Mundie Moms

Monday, July 25, 2016

GIFTED by Heather Swain / Blog Tour: Book Review / Giveaway



Hello and welcome to the next stop in the GIFTED blog tour hosted by Irish Banana blog tours. I'm so thrilled to share my review for Heather's newest release. Check out my review below, and be sure you enter to win the giveaway towards the end of this post. 


ABOUT THE BOOK


By: Heather Swain
Published by: Feiwel & Friends
Released on: June 14th 2016
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 3.5 Stars - It's A Goodread
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review

In Orpheus Chanson's world, geniuses and prodigies are no longer born or honed through hard work. Instead, procedures to induce Acquired Savant Abilities (ASAs) are now purchased by the privileged. And Orpheus's father holds the copyright to the ASA procedure.

Zimri Robinson, a natural musical prodigy, is a "plebe"--a worker at the enormous warehouse that supplies an on-line marketplace that has supplanted all commerce. Her grueling schedule and her grandmother's illness can't keep her from making music--even if it is illegal.

Orpheus and Zimri are not supposed to meet. He is meant for greatness; she is not. But sometimes, rules are meant to be broken. Here is a thriller, love story, and social experiment that readers will find gripping--and terrifying.



A dystopian with music, romance, and two characters who were never suppose to be meet. GIFTED has a dual narrative that gives readers a clearer understanding of the different worlds both Zimri and Orpheus come from. These two characters couldn't be any more different. Yet, there's something that draws the two of them together. In world where people can be created to fit into their place in society, two teens are about to break all of their society's rules to follow their own dreams and aspirations. In the process they both end up falling for each other. 

Zimri from the get go was a character I admired. She is a hard working, lower class teen who has a love for music, and does things by her own rules. Music is not only her passion, it's her love, and hope. It's apart of who she is. Unfortunately in her society, it's also banned. Being illegal is not going to stop her from keeping her music alive. What I loved about Zimri, is who she is. It's so easy to like her. She's compassionate, a care giver to her Grandmother, and deeply rooted not only within her community family, but the musical gift her inherited from her absentee mother. She's a strong girl, and someone who's always helping those around her. She's opposite of her love interest, Orpheus.

Orpheus, the heir to the fortune his cruel and selfish father has created, was not a character I was excepting to like. In fact, he was unlikeable at first. He does a great job at playing his part in the role his father wants him to play. His family is well known, but what those closet to him don't get, is that Orpheus wants something more. He wants the freedom to make his own decisions, and not be brainwashed like his father is forcing him to do. I admire the fact that not only does he branch out, and go to the lower ranks of society, something that's forbidden, he grows up a lot while there. He makes his own choices, and for once does some good, that makes him realize there's a lot more to life than what his sheltered, rich life has provided for him.

Swain does a great job with the development of her characters, her world building, and the realistic, futuristic issues. I really liked the way Swain gave some current social issues a futuristic solution. She shows readers how much technology has changes (both for good and selfish reasons), the repercussion of the disappearance of the middle class, the segregation of the remaining two classes, and influences music has in society. One of the things that sparked my interest with this story was the role music played in this dystopian. It was an interesting element to add to this story, but it gave it something unique, and unlike anything else I've read before in a dystopian.  

The only thing I wasn't a fan of with this book, were the few pop cultural references. Normally I'm not a fan of pop cultural references in books, and in this case they not only felt out of place, the references felt like they were randomly thrown in to the story. Despite it's futuristic setting, these dated the story. This kind of story needs to not feel dated, and truly feel as though it's futuristic. Instead we're told of a current pop icon's death, which dated her at 100 years old, making this story set about 75-80 years in the future. However, this is a YA and many readers that this book is targeted for may enjoy this element to the story. Over all, I liked Gifted. Normally I'm not a big dystopian reader, but this was a fun, quick read.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR



Heather Swain lives in a crooked house in Brooklyn, New York with her husband, two children, a barkless dog, and two rescue cats. She is the author of four novels for young adults, two kids craft books, two novels for grown ups, and numerous short stories, personal essays, and non-fiction articles.

Connect with Heather online



ENTER TO WIN
3 Finished Copies of GIFTED (US/Canada Only)


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Schedule

RECREATED by Colleen Houck / Blog Tour: Guest Post / Giveaway #RECREATED


Hello and welcome to the next stop in the RECREATED blog tour! I am so thrilled to have Colleen on the blog today, to share with us 5 Things We Might Not Know About Her. First, here's a little bit about her newest release, RECREATED, which is the sequel to REAWAKENED.

ABOUT THE BOOK




By: Colleen Houck
Published by: Delacorte Press
To Be Released on: August 2nd, 2016
Series: The Reawakened Series #2
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads

From Colleen Houck, New York Times bestselling author of The Tiger’s Curse, comes Recreated,the second book in the epic Egyptian-inspired Reawakened series, in which a seventeen-year-old must literally go to hell to save the love of her life. 


Lily Young thought traveling across the globe with a reawakened sun prince was a grand adventure. Now she’s about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. 

When Amon and Lily part tragically, he transports himself to the Netherworld—what mortals call hell. Tormented by the loss of his one true love, he’d rather suffer in agony during Lily’s mortal years than fulfill his duty to protect humanity. 


Heartbroken, Lily seeks refuge on her grandmother’s farm. Yet she can feel Amon’s pain, and she has been having dreams—dreams of Amon continually suffering. 


For before he departed, Amon gave Lily something very special, an item that connects them even though they are worlds apart. Now Lily must use this object to free him, and to free their realms from darkness and utter chaos. She will do whatever it takes.



Five Things You Might Not Know About Colleen Houck



Thing #1- My nickname is Freenie. My littlest brother Jared came up with this one. 

Thing #2- I’m a certified American Sign Language Interpreter

Thing #3- My husband is Deaf

Thing #4- I sleep with a stuffed white tiger

Thing #5- My favorite drink is Diet Dr. Pepper and I usually order drinks with cherries at restaurants.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


New York Times Bestselling author Colleen Houck is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, paranormal, science fiction, and romance. When she’s not busy writing, she likes to spend time chatting on the phone with one of her six siblings, watching plays, and shopping online. Colleen has lived in Arizona, Idaho, Utah, California, and North Carolina and is now permanently settled in Salem, Oregon with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.


Connect with Colleen Online: 

ENTER TO WIN

Colleen is giving away 5 Reawakened and Recreated Book sets! To enter, please fill out the form below: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/824ee19b47/


FOLLOW THE TOUR




Date
Website
Host
Blog
July 19

Bridget Howard
Top Ten Things You’ll See in Recreated
July 20

Jessica
This or That Questions
July 21

Jamie
Sneak Peek #1
July
22

Jeann Wong
Would you Rather Questions
July
23

Stephanie Ward
Interview with the Egyptian Prince, Amon
July
24

Nancy and Christy
Sneak Peek #2
July
25

Katie
Five Things You Don’t Know about Me
July
26

Amber
Up Close and Personal Interview 
July
27
                                       
Stacey
Top Five Playlist Picks
July
28

Bayram Furat
Sneak Peek #3
July
29

A.L. Davroe
Recreated Dream Cast 
July
30

Brittany Todd
Sneak Peek #4
July
31

Camilla Dass
Egyptian Gods and Godesses
Aug
1

C.J. Redwine
Sneak Peek #5
Aug
1

Rose
Discover Your Egyptian Name
Aug
2

C.J. Redwine
Author to Author Interview
Aug
2

Jenna DeTapani
New Creatures You’ll See in Recreated
Aug
3

C.J. Redwine
Poetry and Spells
Aug
3

Alejandra and Ana
The Number Three
Aug
4

C.J. Redwine
Featured Review
Aug
5

MC
The Netherworld
Aug
6
valerie@stuckinbooks.com

Valerie
The Afterlife
Aug
7

Damaris Cardinali
Five random things about me
Aug
8
Melissa Murray
Ten Books I recommend to my fans
Aug
9
Haley Hagen
Ten books I can’t believe I haven’t read
Aug
10

Erica Gold
Never have I ever
Aug
11


Five things that make a good villain


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