Showing posts with label Ariella Moon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ariella Moon. Show all posts

Tuesday, 16 December 2014

Blog Tour Stop & Giveaway: Review of Spell For Sophia (Teen Wytche Saga #4) by Ariella Moon



Spell For Sophia


Welcome to day's stop on the Spell For Sophia (Book4 of the Teen Wytche Saga) by Ariella Moon Blog Tour hosted by I am a Reader, not a writer. Today's stop is a review. There is also a great giveaway to enter where you could win a $25 Amazon gift card or paypal cash. Read on and I hope you enjoy this stop
Review:
After reading and reviewing the first 3 books in this series.  I was really looking forward to the fourth book and I am pleased to say it didn't disappoint.  I was a wee bit apprehensive  about starting with a whole new character, who we barely knew at first. Reason being that at the beginning of book 3, we were introduced to a brand new character and the characters we knew didn't really pop up until the end and it took me a few chapters to warm up to Ainslie.  So starting a book with an unfamiliar character character had me a little worried.  However the story alternated between Ainslie and Sophia's point of view creating a nice balance between old and new and I grew to like the new characters as much as the ones I was alreday familiar with.

I liked the theme of friendship in the book and the fact that the characters stayed consistent throughout all four books. As in the previous books, Ms Moon broaches a serious topic with sensitivity and this story is as much about the developmental journey of the characters as a story about magic. I also liked the use of the spell book as the continuing theme morphing as it needed to and a lot of the time, it drove the story taking the characters along with it.

I liked that there was time travel as I love time travel stories and i thought it weaved well with the ultimate story. However the story left me wanting more but in a good way. It left me wanting to know more about Sophia's story, more about Yemaya's story, who I think has an extremely interesting story to tell.

Most of all this story kept me in it until the end. It moved along at a good pace, the characters were well written and diverse and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I give this story 3 1/2 stars!

SapphiredDragon xx




Spell for Sophia

SpellForSophia_453x680
Sophia Perez-Hidalgo’s survival depends upon her mastering magic and the supernatural before her lawless parents and their vengeful boss catch up to her. How far must she flee to escape them forever? Sophia runs until she’s out of stolen money, then…Fate delivers her into the arms of Louisiana teen Shiloh Breaux Martine, and his grand-mère, a voodoo priestess living deep in the bayou.

Breaux knows Sophia is trouble — but he’ll travel through time, battle zombies, and risk his bright future to protect her. While Ainslie, best friend extraordinaire, will jeopardize her sanity to find and aid Sophia. When friendship, magic, and love are not enough, Sophia will have to save herself. But first, she must believe she’s worth saving.
Sometimes the worst scars are the ones you cannot see.








Book Trailer:




teen wytch saga new

The Teen Wytche Saga by Ariella Moon

Think magic will solve your problems?

Bring you love? Cure you? Protect you? Help you find someone who is lost?

Think again.

Magic tests friendships. It hisses, chirps, stinks up the room, backfires, and explodes. Magic forces you to make tough decisions. Shatter limitations. Discover your true self. When you use magic, expect results in the ultimate triple-un—unpredictable, uncontrollable, and so undeniable.

And you thought navigating high school was tough.



Author Ariella Moon
ariellaAriella Moon is the author of the Teen Wytche Saga, a sweet Young Adult paranormal series. Ariella writes about magic, friendship, high school, secrets, and love in Spell Check, Spell Struck, and Spell Fire from Astraea Press.
Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety, and taller students who mistook her for a leaning post, marred her youth. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. Ariella is a Reiki Master, author, and shaman. She lives a nearly normal life with her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and an enormous dragon.
Social Media Website Social Media Blog Social Media Facebook Social Media Goodreads

***

Excerpt from Spell for Sophia

Breaux followed me onto the streetcar and bought day passes with exact change. I scanned the streetcar's vintage interior for two seats together. I ignored the pinched brows and alarmed stares from our fellow passengers. Most of them fixated on a point behind me. With dismay I realized Breaux's blood-soaked bandana was drawing too much attention. Someone was bound to notice his uncanny resemblance to the congressman. The last thing we needed was to derail the time-space continuum or spark rumors.The migraine over my eye throbbed.I discovered an empty row toward the back and claimed the window seat. Breaux shoved our passes into his jeans pocket, then roosted beside me. He placed the backpack at his feet and kept his chin down. His hands trembled and twitched against his thighs. Caffeine, sugar, and shock, I thought. The cloth over his gash sported blood in varying shades of red. It appeared wet and sticky. The sight of it made me queasy and I had to swallow hard. Breaux's ashen pallor hadn't improved. Worry worsened my stomach. Breaux needed to go to the hospital and get stitched up. Someone should x-ray him and see if he had a fracture or concussion. Or both.Merciful Mary, please help us complete whatever must be done here so we can return to our own time.A flicker of color flashed outside the window. I swiveled toward it, thinking maybe it was a flag. Wrong! The hints of gold and red sprung from a wispy paisley top worn by an African-American teen hovering several feet off the ground. My brain registered, ghost! My hand flew to my mouth to muffle a shriek.The movement must have caught the ghost's eye. She zoomed to the window and pressed her nose against the glass. I shrank against Breaux. The wraith's peace sign necklace swung through the pane, almost touching my chin before it dropped. The temperature plummeted several degrees.I shot Breaux a furtive sideways glance. His attention was fixed on Nervous Guy, who was making his way toward us. The ghost bracketed her face with her hands and peered through the window. Brackish swamp smells assaulted my nose. Water dripped from her long curly Afro and slid down the sides of her hands and onto the windowpane. I wondered if she could hear my heart thundering."Are you the Mexican?" the wraith asked.My eyes widened. Is the drug cartel employing ghosts? Speechless, my gaze darted across her face. She's no older than Breaux. Unlike Mam'zelle, whose spirit had transitioned into a being of light, the ghost still retained her human form and the clothes she must have been wearing when she died. Her skin, though blue-gray in death, still showed patches of its former nutmeg color. She had Breaux's nose.The ghost pointed a wet finger. "Is he Shiloh Breaux Martine?""Umm. Breaux…" My fingers dug into his thigh.






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Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 1/19/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, 20 August 2014

Blog Tour Stop & Give away: The Teen Wytche Saga by Ariella Moon






Welcome to day's stop on the The Teen Wytche Saga by Ariella Moon Blog Tour hosted by I am a Reader, not a writer. Today's stop is a review of books 1 and 2 in the saga plus an except from book 3. There is also a great giveaway to enter where you could win a $25 Amazon gift card. Read on and I hope you enjoy this stop
Book 1: Spell Check Review !
I was a little bit worried to start off with this story as I wondered if maybe the story was a little too young for me.  The good news is I was wrong

Evie is still recovering from the death of her father overseas and this has strained her relationship with the boy she has had a crush on since elementary school. Enter Evie's new best friend, with no idea of her crush and determined to perform a love spell to attract Evie's crush and a spellbook with a mind of its own.

This story is as much about Evie finding herself as it is a book about magic. I loved the relationship she had with her mother and the way her relationship ebbed and flowed with crush Jordan, best friend Parvani and new friend Salem.

All in all,this was a fun story. The characters were likeable and the story moved a long well. This is one of those stories that leaves you with a really fee good vibe, making you want to continue reading the series. This was what I liked most about it.

I give this story 3 1/2 stars!

SapphiredDragon xx



About Spell Check (Teen Wytche Saga #1)

Title: Spell Check (Teen Wytche Saga #1)
Publication date: January 2012
Publisher: Astraea Press
Author: Ariella Moon











5 Reasons Evie O’Reilly hopes magic isn’t real:


1. Evie’s best friend Parvani Hyde-Smith plans to cast a binding love spell on Jordan, Evie’s secret crush.

2. Parvani begs Evie to help her cast the spell.

3. Everything goes wrong when Parvani’s harmless-looking Teen Wytche paperback morphs into a brimstone-hissing grimoire.

4. Desperate to stop Parvani, Evie must risk hex hives and even befriend Salem, the school goth.

5. If magic is real, and Evie can’t stop Parvani, then she’ll lose Jordan. The wrongful magic will do more than break Evie’s heart. It will destroy them all.












Book 2: Spell Struck Review
I enjoyed this instalment even more than I enjoyed Spellcheck. I think partly because it started right after Spell Check finished and most of the main characters were already familiar.

I flew through this instalment finishing it in just a couple of sittings. The story itself was interesting and the characters were likeable particularly Salem and Aidan. I found the characters quite authentic to their age and feelings in the way they related to events

I liked the way Ms Moon dealt with the issue of depression and attempted suicide melding the serious into the story line without detracting from other elements but at the same time treating it with the care it deserves.

Again I felt the authenticity of the characters as they dealt with certain issues and older characters. Ms Moon does a great job creating characters than you genuinely feel something for which makes you feel the story along with the characters.

In this story, both characters had already accepted that magic was real and I felt this helped the story as the characters were more likely to accept the things that happened and this moved the story line along well.

once again another story that leaves you with a feel good vibe.

I give this 3 3/4 stars :-)

Sapphired Dragon xx



About Spell Struck (Teen Wytche Saga #2)

Title: About Spell Struck (Teen Wytche Saga #2)
Publication date: July , 2013
Publisher: Astraea Press
Author: Ariella Moon








What if the one person who saw through your lies and loved you, harbored a secret that could cost you everything?

When goth outcast Salem Miller casts a love spell on Halloween night, she asks for a boy who is handsome, magical, and artistic. She doesn’t count on Fate sending Aidan Cooper.

As a child, Aidan thought he was being rescued, not abducted. Now fifteen and homeless, he realizes he was taken because of his Gypsy blood. His kidnappers believe he’ll lead them to the Grey Grimoire, a valuable gypsy spell book. Madness. The book doesn’t even exist.

Or does it?

Salem is charged with fixing a half-destroyed spell book, her last hope for saving her sister. Amy attempted suicide and the meds aren’t helping. Maybe a powerful Get Well Spell will cure her.

Aidan’s kidnappers will kill to attain the Grey Grimoire. But if he destroys it, Salem will hate him. Either way, he loses. Again.







Book 3: Spell Fire Excerpt:
I paused beneath the fern‑painted ceiling fan and scanned the wall menu. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but a weird craving fueled my search.
The dragon exerted pressure between my shoulder blades, prompting me. "A Scorpion's Nest smoothie."
Morningstar leaned over the high counter and gave me a once‐over. "You feeling okay?"
I licked my lips. "Absolutely." I had never tasted an orange juice, vanilla ice cream, and peanut butter combo, but I slapped the countertop and said, "I'm fine. Hit me."
Morningstar tilted her head to one side and studied me.
Oh — crap. Maybe I'm dragon drunk.



About Spell Fire (Teen Wytche Saga #3)

Title: Spell Fire (Teen Wytche Saga #3)
Publication date: October 22, 2013
Publisher: Astraea Press
Author: Ariella Moon










Ainslie’s parents ditch her at Christmas.
A dragon wants to be her new BFF.
There is something her boyfriend isn’t telling her.
And no one will explain the hissing spell book.

Second worst Christmas EVER!


Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo















ABOUT ARIELLA MOON:








Ariella Moon is the author of the Teen Wytche Saga, a sweet Young Adult paranormal series. Ariella writes about magic, friendship, high school, secrets, and love in Spell Check, Spell Struck, and Spell Fire from Astraea Press.

Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety, and taller students who mistook her for a leaning post, marred her youth. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. Ariella is a Reiki Master, author, and shaman. She lives a nearly normal life with her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and an enormous dragon.


Author Links: Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads


Congratulations for making it down this far!  Now here is your chance to win a great giveaway.

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 9/7/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway









Monday, 11 August 2014

Teaser Tuesday #74: Spell Check (Teen Wytche Saga #1) by Ariella Moon




Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too muchaway! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


My current read is Spell Check (Teen Wytche Saga #1) by Ariella Moon and my two lines are from location 682 of 2023:

Miss Gaya clasped her hands together and hunched forward. "Is there anything you would like to talk about?"

Several things flashed through my mind-the love spell,Jordan and Parvani, Dad, Mom, and Miss Ravenwood,getting out of Biology,and again, the love spell.

"No." I said






5 Reasons Evie O’Reilly hopes magic isn’t real:

1. Evie’s best friend Parvani Hyde-Smith plans to cast a binding love spell on Jordan, Evie’s secret crush.
2. Parvani begs Evie to help her cast the spell.
3. Everything goes wrong when Parvani’s harmless-looking Teen Wytche paperback morphs into a brimstone-hissing grimoire.
4. Desperate to stop Parvani, Evie must risk hex hives and even befriend Salem, the school goth.
5. If magic is real, and Evie can’t stop Parvani, then she’ll lose Jordan. The wrongful magic will do more than break Evie’s heart. It will destroy them all.
add to good reads
Purchase:  Amazon

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!