Book Review: End of Days by Susan Ee + Series Giveaway

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End of Days
Penryn & the End of Days #3
Author: Susan Ee
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genres: Supernatural | Post Apocalyptic
Release Date: May 12th 2015
Review Source: Skyscape

End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy. After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

Before anything I am just going to admit I am obsessed with Raffe! If you read this series, you'll understand why the obsession. I am sad to see the series end and know I won't be enjoying the Archangel with the beautiful white wings anymore.

The time has come for the conclusion to Susan Ee's bestseller. This series since book one, Angelfall has maintain itself as one of my all-time favorites series ever read. From the minute I cracked open the pages to Angelfall, I was a goner. Then Ee gave us World After, which kept me even more engrossed in the series and pining for End of Days to arrive, which now it has and I want to relive every moment again. I recommend this series with every fiber of my being. I have always talk and push Penryn & End of Day and will continue to do so even after the series conclusion. Those that haven't read it, are now the lucky ones. You can read all 3 books back to back and not have to suffer the wait like I did. And then it can be your turn to push the books to your friends. 

If you haven't read this series, go buy book 1 and do not read beyond this point since I can't help myself if I give away spoilers from book 1 and 2. I won't give anything away from book 3, but I wouldn't want to ruin the reading experience from those that are now running to the bookstore or hitting buy on Amazon right now. 

 ******* Do Not Read Beyond This Point if You Havent Read Previous Books ******

End of Days begins where World After ended. Penryn and Raffe are looking for a "doctor" to give him back his beautiful white wings. He is done with the demon wings and is ready to become the Archangel he is meant to be. Penryn is ready for this also but she questions what will it cost them. She has grown very fond of the angel, knowing he can't be with her. But it's hard to ignore the force between them especially after certain moments (wink, wink). And you'll know what moments I'm talking about. Might want to turn a fan on, because it's gonna get hot in here, and I'm not talking about Hell's heat either. 

While on this path they are taking, they will have to battle some strong forces and they will have to defeat them if they want to help with the survival of both the Human race and Angels. Penryn discovers something she can do with her "pookie bear" (sword) and they take this very high risk in hopes that it will work and help Raffe become who and what he is entitled too. Risks of course don't come without casualties and heartache. One thing you can count on, is the fighter Penryn is and she will stop at nothing to succeed. Plus with a sister like her's, you can't ask for a better sidekick. 

I can't give anymore away without spoiling the book that will rock you. Get ready for a ride, once you get started you will not stop till the end. And baby, what an end Susan gave us. Thank you Susan for creating such an amazing-chaotic story that I will always remember and smile when I do. 

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Im excited to share with you all a great giveaway. Thanks to Skyscape we have all three book in the series to giveaway to one lucky reader. They are all finished paperback copies, never been read before. I love this series and I can't wait for someone else to fall in love with it as much as I did.

Giveaway:
You win: Angelfall, World After and End of Days
Open to US/CA residents
You win all 3 books: Angelfall, World After and End of Days!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Susan Ee will be participating in a few YA author twitter chats to celebrate END OF DAYS release day today. Check out the schedule below!

Tuesday, May 12^th

11 am ET

Scott Westerfeld @scottwesterfield (Leviathan, Uglies, Afterworlds)

Becca Fitzpatrick @becfitzpatrick (Hush, Hush, Black Ice)

Susan Ee @Susan_Ee (Angelfall, World After, End of Days)

6 pm ET

Kami Garcia @KamiGarcia (Beautiful Creatures, Unbreakable)

Lissa Price @Lissa_Price (Starters, Enders)

Susan Ee @Susan_Ee (Angelfall, World After, End of Days)

Join and follow along using #RT15YAChat. The topic is “All the Feels! YA and Emotions.” Ask questions, throw Twitter confetti in the air, dance in your kitchen, and chat with fellow readers.

These authors will all be at the RT Convention in Dallas this week. If you’re in the area, please check out YA: Welcome to the Dark Side panel, YA Family Feud trivia mash-up and RT Teen Day signing.

Book Reviews: The Eighth Guardian & Blackout by Meredith McCardle

The Eighth Guardian
Annum Guard #1
Author: Meredith McCardle
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Time Travel
Released: May 6th 2014
Review Source: Purchased

Amanda Obermann. Code name Iris.

It’s Testing Day. The day that comes without warning, the day when all juniors and seniors at The Peel Academy undergo a series of intense physical and psychological tests to see if they’re ready to graduate and become government operatives. Amanda and her boyfriend Abe are top students, and they’ve just endured thirty-six hours of testing. But they’re juniors and don’t expect to graduate. That’ll happen next year, when they plan to join the CIA—together.

But when the graduates are announced, the results are shocking. Amanda has been chosen—the first junior in decades. And she receives the opportunity of a lifetime: to join a secret government organization called the Annum Guard and travel through time to change the course of history. But in order to become the Eighth Guardian in this exclusive group, Amanda must say good-bye to everything—her name, her family, and even Abe—forever.

Who is really behind the Annum Guard? And can she trust them with her life?

The Eighth Guardian is a great time travel story! Such an adventure. I did not expect to liked this story as much as I did. The deception, betrayal, and the oh so good twists, had me turning pages. Such a great way to start a series.

How cool would it be to attend school to be train to work for the government? To work for the FBI, CIA, and such government agencies. For Amanda, everything changes on her Junior testing day. It has been decades since a junior is selected to graduate. Not only does she graduate a year early but now she is selected to become the Eighth Guardian to a very exclusive group. A group that many are not aware. A group that is able to travel time and change course of history. How in the world did this happen to her? 

At first, I was iffy towards Amanda. She was too concerned about her love interest, Abe. But becoming Iris, her code name at Annum Guard, transformed her. She becomes daring and pulls some heck of tricks. I started to cheer for her. With so many deceptions and lies she goes through, Iris did not let this put her down! No she was trained to be a rock-star! I loved her.

I was glad I decided to read the first book when I was offered to review Blackout. I tend to read books in order. Even if the books can be read as standalone. And The Eighth Guardian was an awesome way to start such adventurous series.

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Blackout
Annum Guard #2
Author: Meredith McCardle
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Time Travel
Released: February 25th 2014
Review Source: Skyscape | Kaye Publicity

Seventeen-year-old Amanda Obermann (code name: Iris) has more on her mind than usual. As a member of a covert government organization called the Annum Guard, which travels through time to keep history on track, Iris has been getting some particularly stressful assignments. Plus, Jane Bonner, the Guard’s iron-fisted new leader, seems determined to make life as hard as possible. Thankfully, Iris has Abe (code name: Blue), her boyfriend and fellow Guardian, who listens to her vent—and helps her cope with her mentally ill mother’s increasingly erratic behavior.

When Guardians start to disappear on their assignments, Iris makes a terrifying discovery: a “blackout” squad is targeting anyone who gets in the way of a corrupt force that’s selling out both the Annum Guard’s missions and Guardian lives. Together, Iris and Blue must go undercover to untangle the Guard’s elaborate web of secrets and lies. But when Iris discovers that the terrible truth may involve her own father, a former Guardian undone by his own greed, she must decide how much she’s willing to risk to rescue her friends…and how dangerous the consequences will be for all of humanity.

A thrilling time-traveling adventure that spans from Abraham Lincoln’s assassination to the Cuban Missile Crisis and back to the present day, this pulse-pounding sequel to The Eighth Guardian reveals that playing with time can turn into a deadly game.

With the way The Eighth Guardian ended, I couldn't wait to start Blackout. The best way to read a series is back to back. Right? Everything is fresh. However, I did not enjoy the sequel as much as I enjoyed the first book. I think it's the fact that I was expecting to be blown away. Until, 75% in is when things started to pick up for me. The ending was all worth it though! It was jaw-dropping. I did not expect such thing to happen. And I need the third book NOW.

The Eighth Guardian ends with a big twist and Blackout picks right where it left off. We follow Amanda a.k.a. Iris in a new adventure, (for me, more like research quest). Unlike the first book, things are not going the way she hoped for. There is a new leader of the Annum Guard and Amanda has a weird feeling towards her. She digs into her identity and she digs herself to her grave! Sometimes things are meant to be kept as a secret. Well, if you gather enemies along the way, you know they will be coming after you. And indeed, they come after Amanda.

There are many secrets Amanda is trying to uncover in Blackout and at times, I felt overwhelm. I had to put the book down at times and return to it later. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to find out, but sometimes it is better to take it one by one. As far as the action, I think it was lessen, which was my biggest issue. Reading the books back to back, I crossed from a badass  Iris to a more composed Iris. However, with the way the story ended, I hope the third book will be one heck of a packed-action story.  

Overall, I'd enjoyed both books. I enjoyed some of the historical details. I liked the humor and I loved how intense the story can get with one simple revelation. I'm glad I gave this series a try.   

#BIR2012: Angelfall by Susan Ee - Interview + Giveaway

Day 4 of #BIR2012 has just begun! 

Here are important details to know during #BIR2012: Make sure to follow and keep up with the main site: Best I've Read then check out the #BIR2012 Blog Roll:

On the Best I've Read Site these are the books featured today: 

GRAVE MERCY by R.L. LaFevers

TAKE A BOW by Elizabeth Eulberg - Post LINK

Amethyst Daydreams • A Reader's Ramblings • Books Complete Me • Cindy Thomas, YA Author • I Am A Reader, Not A Writer • Mundie Moms • Once Upon a Twilight (that's us) •Portrait of a Book • Page Turners • Reading Lark

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Today's Best I've Read Book is:

Angelfall by Susan Ee

Penryn & the End of Days #1

Why was Angelfall chosen as a #BIR2012 book: I chose this book because still today and pretty much everyday, I bring it up with someone. The story Susan Ee created has stayed with me ever since I finished the book in one night. Every time I bump into a reader, I tell them about this book. What a concept in creating a Angel Apocalypse. Everyone talks about Zombie but not Angel. Well Susan Ee took it there and Oh my! Seriously, there is no wonder why they pick up the film rights on Angelfall. The story is perfect for the big screen. Can't wait for book 2!!! Read my full review of Angelfalll HERE. 

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Interview with Susan Ee

OUaT: Welcome Susan to OUaT and congrats for being one of the BIR2012 authors this year. What are 3 things you never imagined would happen when you wrote Angelfall that have happen to you?

Thanks so much for having me on your site! Let's see, three things— such amazing and supportive readers, thousands of reviews, and a movie deal with Sam Raimi. These were beyond my dreams for my debut novel.

OUaT: Everyone talks about a Zombie Apocalypse, but in Angelfall its all about the Angel Apocalypse. Did the story always start off this way? Did you have different variations?

It's always been about the angels. I envisioned the angels before any other part of the story.

OUaT: In Angelfall how much research was involved and what did you reference to during the process of writing?

I dove into the Book of Enoch, which was one of the discoveries of the Dead Sea scrolls. It talks about the Watcher angels and how they took Daughters of Men as their wives. And then they had monster children. Fascinating stuff. I also did some research into fighting techniques through women's' self defense classes, jujitsu books, and consulted with a black belt martial artist. Then, I spent an evening with a weapons collector to figure out what kind of angel sword a petite girl could carry, as well as what types of guns the Resistance would carry. We decided a gladius would be the best sword for Penryn. I got to swing one around and felt the heft and balance of a gladius. It was fun.

OUaT: How did the cover of Angelfall come to be? How much were you involved in the process?

The cover was done by a Serbian artist who entered a book cover contest that I held for Angelfall. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was the one.

OUaT: If you could be one of your characters, who would you choose and why?

Penryn because she has the greatest chance of surviving. :)

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Angelfall can be purchased via: Amazon • Barnes & Noble • IndieBound • Book Depository

Follow Susan Ee via: Web • Goodreads • Facebook • Twitter

5 chapters sneak peak

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Im happy to say OUaT is offering 2 copies of Angelfall to 2 lucky readers. Thanks to Amazon Children's Publishing making it possible. So enter below and dont forget to check out all the other blogs and the main site too during #BIR2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Angelfall
Penryn & the End of Days #1
Author: Susan Ee
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Post-Apocalptic | Angels | Paranormal
Released: August 28th 2012
Review Source: Amazon Children's Publishing

Summary: (from goodreads) It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

Stories or Authors like Susan Ee are the reason I am a book lover and blogger. Angelfall is everything and more. The story and world building is insane. It kept me guessing and holding my breath because of the amount of intensity. I finished Angelfall weeks ago and I still talk about it everyday to someone new. It the book that stays with you long after you read it. 

Angelfall is the the new apocalypse, forget zombies or aliens ending the world, Its the Angels! They have taken to ruin and dominate the human, the human don't really even know why. The main protagonist in Angelfall is Penryn, we meet her when she is hiding out from gangs and Angels trying to just survive one second at a time with her sister in tow. Then come upon some kind of fight between Angels and Penryn's sister gets taken by the intimidating Angel that just cut the wings off another Angel.  Penryn is just left holding her sister's wheelchair. This is why we are different, because even though Penryn just lost her sister, doesn't have a clue what the angels will do to her or where they are taking her, she still decides to help the angel that has just had his wings cutoff. Penryn even holds on to the butchered wings. All this happen within the first few pages of Angelfall. This is just a tiny sample of how much intensity is written into these pages. So much takes place with Penryn and the Angel she has saved. Raffe is her enemy yet she saved him. What happens when Raffe regains conscience, will he kill the one human that saved him even though they are enemies? 

I don't want to give away anymore. Trust me when I say you will enjoy every second of this book. Then when you think you know what is about to happen, BAM, you are wrong. I immediately connected withe story and the characters. I will admit I have a soft spot for Raffe. This series is one to watch and definitely READ! 

Blog Tour: Interview with Susan Ee - Angelfall + Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on Susan Ee's Angelfall Blog Tour. The tour is hosted by Authors on the Web. Angelfall is the debut book in Susan Ee's Penryn & The End of Days Series. I can tell you that I am currently reading Angelfall and LOVING it. Today Susan answered 5 questions for us. 

Susan Ee Links: Website • Goodreads • Facebook • Twitter 

About Susan Ee: Susan Ee has eaten mezze in the old city of Jerusalem, surfed the warm waters of Costa Rica, and played her short film at a major festival. She has a life-long love of science fiction, fantasy and horror, especially if there's a touch of romance. She used to be a lawyer but loves being a writer because it allows her souped-up imagination to bust out and go feral.

Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, Book 1) is her debut novel.

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OUaT: Describe Angelfall in 3 sentences or less to someone who is not familiar with the book.

When Angels of the Apocalypse descend to destroy the modern world, one 17-year old girl will dare to stand against them. Meet Penryn.

OUaT: What are 3 important things one would need to survive an Angel Apocalypse?

Camouflaged blanket to hide under in case an angel flies by
Feathers and bullets to trade as currency
Good running shoes

OUaT: How did the idea for Angelfall come to you?

I suspect that Angelfall has been germinating and coming together for about 10 years. Back then, one of my earliest short stories was called Angel Slayer. :) It never went beyond my writing group but I could never completely let it go.

OUaT: Do you have a playlist for Angelfall?

Music is so atmospheric. But I need a clean slate to be a conduit for the story. I need to be open to the mood that's happening in the story itself and don't want to impose one on any given moment. So unlike a lot of writers, I don't listen to music while I work.

OUaT: Which of your characters did you have an easy time writing and which caused a major headache?

Penryn was probably the easiest to write. She was pretty open with her thoughts with me. Raffe was the hardest to write. He's a tough one to get to know. I wrote a lot of pages in his voice from his point of view to try to get to know him better.

OUaT: Can you share with us today a tease of what book 2 might contain?

We'll discover more about the angels. We'll also get more clues about the apocalyptic invasion and the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

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Angelfall
Penryn & The End of Days #1
Author: Susan Ee
Reading Level: YA
Released: August 28th 2012
Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
Available: Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Indiebound

Summary: (from goodreads) It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

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I'm super excited to say that thanks to Author on the Web, we are able to giveaway a copy of Angelfall to one reader. Make sure to read the terms & condition at the bottom of the rafflecopter before entering to see if you qualify. Thank you and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway