Shadow of the Mark by Leigh Fallon - Blog Tour

We are super excited to be a part of the Shadow of the Mark Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours!  A huge thank you to the ladies of Rockstar Book Tours, Haper Teen and Leigh Fallon for including us in this great tour.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post for your chance to win awesome prizes!  Here at BiblioJunkies HQ we are busy stuffing ourselves with  pie and celebrating out 2nd birthday, so if you are so inclined, check out our other giveaways currently going on and throughout the rest of the month for other fantastic books!  Without further adieu, I give you my review of Shadow of the Mark, I promise, no spoilers!

Their love could destroy them all.

Through the ages, Marked Ones have harnessed the powers of the four elements: Water, Fire, Earth, and Air. Much about the elements is shrouded in mystery, but one thing is certain: A relationship between two Marked Ones has the potential to cause widespread devastation.  Megan and Adam—Air and Water—are determined to defy the risks.  But the power that swirls inside Megan is growing in twisted ways.   And the closer she is to Adam, the closer Megan comes to unleashing a dark force that could spell destruction for the entire Marked line.

The Bad:
It can be a bit difficult to keep all of the people and groups at play in Shadow straight and the science behind the Marked and mating is a bit confusing.  There were also times I found Megan to be either completely oblivious or willfully ignoring warnings of trouble, which was a touch annoying.  

The Good:

Shadow of the Mark is an interesting story about the continuing struggles of people who can control the elements.  You all know how much I love stories about elemental magic, so I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.  Where Megan was sometimes annoying, Adam's family is compelling and likable (hot boys!).  I also loved the twists and turns the story took.  It's not many books that can keep me guessing, so I am greatly looking forward to the next installment in the series.

Harper Teen is having an awesome giveaway in conjunction with the Blog Tour.  Check out the awesome prizes!

Giveaway Details:

1st place - a signed copy of Shadow of the Mark and a boat load of goodies inc. a silver bookmark USA only.

2nd  place - a $10 book depository gift card & some signed swag . International.

3rd place- signed swag International.

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  AND check out Leigh's website and blog for more info.

~Shel

About Leigh:

Leigh Fallon was born in South Africa, raised in Dublin, Ireland and moved to Cork in her 20's. While living in beautiful Kinsale, her novel, The Carrier of the Mark was conceived. She promptly abandoned her 'riveting' career in corporate treasury and discovered Inkpop, a website for budding writers of teen fiction. Within weeks her manuscript hit the coveted top five spot and was reviewed by an editor at HarperCollins. A few emails and some hysterical screaming later, she signed her first deal. Leigh and her family now share their time between Ireland and the US.

Website: http://www.leighfallon.com/index.php

Blog: http://www.leighfallon.blogspot.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

***1/2

From HarperTeen:

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRís.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

(Don't you just love this cover?)

Megan lost her mother in a car accident as a child.  Her father has never really recovered from the lost and the two have moved around quite a bit.  Now, Megan's Dad has taken a job in a small Irish village and they may just find a home there, but Ireland is a magical place and things are not always what they seem.  Megan is stalked by a bird and drawn to the DeRis family, especially Adam, and all these strange things start happening. 

Carrier of the Mark is Leigh Fallon's debut novel.  The history is a little complicated, but once you figure it out the story is compelling and engrossing.  The relationships between Megan and the DeRis family is fun (and reminded me of one of my favorite books of the year, Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini).  Fallon's descriptions of the Irish scenery are vivid and made me feel as if I were there.  I was thoroughly entertained by Carrier of the Mark and I will try to patiently wait for the next installment, but patience is not really my forte.  Fans of magic, Ireland and hot boys with accents will love Carrier of the Mark.

~Shel

A Peek in the Biblio-Bin - #5

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.

This week Shel gives you a peek into the Biblio-Bin.

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

I, Cassia Bernard, do solemnly swear to find pure red—my passion—this summer. Dad's passion is art. When he's painting, no one can reach him, not even me. My mom's passion was the ocean. She said the ocean allows you to see whatever you want to see. That was one of the last things she ever said to me...

Sometimes what your heart desires isn't what it needs. Over the course of a hot Miami summer, sixteen-year-old Cassia discovers that sometimes it takes bullies and basketball, a best friend, and a gorgeous guy to help you understand what you actually need—and to help you see that, maybe, everything isn't so black and white.

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

Logan Quinn was try­ing to kill me. My Spar­tan class­mate relent­lessly pur­sued me, swing­ing his sword at me over and over again, the shin­ing sil­ver blade inch­ing closer to my throat every time. A smile tugged up his lips, and his ice-blue eyes prac­ti­cally glowed with the thrill of battle...

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart — the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword — with Logan’s help — I just might die by the sword …

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So tell us.  What books did you pick up this week?