About the Book:
YA Fantasy/Thriller
Title: The Salamander Stone
Author: C.J. Fenge
Date Published: April 2, 2012
Publisher: Champagne Books
Synopsis:
She’s just the girl-next-door, that long-legged pretty thing with the flowing auburn hair. Nothing special, just ordinary Amber Brigantia, a sixteen-year–old with boyfriends on her mind; nothing more.
But you’re wrong. Beneath that enigmatic smile lie dark secrets hiding an elemental power, and when those secrets come out, everyone wants her. Everyone wants a piece of Amber.
They murder her father and lock her mother in an asylum. Then they come after her, led by the charismatic Dr. Pitt who wants that power for himself. And he doesn’t care how he gets it, smiling and smiling as he twists the knife. But Pitt has a rival, the sadistic Mrs Fedorowicz. She wants Amber too and she is an expert at making people dance to her tune - a tune that can really hurt.
Even those who love Amber cannot help her. Khiza, the African boy, is the lost other half of Amber’s soul, yet when she encounters the damaged and demonic Meshak she is torn in two and cannot decide what to feel any more.
Then the demon Azmodeus suckers onto Meshak and time itself rocks in chaos, for the demon is after Amber as well - and what he wants is unspeakable.
So let the power-games begin. And let that long-legged pretty thing be the prize.
My Review: The Salamander Stone was something different. It's paranormal, without fitting into the typical paranormal categories. It is a little bit X-Men and a little bit Nazi, Germany. I found it interesting that the Shroeder Schools initials are S.S. The school is a front for expirements on students who have special powers. The people that run the school call these students aberrants and view them as less than human, much like the Nazi's viewed the Jews and many others during their time.
I liked Amber as a character, though at times she could be a little bit helpless victim. She did grow a lot throughout the book, and I enjoyed seeing her realize her strength. I also really enjoyed the dynamic between her and Meshak. What can I say, I'm a sucker for the bad boys.
The book isn't really heavy on romance. In fact, I'm not really sure if Amber loves Kizah like a boyfriend or a brother - but I'm ok with that. I like how the struggles these characters faced were more about the big picture than gushy lovey dovey stuff.
My favorite character was James. I would love if the author wrote a short story to give us more background information on him. He's such a clever character and I'd like to know his history. I'd also like a short story on Tracy and Nathan. Those two intrigue me. Oh, and Sam's dog. I'd really like to know about Sam's dog.
Overall, The Salamander Stone is very well written. It starts off just a little bit slow, but picks up rather quickly and then remains steady. I read the book in two sittings. The main characters are very well developed, and you really feel for them throughout the book. I really got sucked into the mystery of what the school was up to, and how it tied to the Nazis. This book would be great for middle grade to adult, and both boys and girls should love it.
I’m an English Teacher, and all my working life I’ve been telling students: “Don’t put labels on yourself. They’re restricting.” I little realised that I was guilty of exactly that because I’d classed myself as analytical, not creative. And it was only when I was forced into some writing that I discovered I could create worlds, not just comment on other people’s creations.
So that’s what I do now and I have an increasing amount of time to do it in. My teaching career is winding down, my two children have grown up and left home, my husband of 40 years, also a writer, is busy creating worlds on his computer all day. To a casual observer ours is a very quiet, boring household. There aren’t even any pets making a racket since my two adorable, but elderly, ‘rescue’ cats died last year. But the inner life of our house is far from boring. Take a journey with Amber and her Salamander Stone and see what I mean. And remember not to put labels on yourself. If I can break free, anyone can.
Website
Purchase Links
amazon.co.uk (eBook £3.85; paperback £10.20)
amazon.com (eBook $6.09; paperback $15.95)
barnesandnoble.com (eBook $5.15)
burstbooks.ca (eBook $5.99)
burstbooks.ca (paperback $15.95)
Follow the rest of the tour:
November 12 - Bookishly Devoted - Review/Guest Post
November 13 - Paulette's Papers - Giveaway/Excerpt/PROMO
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November 15 - Jen McConnel - Review/Giveaway/Guest Post/Excerpt
November 16 - Disincentive Reviews- Giveaway/Excerpt/PROMO
November 17 - Moosubi Reviews - Review/Interview
November 18 - Bend In the Binding - Review/Interview/Excerpt
November 19 - S.I.K. Reviews - Giveaway/Excerpt/PROMO
November 20 - A Readers Devotion - Giveaway/Excerpt/PROMO
November 21 - My Reading Addiction - Excerpt/Giveaway/PROMO
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November 23 - Just Another Rabid Reader - Review/Interview/Giveaway/Excerpt
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November 26 - S.I.K. Book Reviews - Giveaway/Guest Post - PROMO
November 27 - B.O.O.K.L.I.F.E. - Interview/Giveaway/PROMO
November 28 - Andi's YA Books - Interview/Giveaway/Excerpt/PROMO
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8 comments:
Never heard of this author. I may have to check the book out.
Ooohh sounds interesting! I love books with elemental powers! Killing her dad and putting her mom in an asylum?! She has a tough journey ahead. Thanks for the giveaway!
oooh, this sounds really good. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love fantasy books and I too love the bad boys lol GREAT
Thank you for introducing me to a new author!
Great giveaway! Thank you so very much for your generosity!! :D (Angie Edwards)
Thanks for such a great giveaway as well as the introduction to this book!
Sounds interesting! Thanks for the giveaway :)
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