Armchair BEA Day 3: Giveaways & Literature

Welcome back to Armchair BEA! If you're not sure what it's all about be sure to visit the Armchair BEA headquarters.

Before I jump right into the giveaway, I want to talk about what I'm giving away. Something we haven't talked about officially all week are series! If you have had time this week to check out my archive, then you'll see LOTS of series. I'm a pretty big fan of book series. To me they are like a television show with seasons, multiple episodes featuring the same core characters that I love to hate and just flat out love and my heart breaks when it's over, either for the season or series ending. Some of my favorite series are: Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater, Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs, Revenants by Amy Plum, & Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent. I've been fortunate enough to meet some of these women (it's not intentional that they're all ladies, I promise) and I've even hosted a week celebrating one of these series.

Now here's where the fun part comes in. While I don't have a first copy of all of these to give away, I've got something just as good. There will be two giveaways. The first one is for US residents only and will allow you to win your choice of one of the following books:

• The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
• My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
• Angus, Thongs, and Full-frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
• Die for Me by Amy Plum
• Delirium by Lauren Oliver
• Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

The second giveaway is open internationally! I'm giving you the chance to pick your own book(s)! I will pay up to $15 (US) for you to choose your own book(s). You tell me your selection and I will pay for it on your behalf.

Contest rules: You must be over 13 years old to enter; if you submit an entry into the US only giveaway, you must have a US address for me to ship to; if you submit an entry in the international giveaway you must tell me your book selection(s) within 72 hours of receiving my winning notification email; both giveaways close at 12:00 AM (CST) on June 1.

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If you're still with me, we'll now progress to the more "high brow" portion of today's segment. :) General literary fiction is a term I associate with assigned readings in high school and college. That being said, there are still a few great ones that really had a profound impact on my life or helped me to see another point of view:

• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood was the first book I read about women's roles in society that actually frightened me; and it's fiction! There were so many parallels between this book and our world that caused me to take pause and reevaluate how I was thinking and behaving in regards to what's going on this world. I also think this book started me on my post-apocalyptic/futuristic world kick. It also encouraged me to educate myself about real women's roles & lead me to reading more women's memoirs (like Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali & Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi).
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett doesn't always get the credit it deserves. While the content wasn't earth-shattering, the execution was incredible. Told from three very distinct points of view, we follow the events of a few months in the lives of a non-traditional Southern belle writing a book about "The Help", her maid, and another maid. This book shone a fairly accurate light on the reality of life in the South during this time period. It had such a profound impact on me because of the conversations it opened up with other people about that time period. 
• L'assommoir by Émile Zola was one of the first books I read completely in French. In my literature class during my semester abroad we read selections from several time periods and only a few select books. This one was one of the books we read. It was a whole new way for me to learn a language. By reading it on my own, digesting what I thought was the meaning, and then dissecting it in class I gained a new respect for writers, their craft, and second language apprehension. If you've never tried it, give it a shot some time!

There you have it folks. Three of my most influential, and most non-required by school, reading assignments. What books did you choose?

Waiting on Wednesday: If I Should Die (Revenants #3) by Amy Plum

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

You're in for a treat today. I have actually already read and reviewed today's title and that's a rarity! If I Should Die by Amy Plum isn't set to come out until May 7th, but you can read my thoughts thanks to the lovely Princess Bookie who runs Around the World Arc Tours. Note: as this is the 3rd and final installment in the Revenant series, there are definite spoilers ahead.

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

From Goodreads

Oh how I love this book! This couple is a real as it gets (for a human and an undead boy). While so many people like to compare them to Bella & Edward (meh) I prefer to think of them as more stable and sensible. The rich world created by Plum is one that you can get lost in very easily. It feels as comfortable to me as Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamer series. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have & if not, that you'll consider picking it up now that the series will be complete!

What are you waiting on this week?

If I Should Die (Revenants #3) by Amy Plum review

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST TWO BOOKS! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

From Goodreads

Trust me folks, a summary doesn't get more spoiler-free than that one right there. I tried, in vain, for quite some time to come up with a summary in my own words, but there is just so much that happens that is delicate or could easily be misconstrued if taken out of context that I'm sticking with the official description.

In short, this was amazing! I don't think I've read such a satisfying resolution to a series as this in quite a while. Amy Plum really does all the plots justice in this final chapter of the Revenants series.

We continue with our core group of characters following on the heels of losing Vincent to numa. Different kinds and intensities of grief can affect certain people in varying ways. Some break down, while others rise up. We see both of these among the revenants and Kate's family. Plum does these emotions justice and really allows the reader to connect with the characters' experiences. This style carries throughout the entire book, which I found to be a necessary component while reading. Emotions are relied on heavily in order to carry the story. While there is plenty of action at the appropriate moments, the emotional decisions and reactions are what binds it all together.

Naturally the setting is sumptuous. France is a natural setting for such an extraordinary story because of the rich history that the area lends to the writer. Plum capitalizes on this fact taking us not just through "recent" history, but all the way back to ancient times. None of the book actually takes place then, but as the reader learns more about revenant history, the farther back into time we glimpse.

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by how much happened in what seemed like such a short time frame. From beginning to end, this series takes a little over a year, but this book took place in maybe two weeks, some days of which are skipped due to loss of consciousness or travel. This was certainly the most action-packed book of the series and rightly so considering all that had to take place in order to achieve the desired resolution.

If you haven't had the immense pleasure of enjoying this series, please visit your local library or book store and remedy the situation as soon as possible. While I am sorry to see these characters and this wonderful world go, I am happy with the results. Congratulations Amy Plum on a job well done!

Until I Die (Revenants #2) by Amy Plum review

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

From Goodreads
  
Kate has had a rough go of the last year and change. With her parents dieing & her having to move to Paris with her sister to live with her grandparents, she's been a little shell-shocked. But then came Vincent. He turned her whole world upside down with his very existence. After discovering his true identity as a revenant, she still couldn't give up the way she feels about him. After a trial-by-fire immersion into his world, the two decide that they really should give their relationship its proper attempt. The only caveat is that Kate can't spend their relationship worrying about him having to sacrifice himself in order to save other humans.


As a result they each go about trying to find a way to help ease his pain so he can resist the need/desire to sacrifice himself. As the story progresses we learn more about revenant history & mythology as a new enemy springs up. While the numa have been dormant since their master's murder, they have been too quiet & the truth is more astonishing than any of them could have dreamed up.


Amy Plum has done it again. Until I Die is the perfect follow up to the smashing success that is Die for Me. I said it on Twitter & I will be more than happy to repeat it here, this book does not even remotely suffer from second book in a series syndrome. Plum's lush writing style set against the incredible backdrop that is Paris is a force to be reckoned with. There is a vibrancy to her writing that allows the reader to truly experience of what she is writing.


This book was a little more emotional than the first book simply because it involved deep matters of the heart. Kate is still quite young (by Vincent's standards) but she's desperate to make their relationship work. As such she goes through turmoil that only a teenager's first love can create. Even more nerve-wracking is the ultimate betrayal. Naturally I can't give you any hints, but there is something so visceral about a personal betrayal & Plum hits it right on the head.


A fabulous continuation in a wonderful series, I absolutely cannot wait to see what she has in store for the finale. If you don't already, you really should follow Amy on Twitter because she puts up some great stuff like her current profile pic with Stefan & Damon of The Vampire Diaries! (@AmyPlumOhLaLa)