Thursday, October 2, 2014

YA Scavenger Hunt

At the bottom of the page I'm also offering a bonus giveaway - don't miss it!



Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!




Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are SIX contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the Gold Team --but there is also a red team, a blue team, an orange team, a red team, and an indie team for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!

If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.



SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE




Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the Gold team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).




Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.



Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by October 5th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.



Now let's move on to the author I'm hosting today:



Sara B. Larson can't remember a time when she didn't write books--although she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook. Sara lives in Utah with her husband and their three children. She writes during naptime and the quiet hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims she should have a degree in "the art of multitasking." When she's not mothering or writing, you can often find her at the gym repenting of her sugar addiction.


Sara is promoting IGNITE (sequel to DEFY) during this hunt. Here's the cover:

Summary (spoilers for anyone who hasn't read DEFY):
In the kingdom of Antion, peace has at long last been restored. Now that King Hector’s reign of terror is over, the newly crowned King Damian, along with his most trusted guard, Alexa, must focus on rebuilding Antion and reclaiming the hope of their people. But the wounds of the past are no as easily mended as Alexa and Damian had hoped. And to further complicate matters, Alexa still harbors a secret love for Damian, a love she refuses to acknowledge for the sake of Antion, and for the sake of the king himself. 

When new threats to the kingdom surface—including an assassination attempt on Damian—blame is cast on the once-friendly nation of Blevon. Alexa knows things are not what they seem, however, and once again the fate of her country hangs in the balance. Will Alexa be able to protect her king and find the true enemy before it’s too late?

Filled with romance and treachery, magic and violence, this stunning sequel to Defy whisks readers off on another thrilling adventure.


IGNITE comes out January 6th, 2015 from Scholastic and here's the link to order a signed copy of DEFY or pre-order a signed copy of IGNITE from Sara's local indie, The King's English. 


BONUS CONTENT
Sara offers a new scene, pre-DEFY, told from Alexa's POV when she was 8.
++++++++++++++


Alexa, age 8

The fire behind the grate hissed and crackled, a soft addition to the sound of my parent’s voices, their words a low hum in the semi-darkness of our home. Mama thought I was asleep, with my head in her lap, but I wasn’t. I wanted to hear what they had to say. Though the brush of her fingers through my hair was making me very sleepy. I had to crack one eye barely open, just a slit, to keep myself from accidentally drifting off.
Papa was a shadow silhouetted against the orange light of the flames. He sat on the ground, the sword he’d been sharpening earlier now resting in his lap. His fingers were curled around the hilt, almost as if he expected someone to burst through the door at any moment.
“You shouldn’t allow her to train with you. It isn’t right,” Mama was saying. Which was why I’d worked so hard to stay awake: they were talking about me.
“She’s a natural. And she wants to learn. Why would I refuse? Because she’s a girl?”
I felt Mama nod, all the way down through her hand as her fingers paused on my head.
“That’s not good enough for me,” Papa said. “She doesn’t have to be helpless. I want my daughter to be able to defend herself.”
“She doesn’t need to be able to defend herself. She’ll have Marcel once he’s trained. She has you.” Her fingers began to slip through my hair once more, but I could feel a tension in her touch that hadn’t been there a moment before.
“And what if something happens to me? What then?”
“Nothing is going to happen to you,” Mama’s words were suddenly fierce. It was the voice she only used when she was really upset. “You are the best—”
“That’s no guarantee,” he cut her off. “Not if the rumors are true.” Papa gently set the sword down and stood up. As he crossed to where I lay with my head in Mama’s lap, I quickly shut my eyes. “Nailah, did you ever meet one of them before your family left?”
Every part of Mama stiffened at his question. “You mean…” she trailed off, almost like she didn’t want to say the words out loud.
“A black sorcerer. When you lived in Dansii, did you ever see what they can do?”
There was a weighted silence, like the breath before the rain began to pour from the sky. And then Mama murmured, “You know we did. You know that’s why we left—why my father brought us here, to Antion.”
Papa sat down beside us, lifting my legs to place them across his lap, and letting his hands rest on my calves. I couldn’t feel the callouses I knew marked his hands through the rough, homespun fabric of my nightgown. When he trained with his sword, I couldn’t help but long to be like him. Papa wielding a sword was an extraordinary kind of magic that I wanted for myself. It was a strange ache, deep inside of me. Almost like the way I felt when I hadn’t eaten for too long and my belly was so empty, that I wanted to devour all the food on the table all at once.
Papa lifted one hand from my leg and let it rest on top of Mama’s fingers that still pressed into my hair. “I will continue to train her, Nailah. And she will prove to you and everyone else that she can be just as good if not better than any boy. There’s something special about her….” He trailed off.
“You don’t think that she’s…” Mama’s voice had gone soft, hushed.
“No. No, she’s not. But I can sense something. Something more than normal. She’s special, Nailah. Alexa is my little Zhànshì Nánwū.” 
His words rang in my ears long after he lifted me and carried me to my bed beside Marcel. I didn’t know what they meant, but for some reason, it made me feel warm inside, right next to my heart.

Like maybe, just maybe, I could claim his magic for myself. Someday.
+++++++++++++++++++++

And don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Sara B. Larson, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 5.  Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the Gold team and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!


BONUS GIVEAWAY

As I mentioned above I'm also having a Bonus Giveaway! I'm giving away one signed hardcover of DEFECTOR (left image) and one UK copy of DEFECTOR (right).
a Rafflecopter giveaway




CONTINUE THE HUNT




To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out Rachele Alpine's website!

115 comments:

A said...

For next year (2015), I am excited for CUT ME FREE, and THE CONSPIRACY OF US.

Thank you for joining YASH and for the awesome giveaway you have! Much love! x

Carmel @ http://carmelandkyla.blogspot.com/

Lisa Mandina said...

I'm most excited for Ensnared by AG Howard next year! Thanks so much for participating and the awesome giveaway!

Henna said...

Definitely Half Wild by Sally Green! It can't be March 2015 soon enough. I fell in love with Half Bad last summer and I just need more of Nathan and his journey.

Henna @ Howling for Books

Unknown said...

I'm the most excited for Cut Me Free by J. R. Johansson! :D I loved Insomnia and Paranoia and I just want to read more by her :D

S211n3 said...

Invincible by DelSheree Gladden

Kyla said...

I'm really excited for CUT ME FREE, THE WALLS AROUND US, and THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND. UGH, I FORGOT THE OTHER BOOKS BUT I KNOW I AM EXCITED FOR EVERY BOOK!

Fallon said...

I am excited for The Orphan Queen! There are so many other books but I thought I would pick a first in a series

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for being a part of the scavenger hunt and for the extra giveaway. I think I'm most excited about "Sweet Temptation" by Wendy Higgins. It's a part of the "Sweet Evil" series told from Kai's point of view.

Abby Joy said...

The Blood of Olympus and The Young Elites!! But your book is definitely interesting! :D

Jenni Elyse said...

I'm really excited for Ignite, Cut Me Free, Ink and Ashes, and Shutter!

Michka said...

Would it count if I were to say I was excited about my own novel in 2015? LOL

Honestly, there are so many books, I'm not sure I could just pick one or two!

Unknown said...

Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4)
by Marissa Meyer

Unknown said...

I am most excited for Ignite by Sara B Larson, Ensnared by AG Howard and The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan!!!

Paige said...

I'm looking forward to Shutter by Courtney Alameda and Leigh Bardugo's new series The Dregs.
Thanks for the fun!

_Sandra_ said...

Definitely Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.
Thanks for a giveaway! :)

Erin N said...

Lion Heart by AC Gaughen. Thanks for the amazing giveaway, I absolutely love your books!

Unknown said...

Oh gosh, dang, this is a hard question. Um, probably All Fall Down by Ally Carter which hits bookstores near the end of January.

Unknown said...

Firefight by Brandon Sanderson


dangit, why did the pub date move? D:

Unknown said...

The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead!

Yun-A said...

Thank you for doing YASH!

I'm excited for Winter (The Lunar Chronicles) and Ensnared (Splintered).

Bryce Davis said...

I can't wait for The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead! :)

Mo_books said...

Winter by Marissa Meyer is my most anticipated read of 2015

Unknown said...

I'm most looking forward to Long way down by Becca ritchie

anonymous said...

Tainted by Claire Farrell...but now as I'm sitting here I'm not sure if it comes out next year or the end of this year.....

Melissa M.
(can't get it to stop posting as "anonymous"!)

Kelsy said...

I can't wait for Winter by Marissa Meyer which comes out next year! :)

Unknown said...

I'm really excited about Winter by Marissa Meyer :)

CYP @ A Bookalicious Story said...

Oh man how to choose! Lionheart by AC Gaughen :)

mrichardson46 said...

I'm looking forward to 'All Fall Down' by Ally Carter next year.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to read Red Queen! It sounds absolutely incredible!

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to read Red Queen! It sounds absolutely incredible!

zeeeebs said...

Fairest - Lunar Chronicles 0.1

Unknown said...

Im excited for Red queen and Winter!

Unknown said...

I'm most excited for The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead. It's the last book in her Bloodlines series!

Stacie @ Book Nerd Addict said...

I am most excited for THE SIN EATER'S DAUGHTER. It seems very mysterious and the cover is one of the most prettiest I have ever seen. Thank you for the giveaway!

pandalovesyou said...

Umm....the list is long and getting longer. There is the new black Dagger Brotherhood book coming out. Also, book #6 of the Game of Thrones.

forsan said...

Burned by the amazhang Moaning author of the fever series. I cannot get enough of Dani.

Unknown said...

Can't wait to read A Thousand Peices of You by Claudia Gray! Just hte cover alone has me excited!! :)

Litza said...

I'm really looking forward to A Cold Legacy (The Madman's Daughter #3)
by Megan Shepherd! I can't wait to find out how it all ends! :)

Thanks for participating in the Hunt and for having a bonus giveaway. You rock!

Nicole Heart said...

I'm looking forward to "The Boy's Club" by Angie Martin!!

Unknown said...

Hard question! Um, like others here, probably Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard or Winter by Marissa Meyer. :-)

bookishbaggins(at)gmail(dot)com

Ashfa said...

Winter by Marissa Meyer!

Eli Yanti said...

Ensnared by AG Howard :)

Natalie @ Book Lovers Life said...

I can not wait for Ignite as I loved Defy!!! Im excited for Red Queen :)

miki said...

i'm excited for Pirate's alley by suzanne jonhson

thanks

Thais Pampado said...

I'm most excited for Ensnared!
Thanks for the giveaway (if it's not international please do not count my entries).

Katrina @ Bookish Things said...

I'm looking forward to Winter by Marissa Meyer

Courtney said...

I'm really excited about Winter by Marissa Meyer :)

AJG said...

Ahhhhhh! There are too many I can't pick just one!! :O

Jenn said...

There are absolutely too many to answer that question. I know I'm looking forward to Tiger's Dream by Colleen Houck, not sure if that's the one I'm most excited about because I'm excited about so many and I don't like to order books. I don't have a favorite book or a favorite writer I have too many too list but that's one of the ones I'm looking forward to.

Rachel said...

Ooh, so many books! But the first to come to mind is THE SIN EATER'S DAUGHTER by Melinda Salisbury! Thanks for the giveaway!

Unknown said...

For me, it's a threeway tie between THE DREGS, BLACK DOVE WHITE RAVEN, and SHADOW SCALE. Thanks for the giveaway, lovely!

Nicole said...

I'm so excited for the second book in the Remnant Chronicles. I knew I shouldn't have bought the first book until more had been released, but it just looked so pretty. Oh well, now I wait...

Anonymous said...

I'm so excited for The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and Ignite by Sara B Larson! Thanks for the giveaway!

A. said...

Can't wait for The Copper Gauntlet by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black!

Pam said...

I'm looking forward to Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4)by Marissa Meyer. Thank you!!

Kristia said...

I'm excited for Cut Me Free! :) Thank you for the giveaway!

Breenah A said...

I'm really excited for The Ruby Circle (in the Bloodlines series).

Emma A. said...

I have quite a few, but some of my most anticipated include: The Ruby Circle, The Heir, and Red Queen! Thank you for participating!

Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight said...

Oh my, how do I choose!? Right now, probably Salt & Stone or Nil Unlocked, but there are so, so many that I have already pre-ordered in anticipation! Thanks for the giveaway :)

Tiffany said...

So many.... Winter, Lady Midnight those are two I am trying to wait patiently for.

Brian said...

My name is Brian and I am most excited about Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare.

Unknown said...

I'm so excited for Red Queen coming in 2015. Looks so amazing!

Arlene said...

I am most excited for Susan Ee's next Angelfall book! Thanks for the giveaway!

Anonymous said...

There are more than I can say, but one of the top is the upcoming Marissa Meyer, FAIREST.

Camii Ailen said...

Consecuences by Colleen Hoover

Unknown said...

Jennifer Armentrout's books for next year!

Renae said...

I'm really looking forward to Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare.

lostbraincell said...

New Throne of Glass book!!!!!

Melissa @thereaderandthechef said...

Hidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen!

A Fairytale Ending :) said...

Oh that's such a tough one! There's so many amazing ones out there. But the one I'm most dying to read is Jennifer L. Armentrout's The Return (Titan #1). We finally get to read Seth's story, while also seeing our favorite characters. :)

Anonymous said...

In no particular order:
A Cold Legacy--Megan Shepard
Tiger's Dream--Colleen Houck
Red Queen--Victoria Aveyard
The Wicked Will Rise--Danielle Paige
Invaded
Liars, Inc.--Paula Stokes

Thanks for hosting
#DOONLOVE

Ayanami Faerudo said...

The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall

sarah said...

There are so many great books coming out that I want to read : The #4 Throne of Glass book and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder and the 9th Mercy Thompson book by Patricia Briggs to name a few. Plus there are many sequels and so on that I still need to read the previous book in the series before starting.

Lauren said...

I am most excited for Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes :) Thanks for the giveaway!!!

Unknown said...

Tiger's Dream by Colleen Houck!!

Anonymous said...

The Fill-in Boyfriend by Kasie West and Ignite by Sara Larson, for sure! Loved the previous books of both authors so much ♥ Thanks for the giveaway!

Unknown said...

I've gotta be honest; I'm so freaking excited for Blood Of Olympus... It will be sad to see the Percy Jackson's end, though:(

Unknown said...

There are many books waiting on! I can't wait for the last percy jackson book. Patricia Briggs new one! Tiger's Dream by Colleen Houck and more

Unknown said...

I can't wait for Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen. But, honestly, there so many 2015 books that I can't wait to have and read!

Aditi ~ A Thousand Words A Million Books said...

There are TONS of book that I would KILL for in 2015- the top of my list being The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma!

Unknown said...

I am soooooo excited for the release of Winter by Melissa Marr.

Lis said...

Thank you so much for the chance... I must say, Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Lis said...

Ooops! got the year wrong, I'm dying to read Winter!

Sue @ Crushingcinders said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sue @ Crushingcinders said...

Thanks for the giveaway - hoping it's international :)
Can't wait to read Rachel Morgan's (Team Indie) The Trouble with Falling

Talysa said...

I am most excited about IGNITE by Sara B Larson!!!

magicseal said...

I'm excited about Prudence by Gail Carriger

Unknown said...

I'm excited to read Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard!

Unknown said...

I'm REALLY looking forward to Invaded by Melissa Landers!!!

ShinigamiViolet17 said...

The book I am most looking forward to is Winter by Merissa Meyer!!

Unknown said...

the book I'm really looking forward to is Ignite. I LOVED DEFY, and i can't wait to get my hands on the sequel.

Dana said...

I am most excited for The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski!

tammy216 said...

I'm really looking forward to Red Queen!

Hannah said...

ALL FALL DOWN by Ally Carter!

Joli @ Actin' Up with Books said...

Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Defector. I read Impostor and NEED to know what happens next.

A book that I'm looking forward to reading in 2015 is Twisted Fate by Norah Olson.

Unknown said...

I'm so excited for "The Heir" by Kiera Cass!

iLuvReadingTooMuch said...

A Cold Legacy! Thanks for the great giveaway! :D

Rabiah (name on Rafflecopter)

Tina said...

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mrs. Rudelich said...

ReAwakened!

The Girl with the Pug said...

I'm excited for Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater! Thank you for the giveaway :)

melinda said...

there are so so many I can't name just one.

Seethewaymaggiecees said...

I can't say I'm the most excited about this one, but this is one of the list: Dove Arising by Karen Bao.

Cindy C. said...

I'm excited for Winter by Marissa Meyer. Thank you for this giveaway! :)

-Cindy C.

Fallon said...

Morgan ~ drewblythe2004@yahoo.com
The book I am most looking forward to in 2015 is Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard!

Unknown said...

There's so many 2015 titles I'm really excited for! One of them is I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios. :)

Cassie said...

I'm most excited for Finding Paris by Joy Preble!

Unknown said...

Winter by Marissa Meyer
Reawakened by Colleen Houck
The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead

Charlotte said...

I'm excited for Ensnared, the last book in the Splintered trilogy!

Dumbledore's Army Marauder's Map said...

Burned by Karen Marie Moning

Carina Olsen said...

Winter by Marissa Meyer. <3 SO excited for this book :D Hih. Thank you so much for this amazing giveaway. <3 I would love to win :)

Vendea said...

I can't wait to read Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead :)

Unknown said...

Throne of Glass #4 duuhh!

Unknown said...

I'm most excited about Colleen Houck's book Tiger's Dream that is supposed to be coming out 2015 (if I have to wait any longer than that I might die lol) and Colleen Houck's new series' first book Reawakened that comes out August 2015!! :)

Unknown said...

the first book in the dark artifices which is the sequel to the mortal instruments by cassandra clare!! cant wait!!

Caitlin said...

the first dark artifices by cassandra clare!