INKPOP MUST-READS – Nightland

Nightland
by Kelly Moton
Book: Paranormal, Horror, Romance
“Welcome to Nightland, the place where all of your dreams come from. It isn’t as pleasant as your visions have made it. Far from pleasant.”
Berlin is a daydreamer, never focusing on the real world. With her most
recent dreams, she is in a world filled with the supernatural. The beings are life-like, as if they are, in fact, real.
She is soon told of things that she can’t comprehend. Should she believe what is happening, or write it off as a dream? Admitting that Nightland is real would mean she must join it and do everything she is told.
a NIGHTLAND novel

Right now I’m too busy obsessing over the sheer genius of this story to write a nice, structured, professional review. It’s one of the best stories I’ve seen on here—ever. So instead of trying to put together a lengthy description of what I liked most and why, I’ll share on here the commentary that was going on in my head as I read it:

This. Is. SUCH a cool book.
The first chapter pulls you in with the lovely description. I can see the character already. And it's intense--SO intense.
REALLY THIS IS AMAZING!!!
*stops obsessing and keeps reading* :D :D
*reaches the end of chapter three and is convinced this is one of the best stories she's ever read on inkpop* *keeps reading*

That was actually my second comment, as I became more obsessive. My first comment, where I asked for permission to blog about this, was a bit more formal but I was fangirling like crazy deep inside:

Wow, the first chapter is almost perfect. There were a few places where punctuation was missing, but no typos, nothing to really interrupt the flow. I liked this a lot. Your talent is obvious and I'm reading on when I get the chance.

The characters are well-introduced, and none of this is an info dump. Your voice is easy to read, and I could picture everything you described. Honestly I have nothing to critique. I'm picking this when I have a spot, and coming back later for more.

I tried to write another review that made sense, for my blog…but then I just got too obsessed and gave up. So instead you get the OMG COMMENTARY I shared earlier in this blog post. :D

So I kept reading. I haven’t finished reading it yet, but I’m working on it. You should read it, too. Honestly. She has an awesome writing style, and she’s spinning a story that has me clinging to the computer screen. It’s so different, in a good way. My imagination can get away and this is a breath of fresh air. I’m just in such a fangirl mode right now.
I love the paranormal. Nightland is one of the best paranormal books I’ve seen on inkpop yet. I know this review didn’t sound too professional. I’ll keep reading and not care. Trust me, this book is worth the read. Go read it now!

INKPOP MUST-READS – Shadowland

by elizabethmichaels
Book: Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Horror
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." But I had every reason to be afraid...
...for the evil was real. And it was waiting for me.
No one willingly goes to Shadow Valley. When fifteen-year-old Ever Grace finds herself there, wondering what happened, she can think of only one thing…how to escape.
But escape, she finds, is not so easy. There are lots of reasons to stay. First there’s the promise of finding the father who vanished from their lives years ago. If she leaves, he will be forever lost. But is he really alive or is it all just a trick?
Then there’s Ethan, the infinitely handsome, slightly older boy who seems too good to be true. Does he really care about her or is Ethan just a means of seduction, something to bind her to a place she’s so desperate to leave?
When an evil infects the town and people begin to die, she knows her only chance for survival is to escape, but every attempt only uncovers another of the town‘s terrible, shocking secrets. And with every discovery, the mystery of where she is and why only deepens.
With time running out, Ever must find the truth among the lies. Just what is Shadow Valley and more importantly, can anyone survive?

I remember reading this a few weeks back because it was under the What’s New section, and I enjoyed it back then. I read three chapters because it’s got a hook, an awesome one, and commented and picked. Then later the author asked me to swap for it but since I’d already read and picked it, I figured I could read more chapters to make it count. I’m sure glad I did because this book does not disappoint as you read farther in! As of yet I’ve found nothing to critique…at all. Which is definitely a first!
I don’t just like it because of the title—I know some of my friends are aware of my obsession with any story shadow-related!—although it is a pretty cool title. The writing is engrossing and there are twists that, wow, I never saw coming. I haven’t quite finished reading yet, but I definitely plan to, and I insist that you give this story a read! You won’t be disappointed! I’ve never seen anything like it—clever, well-written, and you’re at the edge of your seat the whole time. It’s one of my favorite stories on inkpop, ever. So read it.
I would be more specific with the awesomeness of this story, but I don't want to spoil anything. I feel it would shatter the mystery. Just go read it and you'll see why I'm rambling! ♥
6/5 stars!!

First draft of my formal description of AUTUMN OF SECRETS!

So on inkpop I was prompted to write a formal description of my novel, as if I were writing it to an agent. This is only the first rough draft, and I know I'll be changing it several times. BUT I need your help!! Will someone please comment on this post for feedback?! I'm starting to think that, to get any form of reaction at all on either of my blogs, I've got to say something controversial or get published or something. It didn't used to be that way. WHERE HAS EVERYONE GONE? Dx ;-;

[/end moping session]

So here goes!

Autumn of Secrets follows the story of a teenage girl named Olivia who, after her parents' divorce, is whisked away by her mother to live in a small town in Maine--one that nobody has heard of before, and she doesn't think has any family ties with them. The first week that they live there, she realizes there's something seriously wrong with this neighborhood--and the wishing well down the street. Maybe her mother has been hiding something. Everyone else on Casaway sure is.


Then a neighbor named Ian finally tells her about the wishing well, and how it has a cycle in granting wishes--perfectly, then oddly, then tragically. The frightening truth sinks in, that the reason these kids haven't told Olivia anything is because they are waiting for her to make the tragic wish, thus clearing the way for the other two. Suddenly she can't trust anybody, not even her mother, who still won't say a word about her motives for the move.

But she's become friends with them all, despite their secrecy. How much longer will Olivia be able to handle the truth--that she's being used as a sacrifice, watched like prey, and has been from the moment she came?

Wendy's Writing Adventures!: Interview with "Autumn of Secrets" Author, Mariell...

My good friend Wendy asked to interview me for her new blog, and I accepted! It was a ton of fun. Follow her blog, it's going to be awesome!

Wendy's Writing Adventures!: Interview with "Autumn of Secrets" Author, Mariell...: "Hey everyone! Tonight I had the awesome opportunity to chat with 'Autumn of Secrets' author, Mariella Hunt! She's made the extraordinary ..."

INKPOP MUST-READS – The House of Departed Minds

I’m back with another INKPOP MUST-READ!

The House of Departed Minds
by Jonty
Book: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery
Right and Wrong do not exist within these walls...
When Gabriel Spencer makes a stand against the horrific treatment of the mentally ill in America, in the year 1812, he is punished for doing the right thing by being thrown into the dark world of The House of Departed Minds. The house exists as an asylum for those who are considered to be outcasts from society.
Trapped within and having lost his life, Gabriel knows he needs to escape to save himself and the other good people like him. But hidden in the asylum he finds dark secrets, a whole new perspective of right and wrong... and the love of his life. He soon learns that sometimes doing the right thing isn't as simple or easy as it seems.
 
When I started reading this story I really had not expected something like this. But honestly, I’ve never seen anything like it before. The plot is so unique, and the characters, wow.
I love how the setting is so easy to melt into. You’re a part of this historical fiction. The description is amazing, full of action. I was at the edge of my seat the entire time. It was absolutely believable and wow.
The pacing is very near perfect. I haven’t caught any filler chapters yet, and as far as I can tell, all the scenes are crucial to the story. I’m absolutely hooked on it and I’m most certainly on the update list.
The main character is not your usual main character. Of course he’s got a goal, he wants to do the right thing, there’s always obstacles. But despite all this, he's not a mary-sue, he's very much a unique and admirable character. His goals are different, I really liked him from the first chapter. I rooted for him immediately because he came off as a really noble person. He's not the rash kind of character that's marching fearlessly into a difficult cause completely certain of success. He knows it's going to be hard but he does it anyway, despite the moments of doubt. He's very human, yet awesome all the same.
I’m not going to say ‘wow’ again. I’m going to go and finish reading. I recommend this story to fans of historical fiction all the way—and to just about everyone, really. This was a rare treat, especially on inkpop, and I’m glad I found it!