Trailer Thursday: The Calling by by James Frey & Nils Johnson-Shelton

The Calling

Engagme #1

Author: James Frey, Nils Johnson-Shelton

Expected Publication: October 7th 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Twelve thousand years ago, they came. They descended from the sky amid smoke and fire, and created humanity and gave us rules to live by. They needed gold and they built our earliest civilizations to mine it for them. When they had what they needed, they left. But before they left, they told us someday they would come back, and when they did, a game would be played. A game that would determine our future.

This is Endgame.

For ten thousand years the lines have existed in secret. The 12 original lines of humanity. Each had to have a Player prepared at all times. They have trained generation after generation after generation. In weapons, languages, history, tactics, disguise assassination. Together the players are everything: strong, kind, ruthless, loyal, smart, stupid, ugly, lustful, mean, fickle, beautiful, calculating, lazy, exuberant, weak. They are good and evil. Like you. Like all.

This is Endgame.

When the game starts, the players will have to find three keys. The keys are somewhere on earth. The only rule of their Endgame is that there are no rules. Whoever finds the keys first wins the game. Endgame: The Calling is about the hunt for the first key. And just as it tells the story of the hunt for a hidden key, written into the book is a puzzle. It invites readers to play their own Endgame and to try to solve the puzzle. Whoever does will open a case filled with gold. Alongside the puzzle will be a revolutionary mobile game built by Google’s Niantic Labs that will allow you to play a real-world version of Endgame where you can join one of the lines and do battle with people around you.

Will exuberance beat strength? Stupidity top kindness? Laziness thwart beauty? Will the winner be good or evil? There is only one way to find out.
Play.
Survive.
Solve.
People of Earth.
Endgame has begun.

Book Review: The Invisible Tower by Nils Johnson-Shelton + giveaway

The Invisible Tower
Otherworld Chronicles #1
Author: Nils Johnson-Shelton
Reading Level: MG
Pages: 352 Hardcover
Release Date: January 3rd 2012
Review SOurce: HarperCollins
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) Part of the spell has already been broken.

The first stones have begun to crumble.

In Artie Kingfisher’s world, wizards named Merlin, fire-breathing dragons, and swords called Excalibur exist only in legends and lore—until the day his video game Otherworld springs to life.

You are special, Arthur,

Says the mysterious message in his game.

In one week’s time you will come to me at the it.

Cryptic clues lead Artie to a strange place called the Invisible Tower, where he discovers that nothing in his life is as it seems. Artie is none other than King Arthur, brought to life in the twenty-first century. Artie has won the battle in the virtual Otherworld—now the key to saving thereal Otherworld lies in his hands as well.

Green dragons, hungry wolves, powerful sorcerers—suddenly Artie must battle them all as he wields Excalibur and embarks on a quest worthy of the Knights of the Round Table. With his sister, Kay, by his side, Artie steps into the Otherworld—straight toward his destiny.

If you are looking for an imaginative story for you child around the age of 9 or 10, this is a great book to start with. I wish I would have read a story like this at that age. It has so many adventures and such neat characters that you’ll love them all. The story begins with this boy named Arthur but they called him Artie. He loves playing video games and he’s great at them, but not better than his sister Kay. She’s a genius when it comes to video games and competes in them too. They both live with their single father, Kynder who is as sweet as can be, but does not allow them to drink to many soda pops.

One day when Artie, finally defeats a very difficult level that not even his sister could beat, he’s very surprised to see a secret message in the game addressed to him specifically. He believes it to be a coincidence. They are preparing for his sisters tournament and leave to the hotel where they will be staying at. Once at the hotel, Artie begins to unpack the gaming system so that his sister can practice once she returns from registering with their dad. But when Artie can’t find her “special” remote control, he just thinks that she took it with her. When Kay returns to the hotel and realizes that her control was left behind at her house, shes begins to panic. But Artie has a solution for his sister and what he does not know is that it will be the beginning of his new life. He will discover something about himself and his family that he never knew, and it will be the adventure of a lifetime.

Although, this book is not my style, I gave it a chance anyway and I am glad I did, because it’s such an adorable book filled with imagination, adventure, and lovable characters. It is very well described, written and understandable for that age group.I highly recommend this book to all children, they will love it !

So today we have our ARC copy to offer as a giveaway. 

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