Blog Tour: The Black Key by Amy Ewing | Excerpt | Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on the The Black Key tour for Amy Ewing. This tour is hosted by Rockstar Book Tour.

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The Black Key
The Lone City #3
Author: Amy Ewing
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia
Released: October 4th 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen

For too long, Violet and the people of the outer circles of the Lone City have lived in service to the royalty of the Jewel. But now the secret society known as the Black Key is preparing to seize power.

And while Violet knows she is at the center of this rebellion, she has a more personal stake in it—her sister, Hazel, has been taken by the Duchess of the Lake. Now, after fighting so hard to escape the Jewel, Violet must do everything in her power to return to save not only Hazel, but the future of the Lone City.

Excerpt

It’s warm inside the greenhouse, the air thick with the scent of growing things, earth and roots and flowers. The rain patters gently as Raven and I wait.

At precisely five seconds past midnight, I can just make out hooded shapes hurrying across the courtyard. Then the door to the greenhouse opens and the group of girls we’ve been waiting for floods in.

“Violet!” some of them whisper, rushing over to greet me and Raven.

Amber Lockring strides forward, throwing back the hood of her cloak, her eyes gleaming. “Right on time,” she says with a grin.

“Five seconds late, actually,” Raven points out.

Amber wasn’t one of our friends here, though she lived on our floor. Raven confessed that Amber called me a freak on my first day at Southgate and Raven bent her arm behind her back until Amber said she was sorry. They had never liked each other after that. When we got the list of girls going to the Auction, Raven immediately chose Amber as the first one to reveal this secret to. When I asked why, she narrowed her eyes and said, “She hates the royalty just the way I did. And she was the only other girl in our dorm who wore pants.”

I had to smile at that. If they hadn’t hated each other so much, they might’ve been friends.

“You brought them?” I say.

Amber gestures proudly to the figures still huddled by the door, three girls with varying expressions of fear and suspicion on their faces. “Tawny, Ginger, and Henna. They’re the last ones. This is all of us going to the Auction.”

I do a quick head count. Only nine out of the seventy-seven girls at this year’s Auction are from Southgate. And they stand before me now.

“Did anyone see you?” Raven says.

Amber snorts. “No. Obviously. I have done this before, you know.”

“Great job,” I say.

“Ready?” Raven mutters.

I step forward.

It’s time to show these girls who they really are.

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Amy Ewing earned her MFA in Writing for Children at The New School and received her BFA at New York University. The Jewel started off as a thesis project and became her debut novel. She lives in New York City. You can visit Amy online at www.amyewingbooks.com or on Twitter @AmyEwingBooks.

1 winner will receive a signed finished copy of THE JEWEL & THE WHITE ROSE. US Only.

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FOLLOW THE TOUR

9/28/2016- Take Me Away To A Great Read- Guest Post

9/29/2016- Andi's ABCs- 10's Post

9/30/2016- A Dream Within A Dream- Interview

Waiting on Wednesday: The Midnight Star & The Black Key

Waiting on Wednesday

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

The Midnight Star

The Young Elites #3

Author: Marie Lu

Release Date: October 11th 2016

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

The thrilling finale to the New York Times bestselling Young Elites series from “hit factory” Marie Lu.

There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.

Adelina Amouteru is done suffering. She’s turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge: victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but with each conquest her cruelty only grows. The darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy all that she’s achieved.

Adelina’s forced to revisit old wounds when a new danger appears, putting not only Adelina at risk, but every Elite and the very world they live in. In order to save herself and preserve her empire, Adelina and her Roses must join the Daggers on a perilous quest—though this uneasy alliance may prove to be the real danger.

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The Black Key

The Lone City series #3

Author: Amy Ewing

Release Date: October 4th 2016

Publisher: HarperTeen

For too long, Violet and the people of the outer circles of the Lone City have lived in service to the royalty of the Jewel. But now the secret society known as the Black Key is preparing to seize power.

And while Violet knows she is at the center of this rebellion, she has a more personal stake in it—her sister, Hazel, has been taken by the Duchess of the Lake. Now, after fighting so hard to escape the Jewel, Violet must do everything in her power to return to save not only Hazel, but the future of the Lone City.

Mini Reviews: The White Rose & A Madness So Discreet

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The White Rose
The Lone City #2
Author: Amy Ewing
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia
Released: October 6th 2015
Review Source: HarperTeen
  

Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.

But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known?

The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments.

The White Rose was a good sequel to The Jewel. I love how this book picks up right where the first book left off. Which wasn’t a nice place! Really, that is not a nice place to leave your readers hanging. I loved how this book when right in action, where Ash and Violet are trying to escape the Dutchess by the Lake. If you read the first book, then you know this lady is not a very nice person. So if the gang failed on their mission, then their head will be cut off. Well not technically but this is something the Dutchess wouldn’t hesitate to do.

Although I liked The White Rose, I think The Jewel is far the best of series. The White Rose starts with a bang with some awesome scenes but then there were  times that I did tuned out. I liked the characters and I loved how Violet always puts her friends before her. However, Rave, her best friend, outshines her with her fierceness.

The world of the Jewel is hard and this series covers some tough topics. Somethings not for everyone. However, I cannot wait for the next book. This is a series I would recommend to mature young adults.

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A Madness So Discreet
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction
Released: October 6th 2015
Review Source: Katherine Tegen Books
  

Grace Mae knows madness.

She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

Grace Mae is one heck of a character. The girl has been through a lot at such young age. Yet, Grace knows how to deal with life, better than many of us. Although she loves to keep her secrets locked away, this girl will prove to many that sometimes being a little mad is not too shabby.

Okay, so Grace is locked at an asylum to protect her secret. She is pregnant and the last thing she wants is to hear from her parents. Why you may ask. Well my friend, you will have to read the story to find out.

Although Grace is clever, there are many silly things she did in this story. Sure she’s not perfect but yes, these were very silly things. Sometimes a bit annoying. Though her skills at solving  mystery are on point and it was fun to read.

Overall, A Madness so Discreet is an okay read. It had it’s creepy vibes but sadly it wasn’t memorizing.

Blog Tour: The White Rose by Amy Ewing | Guest Post | Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on The White Rose tour for Amy Ewing. This tour is hosted by Rockstar Book Tour.

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The White Rose 
The Lone City #2
Author: Amy Ewing
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia
Released: October 6th 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen

Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.

But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known?

The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments.

Guest Post

NOT ALL SUPER-HEROES WEAR CAPES, When someone mentions heroes, who do you think of?

You know, when someone mentions heroes to me, it’s always easy to conjure up an image of Superman or Captain America, punching out bad guys and saving the world. But I think my favorite example of heroism comes from Harry Potter. In The Sorcerer’s Stone, Neville tries to stop Harry, Ron, and Hermione from sneaking out at night. It’s the first time Neville has shown anything resembling bravery and when Dumbledore awards him those final points for Gryffindor to win the House Cup, I just remember tearing up and thinking, YES. Courage is not necessarily about physical strength or fighting prowess. It can be as simple as standing up for what you believe in. And at the same time, it can be as difficult as standing up for what you believe in. It is so hard to choose between what is right and what is easy. And there is so much value in taking the harder road. As Dumbledore says, it takes just as much bravery to stand up to our friends as it does to stand up to our enemies. And that’s the sort of courage I can identify with. I’ll never be rushing off to battle aliens or overthrow an empire. But I’d like to think that I could be as strong as Neville, if I felt like I needed to stand up for something I believed in. Neville Longbottom taught me a lot about what it means to be brave.

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Amy Ewing earned her MFA in Writing for Children at The New School and received her BFA at New York University. The Jewel started off as a thesis project and became her debut novel. She lives in New York City. You can visit Amy online at www.amyewingbooks.com or on Twitter @AmyEwingBooks.

1 winner will receive a signed finished copy of THE WHITE ROSE. US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday: The White Rose by Amy Ewing

Waiting on Wednesday

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

The White Rose

The Lone City # 2

Author: Amy Ewing

Release Date: October 6th 2015

Publisher: Harper Teen

Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.

But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known?

The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments.

Book Review: The Jewel by Amy Ewing

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The Jewel
The Lone City #1
Author: Amy Ewing
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction | Dystopia
Released: September 2nd 2014
Review Source: HarperTeen

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

Dear Amy Ewing,
That was not nice of you leaving us hanging the way you did with that ending. Not nice of you at all!
The End.

Okay, now that I got that out of my system, let’s start with the cover. WOW. BEAUTIFUL. Stunning. What and eye catcher. Heading to BEA, I had this book in mind, but thankfully I didn’t have to worry about it at BEA because Yara-awesomeness sent me the book beforehand. This book had my attention the moment I laid eyes on the stunning cover. And if you know me, I love dark books and well… this one is one of them! Major points already.

The Jewel is placed in dystopian world where royals die giving birth. A world where girls are tested. And if one passes this “genetic” test, she becomes a surrogate. These girls are brought to a surrogacy auction and become a property to a royal. And if you dare to disobey them, you are dead within seconds.

To many of these girls, this is the life. The life to live wealthy. But Violet doesn’t seem to think the same. She rather be poor than to eat and dress well. She rather have her freedom. With what she is about to face and discover at The Jewel, I don’t blame her.

The Jewel begins on the last day of Violet’s day at the Southgate. Tomorrow she will on a train to the heart of the city, The Jewel. A place where she will live to serve the royal. To be a slave. She will live comfortably as long as she conceives a child to her master. To be a pet. Once she is bought by the Duchess of The Lake, Violet will face hard and disturbing experiences. She will have to please her master.

You may think this book is brutal, which it is, but I loved its uniqueness and its many twists. What I love most about it is Violet. This girl doesn’t give up easily. As clueless as she was from the beginning, this clever girl comes to learn so much within matter of days.

Even though this book is not yet released, I need the second book, like right now. It brutally left me hanging. So if you need to read something unique, then give The Jewel a try! I know I will be picking up a finished copy when this book releases.