The original cover is provided below for your viewing pleasure, as well.  I think this new cover and title are more mainstream and likely to garner a larger audience, but either way, that summary has definitely captured my interest.

What are you waiting on this week?  Feel free to share it in the comments or leave a link so we can stop by!

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Labels: contemporary, cover redesigns, dystopian, harper-collins, legend, marie lu, penguin, robyn schneider, waiting on wednesday (wow)

Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

Title: Prodigy
Author: Marie Lu
Series: Legend, book #2
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publication Date: January 29, 2013
Source: ARC gifted by Jen at YA Romantics
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

In this highly-anticipated sequel, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action.

I was so excited to return to the world Marie Lu created in Legend that I may or may not have completely overlooked forgotten the trouble June and Day were facing when the book ended.  And when I opened Prodigy, there it was, glaring at me.  Here we go again!

As fast-paced and keep-you-on-your-toes-crazy as Legend was, Patriot was even more so.  I felt like I didn't even have a second to breathe as life-altering decisions were being made and a new facet of the war was unfolding.  We didn't see much of the battle in Legend, and honestly, we still don't witness much of it in this sequel.  What we do see is a war at home, a war between the people:  between the Patriots and those still loyal to the Republic.  And this is where June must make a choice.  After the events that transpired in Legend, it is clearer than ever that Day will do whatever he can to save his younger brother and take down the Republic.  But June -- though she has suffered losses just like Day at the hands of the Republic -- still finds it difficult to align herself with the Patriots, especially when their newest target is the new Elector, a young man she hardly knows but thinks is capable of bringing about great changes.

One of the things I praised Legend for was the great characterization, how genuine the characters felt.  How, even if the transitions between June and Day's points-of-view hadn't been easily identifiable with the change in color and type-face (or the names heading up each chapter), I still would have been able to mark the difference between each voice because each was singular to the character it represented.  I think that the characters are even more themselves in Prodigy.  They are no longer pretending to be other; they just are who they are.  Day is damn near enthusiastic, once he learns of the Patriots' plans to assassinate the young Elector.  This government has taken almost everything from Day and he is ready to exact his revenge on everyone involved with it.  June, on the other hand, senses something off about the Patriots' leader, but try as she might to call Day's attention to it and convince him that there might be another way to save his brother, she actually ends up causing him to second-guess her loyalty to the cause.

And herein lies the problem:  there is such a disconnect, such a lack of communication between Day and June in this novel, that I almost began to wonder if they ever truly loved each other to begin with.  Day lets the disparaging words of Tess and others grow his ever-increasing doubt in June's loyalties.  And it doesn't help that June has been sent back to the Republic as a double-agent to lure the Elector into a trap.  But even in the beginning of this book, it felt like something was missing between the pair.  Maybe it's because I read Legend over a year ago that things feel all wrong, but doesn't June rescuing Day kind of negate everything else that happened?  

Apparently not.  But even if it did, you'd better believe that Tess won't let Day forget what June did, what hand she played in the events that led up to Day's capture.  There's the potential here for a love square, but thankfully, the author doesn't let the characters get all angsty on us.  Okay, well, they get a little angsty, especially when June and Day start internally reflecting on how they can ever work out, being from two different socioeconomic backgrounds as they are.  And the differences between their worlds, their classes, is even more glaringly obvious now than it ever was before.  But their introspection is necessary to show just how much each character has grown in such a short time.  June won't make the same mistakes, won't trust so easily, and Day, well, he's obviously still learning to trust June.

It's a crazy world they live in, but they each just want to make it a better place for everyone and reunite the country.  It's through their eyes that we start to see how the decline of North America came about in the first place.  For those who complained that the world-building in Legend was sub-par, I think you'll be fairly impressed with what the author has done in Prodigy.  Not only is there a history lesson in there, courtesy of the new Elector Primo, but we get a brief glance at how the Colonies are actually faring.  That in itself was shocking.

What was even more shocking was the revelation made at the end of the book.  I don't know if I'd call it a cliffhanger, but it is definitely a game-changer, that's for sure.  I don't think I breathed for the last 60 pages or so of this book.  I knew better than to expect any kind of happy ending since this is only the second book in a planned trilogy, but damn, Marie Lu really goes for the heart.  I know, I know...should've seen it coming after what she put us through in Legend.  And I suppose I did...there were subtle hints throughout the novel, but I turned a blind eye to them, in hopes that if I didn't acknowledge them, nothing bad could happen.  Oh, what a fool I was.

In summation:  lots of trust issues, a civilization on the brink of revolution, and a bit of angsty teenage romance to round out the whole shebang.  And an ending that could quite possibly leave you in tears.  Possibly.  But I like to remain optimistic, and if these first two novels have taught me anything, it's that Marie Lu is full of surprises.  Now, whether they're the good kind or not, I can't say.  But I can hope.  I'll be wishing on every falling star I see for an early copy of the final book in this series so that I don't have to wait in agony for another year.

Rating:  

Favorite Quote:

"Well enough," I reply.  "Remember, you're drunk.  And happy.  You're supposed to be lusting over your escort.  Try smiling a little more."

Day plasters a giant artificial smile on his face.  As charming as ever.  "Aw, come on, sweetheart.  I thought I was doing a pretty good job.  I got my arm around the prettiest escort on this block -- how could I not be lusting over you?  Don't I look like I'm lusting?  This is me, lusting."  His lashes flutter at me.

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Labels: book trailers, dystopian, favorites, legend, marie lu, penguin, post-apocalyptic, reviews

Teaser Tuesday #40: Prodigy by Marie Lu

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


This week's teaser comes from the following book:

Title: Prodigy
Author: Marie Lu
Series: Legend, book #2
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publication Date: January 29, 2013
Source: ARC gifted by Jen at YA Romantics
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

In this highly-anticipated sequel, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action.

Okay, it was hard to pick just one, so I've got two yummy teasers for you:

"I'm going to win your trust, too.  I want you to have faith in me.  I have faith in you.  I've had faith in you for a very long time."  He's quiet for a second.  His breathing has quickened, and his eyes change abruptly.  Gone is that sense of distant authority, and in this moment he's just a young man, a human being, and the electricity between us is too much.  In an instant, he turns his face and his lips meet mine.

-- p. 182-183 of ARC

and

Then I wrench away.  My palms break out in a cold sweat.  What was that?  I should have seen this coming and stopped myself right away.  I put my hands on her shoulders.  When I see the hurt pass across her eyes, I realize just how big of a mistake I've made.

-- p. 228 of ARC

Oh, the anguish!  As of this post, I'm not this far into the novel yet, but I am anxious to get back to the novel and see what context these teasers are set in.  So, yeah, I'm gonna go do that now.  =)

FYI - Life Before Legend, a Penguin special containing two short stories told from both Day and June's points-of-view prior to their meeting in Legend, releases today.  I'll be featuring my review of this novella on Short Story Sunday in the coming weeks.

What are you teasing this week?  Be sure to share it in the comments or leave a link so I can stop by!

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Labels: dystopian, favorites, legend, marie lu, penguin, post-apocalyptic, teaser tuesday

Waiting on Wednesday: Prodigy by Marie Lu

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title:  Prodigy

Author:  Marie Lu

Series:  2nd book in the Legend series

Publisher:  Putnam Juvenile, an imprint of Penguin

Publication Date:  January 29, 2013

The Elector Primo of the Republic has died, with his son assuming power over what’s left of the USA’s West Coast as it teeters on full-blown chaos. June and Day join up with Patriot rebels so they can rescue Day’s brother and head east for the Colonies. In order to help, though, the rebels want June and Day to kill the new Elector, who may pose an even greater threat than his father.

Why I'm waiting:  Did you read Legend?!?  Did you not see how June and Day contrasted and complemented each other?  Did you not see that beautiful new cover, sans girl in pretty dress?!?  That's what I thought. You missed out when Legend was released at the end of last year, and now you need to catch up just so you can hurry and wait with the rest of us until 2013.  Yes.  You read that right.  2013.  Oy vey.  Luckily, there is no shortage of awesome books between now and then, so I should be able to occupy myself while I endure that mind-boggling wait.  Okay...easier said than done, but I'll manage somehow...

What book has your feathers in a ruffle this week? :P

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Labels: dystopian, legend, marie lu, penguin, src 2012, waiting on wednesday (wow)