Thursday, June 7, 2012

Spectral Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway


---


Spectral

Author: Shannon Duffy

Summary:

Convinced she’s a part of the witness protection program, sixteen-year-old Jewel Rose is shuffled around the globe with her family like a pack of traveling gypsies. After arriving at lucky home twenty-seven, she stumbles upon a mysterious boy with magical powers claiming to be her guardian... and warning of imminent danger. Despite the obvious sparks between them, Jewel discovers a relationship is forbidden, and the more she learns about dark, brooding Roman, she begins to question who she can even believe—the family who raised her, or the supposed sworn protector who claims they’ve been lying to her all along.   

As she struggles to uncover who her family has really been running from, she is forced to hide her birthmark that reveals who she is. With new realities surfacing, unexplained powers appearing, and two tempting boys vying for her heart, Jewel battles to learn who she can trust in an ever growing sea of lies, hoping she’ll make it through her seventeenth birthday alive.




Published 10 April 2012

*

Spectral was a brilliant mash-up of everything I loved, and Shannon Duffy's skilful mastering of all the aspects of YA is, in one word, sensational.

Let me start off by explaining the various well-executed ingredients in this tale. From the daunting experience of being the new girl in school to crushing on the ridiculously beautiful new boy in town, from ancient family secrets to dangerous kidnapping across continents, and lastly, a cat-and-mouse chase from cold unforgiving Russia to carnival-dancing Italy... And then it all culminates in a mind-blowing final clash between two powerful witch covens. What more can you ask for?

So in short, the three hundred plus pages of Spectral was a feast for the eyes and the heart.

Jewel begins narrating the story in the back-seat of the car as her parents move yet again to another small town. She is fed up with the fact that her parents are part of the witness protection programme, and all her life, she has been escaping from some inescapable bad guys. Fast forward to her first day in school where she meets a dark mysterious boy, Roman, whom she discovers is her table partner.

But, the real plot only starts when Jewel discovers that she is a witch and a Spectral no less, much to her aghast. A Spectral is a once in a millennium gift to a single coven, and would in turn enhance the powers of the coven she is in to no bounds. With the rest of her family hiding this life-changing secret from her, Jewel begins doing some sleuthing and careful research on her own, determined to take her destiny into her own hands. What she discovers, however, both exults and frightens. She will come to her powers on her seventeenth birthday and if she does not complete her metamorphosis, she will die.

Yet, her confidence in her family, which Jewel believes will protect her, crumbles in a single night when she stumbles upon an old photograph telling her of her true origins. The family that she had known for years is not her true kin.

And henceforth, the real adventure finally begins with Jewel searching for the Spectral dagger and the boy who holds the key to her heart. Betrayed again and again by those she called her own, Jewel learns to discern between who to trust and who to trick. Amidst all these fresh betrayals, is Roman-- a boy on the mission to kill her, sent from the most powerful witch coven. Yet, he is the only one who never deserts her.

For those who have to know the ending before they read, let me just say it is all wrapped up brilliantly in a flourish in Italy, where everything begins and everything ends.

That is why I was so completely won over by this book. Because this book delivers, just like a full three-hour worth of movie watching experience. I'm thrown into a once in a lifetime adventure from a tiny town to Russia then Italy. It's so action-packed that I simply have nothing more to ask for.

Also, I will have to begrudgingly give some credit to the love triangle. It was pretty tolerable though it was one we could have done without. Thankfully, there were no wishy-washy decisions this time round. Instead, Jewel followed her heart and ended up with the one boy who could make her smile and hurt like no one else can. Just as a side note, no matter how much I loved Jewel and Roman together, they embraced just a little too much...

But, ultimately, a round of applause still, for Shannon Duffy. The author who surprised me, delighted me and impressed me with her remarkable debut of a girl fighting for her own destiny.


Source: From Tribute Books (publisher) for review purposes.




*

As part of the Spectral blog tour, I'm proud to give away one ebook copy of Spectral.

Here are some ground rules before you enter:

1. This giveaway is opened internationally to readers from all parts of the world as long as you have an email address. 


2. I will notify you if you win and pass your name and contact details on to the publisher. Please note that you will receive the ebook directly from the publisher, Tribute Books.


Do reply within 48 hours upon receiving my email. 


3. This giveaway begins 8 June 2012 and ends 14 June 2012.


That's it, aren't you excited? :)



a Rafflecopter giveaway

24 comments:

  1. This book sounds awesome! I hope I win!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :D Well, cross your fingers and pray then!

      Delete
  2. Thanks for the great review (as usual)! I'm glad to hear that Shannon's debut was so good and that her writing was so great. Love to hear that the love triangle was alright and that it ended well too! It sounds great.

    As for your question about my favorite kind of magical creature, that is a tough question. My answer for that one is changing all the time depending on my mood, haha. Right now I'm into werewolves though. The rest of them have some sort of draw in my mind, but werewolves (depending on the story that explains the "rules" of them though) are pretty much just awesome. :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Linny! Her writing was okay, but it was more of the way she mixed all those YA elements together. That was why her debut was good :)

      Ooooh, werewolves are hot. I begin to fangirl them when I met Jacob, but I became a diehard fan when I saw Ren in Nightshade! He was just so hot ^^

      Delete
  3. To start you off, tell me what kind of paranormal creatures you prefer the most-- witches, werewolves, mermaids, zombies, fey or vampires?

    I don't have a favorite one. I know I'm not that into zombies (they honestly give me the creeps), I'm getting tiresome of vampires, tho they're still pretty cool and I cannot wait for my "The Golden Lily" copy which should be here after a week from yesterday, jeeeyy!!!! I like angels, werewolves and fey.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, for me, zombies are now my new favourite because of Something Strange & Deadly and Dearly Departed :D I used to think that they are creepy too.

      Have fun reading Golden Lily! How come it seems like I'm the only one who hasn't read The Vampire Academy and gush over the hot Adrian? ._.

      Delete
    2. I do not dare to watch any horror movies nor movies with zombies in it. But I think I'll give them a try. Someday :)

      You should give VA a try ;) I was a bit sceptical because of the heading, but it turned out to be a series I've read three times already :) P.S. Adrian is smoking hot! And Rose a really good rolemodel. Yep, you should give it a try :)

      P.P.S. Have a great day :)

      Delete
  4. I definitely LOVE Mermaids, they're the best!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After Calder from Lies Beneath and Galen from Of Poseidon, who wouldn't love them? :D

      Delete
    2. I haven't read either, but I am excited to read them both!

      Delete
  5. Spectral sounds beautiful, and I love the cover too! <3 Hmm, I would say that mermaids are the best out of all of them ^^ But I can't seem to find any books about them...D:

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Shing, there are loads of great books released these two years about beautiful long-haired mermaids and hot mermaid princes!

      Between the Sea and the Sky by Jaclyn Dolamare
      Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
      Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

      Those are the ones that I've read/plan on reading soon :D

      Others that I've remotely heard of are the "Fins" series by Tera Lynn Childs. It sounds really good, I'll go on reading it once the series has ended :) I think the third book is coming out in July ^^

      Have fun reading all of them! ^^

      Since when did mermaids turn so hot? *mutters to self*

      Delete
  6. Hmm, sounds gripping!!

    Also have to say, your review is wonderfully written,

    ~Hannah xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. This book sounds pretty interesting. I am going to check it out. I really liked your review, it was really well written. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Liz!

      If you love giveaways, I promise you'll love this one. ;)

      Delete
  8. Replies
    1. You're welcome, Nicole! The books published under Tribute Books are amazing. I'll review them any time :)

      Delete
  9. Lol, I totally ignored your comment on the blog post thing. I have to say I like wolves the best. But one that you didn't mention is Angels too. I love the Kissed by an Angel series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yeah, angels... Well, that's cool since fallen angels have that mysterious holy vibe :) I'm going to go check out that series you've mentioned!

      Delete
  10. Hey, looks like an amazing book! I hope I will win :)
    While, I like vampires the best, because they live through so many lifetimes and they are usually very educated because of their old age :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was enamores with Edward Cullen in the first book, he was so refined! True, many vampires are posh with lots and lots of knowledge from their past lives. Great choice!

      Delete
  11. I like werewolves. They have strength. They act as a pack and are loyal. They mate for life. That is what I am talking about!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :D Too bad they only live in stories and legends, huh?

      Delete

I love comments, take your time and cruise around. Leave your links! I always comment back :-)

Wishing you lots of good books to come along your way!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...