Dying To Read (188)- THE GAUNTLET by Megan Shepherd

Hey y’all thanks for stopping by to see my Dying to Read post and of course as always I have to give credit to the lovely Jill over at Breaking the Spine for the Waiting on Wednesday Meme! 

I love Megan and am a big fan of this sci-fi series so I can't wait to read this one!

Title: THE GAUNTLET

Author: Megan Shepherd

Release Date: May 23, 2017

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 352

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBooks 

The Maze Runner meets Scott Westerfeld in the final novel in the gripping and romantic Cage series, about teens abducted from Earth by an otherworldly race.


Cora and her friends have escaped the Kindred station and landed at Armstrong—a supposed safe haven on a small moon—where they plan to regroup and figure out how to win the Gauntlet, the challenging competition to prove humanity’s intelligence and set them free. But Armstrong is no paradise; ruled by a power-hungry sheriff, it’s a violent world where the teens are enslaved and put to work in mines. As Nok’s due date grows closer, and Mali and Leon journey across space to rescue Cassian, the former inhabitants of the cage are up against impossible odds.

With the whole universe at stake, Cora will do whatever it takes, including pushing her body and mind to the breaking point, to escape Armstrong and run the Gauntlet. But it isn’t just a deranged sheriff she has to overcome: the other intelligent species—the Axion, Kindred, Gatherers, and Mosca—all have their own reasons to stop her. Not knowing who to trust, Cora must rely on her own instincts to win the competition, which could change the world—though it might destroy her in the process.

So what do you think? Will you be adding this to your pile? What are you dying to read this week?

Blog Tour- THE CAGE by Megan Shepherd Book Playlist and A Giveaway!

I am so excited to be hosting a spot on THE CAGE blog tour! I loved this book it was so different from Megan's other series and I can't wait to read the sequel. I have Megan's playlist and make sure to enter the giveaway below for a signed ARC and swag!
Haven't heard of THE CAGE? Check it out!

Title: THE CAGE

Author: Megan Shepherd

Pub. Date: May 26, 2015

Publisher: Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins

Pages: 400

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

The Maze Runner meets Scott Westerfeld in this gripping new series about teens held captive in a human zoo by an otherworldly race. From Megan Shepherd, the acclaimed author of The Madman's Daughter trilogy.

When Cora Mason wakes in a desert, she doesn't know where she is or who put her there. As she explores, she finds an impossible mix of environments—tundra next to desert, farm next to jungle, and a strangely empty town cobbled together from different cultures—all watched over by eerie black windows. And she isn't alone.

Four other teenagers have also been taken: a beautiful model, a tattooed smuggler, a secretive genius, and an army brat who seems to know too much about Cora's past. None of them have a clue as to what happened, and all of them have secrets. As the unlikely group struggles for leadership, they slowly start to trust each other. But when their mysterious jailer—a handsome young guard called Cassian—appears, they realize that their captivity is more terrifying than they could ever imagine: Their captors aren't from Earth. And they have taken the five teenagers for an otherworldly zoo—where the exhibits are humans.

As a forbidden attraction develops between Cora and Cassian, she realizes that her best chance of escape might be in the arms of her own jailer—though that would mean leaving the others behind. Can Cora manage to save herself and her companions? And if so . . . what world lies beyond the walls of their cage? 

Check out the book trailer!

Now on to the playlist! I'll add YouTube links for all the songs but will also add some videos of my favorites!

Book Playlist

One of my favorite forms of procrastination is to hunt out music that captures the spirit of a book I’m working on. For THE CAGE, I was looking for songs that had a sci-fi feel, with lyrics about feeling caged and wanting to escape.

MY BODY IS A CAGE, Arcade Fire. This song captures the feel of being exposed, and also because it talks about the difference between the mind and body, which is essential to 

the story.

 
E.T., Katy Perry. I first heard this song on the radio just as I had started writing THE CAGE. It’s not every day you get an alien love story song! Obviously it had to go on the soundtrack immediately.

BONES, MSMR. This song makes me think of a particular scene in THE CAGE, near the end, where Cora makes some shocking discoveries about their environment and their alien captors.

CASUAL AFFAIR, Panic! At the Disco. A reader first turned me on to this song, and I love its scifi vibe and lyrics about falling for someone you might not be able to trust.

COUNTINGSTARS, Sugarcult. This song fits a certain scene in the book where Cora feels like an outcast, torn between two different worlds, and haunted by her past.

TESSELLATE, Alt-J. I love the dangerous feel of this song and its lyrics about the unpredictability of life.

IN A CAGE,Black Belles. This song always makes me feel like I want to break out of my own cage. It’s the perfect fit for some of the more powerful scenes in the book.

METAL HEART, Cat Power. With lyrics like “It's damned if you don't and it's damned if you do. Be true 'cause they'll lock you up in a sad, sad zoo,” I couldn’t resist adding this haunting song as the playlist’s last track.

Thanks to my friends Jeremy, Jason, and readers for suggesting some of these songs! 

About Megan:

Megan Shepherd grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where her family has owned and operated an independent bookstore for over 35 years. Shepherd attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in international studies and went on to live and work in Costa Rica, Senegal, Scotland, Spain, and many other countries. Now, Shepherd has returned to Western North Carolina and is a full-time writer of young adult novels.

She is represented by Josh Adams of Adams Literary.

Author Photo by Kristi Hedberg Photography

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr/Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a signed ARC of THE CAGE with a CAGE bookmark and sticker sheet. US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the Tour Schedule!

Week One:

5/18/2015- No BS Book Reviews- Interview

5/19/2015- Me, My Shelf and I- Review

5/20/2015- Bewitched bookworms- Guest Post

5/21/2015- Seeing Double In Neverland- Review

5/22/2015- Novel Novice- Interview

Week Two:

5/25/2015- Fiktshun- Guest Post

5/26/2015- Bookish- Review

5/27/2015- The Eater of Books!-  Interview

5/28/2015- Such a Novel Idea- Review

5/29/2015- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post

Top 10 of 2014-Top 10 Books I'm looking forward to in 2015!

Hey welcome to the last day of the Top 10 Books of 2014! We hope you all have been having fun! To close out the week we’re looking forward to 2015 so today’s topic is….. Top 10 Books I'm looking forward to in 2015. (This list should be comprised of books released ONLY in 2015)

And make sure to stop by my co-hosts sites Reading YA Rocks, Tales of a Ravenous Reader, and Magical Urban Fantasy Reads for their lists! Oh and make sure to sign up with the linky to share your lists! And don't forget to visit my co-hosts lists one of them is hosting a giveaway today but I'm not saying who you'll just have to visit all 3! 

Ok I’m being a big time cheater here! I’ve read a fewt of these books already but I needed to share how awesome they are on and there’s not a top 10 it’s a top 13! I’ll put READ next to the ones I’ve read lol.

1. FIREBIRD #2 by Claudia Gray, haven’t read. But I need to! I also may know what the it's title may be because Claudia shared it with me but until its official my lips are sealed. But I need more Paul in my life right now!!!!

2. AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir, READ. This book was EPIC!!! It was dark and twisted and I loved every page! It’s an amazing high fantasy! Oh and I love Elias!!1

3. THE SIN EATER’S DAUGHTER by Melinda Salisbury, READ. Another amazing high fantasy. I loved Twylla’s story and both of her love interests. I’m still torn between the two I can’t pick a team yet and that’s a plus in my book!

4. THE ARTISANS by Julie Reece, READ. This is a fantastic retelling of a Beauty and the Beast story. And you will all fall for Gideon, HARD!

5. RED QUEEN by Victoria Aveyard, READ. Another epically amazing high fantasy! I don’t know what in the water these days but the new batch of high fantasies from the 14’ers and the 15’ers but they are sooo freaking good! I rank some at the Maria V. Snyder Study series level. And yep this is one of them!

6. THE RUBY CIRCLE by Richelle Mead, haven’t read. I need this one like a fat kid needs candy!!!! That cliffie at the end of SILVER SHADOWS was ugh so infuriating. And I need more Adrian!!

7. THE DEAD OF WINTER by Kresley Cole, haven’t read. I am dying to get my hands on this finale. I need to know who Evie chooses and I pray it’s Death!

8. THE HEART OF BETRAYAL by Mary E. Pearson, haven’t read. Another one I’m DYING to read! After that ending I need more now! And more Rafe!

9. THE CAGE by Megan Shepherd, haven’t read. But I’ll read anything Megan writes I love her writing! Also this sounds kinda like The Planet of the Apes but with Aliens or Humans being the captors. It’s set on a different planet so I’m intrigued. And I love sci-fi.

10. THE WITCH HUNTER by Virginia Boecker, haven’t read. A world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and all-too-handsome healers? Count me in!

11. SHADOW STUDY by Maria V. Snyder, READ. Maria is my favorite author of all time so of course this one makes the list. And it’s more Yelena, Valek, Ari, Janco, Leif, Kiki, and the rest of the crew! These characters are like family to me! Reading this was like coming home!

12. A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by Sarah J. Maas, CURRENTLY READING. I love Sarah's Throne of Glass Series and this new series of hers is going to be just as awesome I'm loving the hot Fae. I will read anything Sarah writes!

13. END OF DAYS by Susan Ee, haven’t read. It’s taken way to long for the conclusion to this series but I’m still dying to read it!

Did any of my favorites make your list? Thanks so much for participating in this year's Top 10 of 2014 it was a blast and we hope to see you next year! 

And remember to stop by my co-hosts sites Reading YA Rocks, Tales of a Ravenous Reader, and Magical Urban Fantasy Reads for their lists and one of them is hosting a giveaway today but I'm not saying who you'll just have to visit all 3! 

Make sure to fill out the linky to share your lists! 

Dying to Read (79)- THE CAGE BY Megan Shepherd

Hey y’all thanks for stopping by to see my Dying to Read post and of course as always I have to give credit to the lovely Jill over at Breaking the Spine for the Waiting on Wednesday Meme!

I adore Megan and her Madman's Daughter books and when I heard she had another series I knew I'd add it to my tbr! Then the cover and the synopsis came out and I got even more excited for it!!!

THE CAGE (The Cage #1)
Megan Shepherd

Release Date: May 26, 2015

Hardcover: 400 pages

Publisher: Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins

ISBN: 978-0062243058

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

When Cora Mason wakes in a desert, she doesn't know where she is or who put her there. As she explores, she finds an impossible mix of environments--tundra next to desert, farm next to jungle--and a strangely empty town cobbled together from different cultures and time periods, all watched over by eerie black windows. And she isn't alone.

Four other teenagers have also been taken: a beautiful model, a tattooed smuggler, a secretive genius, and an army brat who seems to know too much about Cora's past. None of them have a clue as to what happened, and all of them have secrets. As the unlikely group struggles for leadership, they slowly start to trust each other. But when their mysterious jailer appears--a handsome young guard named Cassian--they realize that their captivity is more terrifying than they could ever imagine: their captors aren't from Earth. And they have taken they five teenagers to an otherworldly zoo--where the exhibits are humans.

When a forbidden attraction develops between Cora and Cassian, she realizes that her best chance of escape might be in the arms of her own jailer--though that would mean leaving the others behind. Can Cora manage to save herself and her companions? And if so…what world lies beyond the walls of their cage? 

So what do you think? Will you be adding this to your pile? What are you dying to read this week?