Dying to Read (131)- THE SHADOW HOUR by Melissa Grey

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!

This cover somehow snuck past my rader I don't know of there was a reveal or not but now that it's here I wanted to share! I didn't know if I'd like THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT but I ended up loving it and I can't wait for it's sequel and more Caius!

Title: THE SHADOW HOUR

Author: Melissa Grey

Release Date: July 12, 2016

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 304
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, & audiobook

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | iBooks 

Everything in Echo's life changed in a blinding flash when she learned the startling truth: she is the firebird, the creature of light that is said to bring peace.

The firebird has come into the world, but it has not come alone. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and Echo can feel a great and terrible darkness rising in the distance. Cosmic forces threaten to tear the world apart.

Echo has already lost her home, her family, and her boyfriend. Now, as the firebird, her path is filled with even greater dangers than the ones she's already overcome.

She knows the Dragon Prince will not fall without a fight.

Echo must decide: can she wield the power of her true nature--or will it prove too strong for her, and burn what's left of her world to the ground?

Welcome to the shadow hour. 

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

Blog Tour- THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT By Melissa Grey Book Influences and a Giveaway!

I am so excited to be hosting a spot on THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT Blog Tour! I loved this book! It was a fantasy but it's set in the real world with bird like people and dragons! I fell hard for a certain dragon named Caius (when you read the book you'll see why). I have a post about Melissa's inspirations for the book. Make sure to enter the giveaway below for a copy of the book!
Haven't heard of THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT? Check it out!

Title: THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT

Author: Melissa Grey

Pub. Date: April 28, 2015

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 368

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Indiebound, Powell’s,  Goodreads

ORDER A SIGNED COPY FROM BOOKS OF WONDER

For readers of Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones and Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone, The Girl at Midnight is the story of a modern girl caught in an ancient war.

Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she’s ever known.

Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she’s fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it’s time to act.

Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, but if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it’s how to hunt down what she wants … and how to take it.

But some jobs aren’t as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire.

Praise for THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT:

"Grey’s energetic debut offers a strong protagonist…[and the] well-built world, vivid characters, and perfect blend of action and amour should have readers eagerly seeking the sequel." — Kirkus Reviews, Starred

 "Sparks fly...This first novel will please fans of Cassandra Clare and Game of Thrones watchers with its remarkable world building; richly developed characters...[and] a breathtaking climax that...cannot come soon enough!""—Booklist starred review

"Inventive, gorgeous, and epic—Grey dazzles in her debut." — Danielle Paige, New York Times bestselling author of Dorothy Must Die

“A stunning debut. Equal parts atmosphere and adventure … positively divine.” – Victoria Schwab, author of A Darker Shade of Magic

Now on to the post!

Influences and The Girl at Midnight

Every author is influenced by something: books they've read, plays they've seen, movies they watched. We -- and the books we write -- evolve from the stories we've consumed throughout the years. Here are a few of the works (only 33% literary!) that influenced the world and characters of The Girl at Midnight.

1) NEVERWHERE by Neil Gaiman

I read this book when it came out ages ago (I was still in high school) and its stayed with me ever since. The idea of a subterranean world, hidden beneath the streets of one of the world's most populous cities, inhabited by creatures both magical and mundane captivated my imagination and the way Gaiman envisioned his world beneath London played a big role in how I approached the Avicen's home, the Nest, beneath the streets of New York.

2) STAR WARS

This one hardly needs an introduction. There's a reason for the enduring nature of its story -- spelled out nicely when you consider Joseph Campbell's THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES -- and I think the notion of a hero rising from unlikely circumstances is one of them. There is an element of fate to Luke Skywalker's story but more importantly, he is defined by the choices he makes. He chooses to do good in the face of overwhelming odds and that's a really powerful message.

3) FINAL FANTASY VII

This game was a life-changer for me. You can read more about how FF7 influenced my approach to storytelling in general but when it comes to The Girl at Midnight, it helped me develop my cast of characters. Having a strong protagonist is vital but it's just as important to have that person surrounded by a strong and diverse crowd. In FF7, Cloud was the central focus of the story but what would he be without Aeris, Tifa, Barrett, Red XIII, Cait Sith, Cid, Vincent, and Selphie? A lot less interesting, that's for sure.

About Melissa:

Melissa Grey was born and raised in New York City. She wrote her first short story at the age of twelve and hasn't stopped writing since. After earning a degree in fine arts at Yale University, she traveled the world, then returned to New York City where she currently works as a freelance journalist. To learn more about Melissa, visit melissa-grey.com and follow @meligrey on Twitter.

Website  | Blog | Twitter  | Instagram | Pinterest |  Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a signed Hardcover of THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT! US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the Tour Schedule!

Week One:

4/20/2015- Novel Sounds- Guest Post

4/21/2015- Cuddlebuggery- Review

4/22/2015- Parajunkee- Interview

4/23/2015- Fiktshun- Review

4/24/2015- Dahlia Adler- Guest Post

Week Two:

4/27/2015- Paperback Princess- Review

4/28/2015- Bookish Broads- Interview

4/29/2015- Mundie Moms- Review

4/30/2015- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post

5/1/2015- Icey Books- Review

Top Ten Tuesday (11)- Top Ten Most Anticipated Debut Novels For 2015

Hi and welcome to my Top 10 Tuesday post! I took a couple weeks off because of our annual Top 10 event but I'm back and ready to share my lists!

Thanks to the lovely ladies at The Broke And The Bookish for creating this weekly meme!

Here's this week's topic.

January 6: Top Ten Most Anticipated Debut Novels For 2015!

I'm quite happy this topic came up! I did my 2015 books for our annual Top 10 event but there were so many more I didn't add so I can do so now!

1. LEGACY OF KINGS by Eleanor Herman. This is her YA debut she's written in other genres. I can't wait for this epic historical fantasy about Alexander the Great!

2. THE PREY by Tom Isbell. This is a dystopian/sci-fi and it sounds awesome!

3. INKED by Eric Smith. A High Fantasy that sounds really cool and it's about tattoos!

4. DOVE ARISING by Karen Bao. There hasn't been much interest in this sci-fi one but I think it sounds interesting!

5. BECOMING JINN by Lori Goldstein. While Exquisite Captive didn't catch my interest this one does!

6. THE GIRL OF MIDNIGHT by Melissa Gray. I'm ready for a good paranormal it's been a while!

7. TRACKED by Jenny Martin. A sci-fi Fast and The Furious? Yes please!

8. VELVET by Temple West. Another paranormal I'm looking forward to! Yes vampires!!

9. THE WRATH AND THE DAWN by Renee Ahdieh. I keep hearing amazing things about this one! Can't wait to read it!

10. ASH & BRAMBLE by Sarah Prineas. It's a Cinderella retelling that sounds fantastic! And I'm saying this is her YA debut because it looks like all of her other books are MG.

So this is my list. What about you? What 2015 books are you excited for?

And come back next week for the Top Ten 2014 Releases I Meant To Read But Didn't Get To!

Hugs,
Jaime