Monday 3 January 2011

New Year Giveaway!

One of my New Years Resolution was to host more giveaways to pay it forward for all the fabulous books I've been luck enough to win since starting to blog seriously. I've been racking my brains to think of a suitable prize and have decided to start with an author I've adored and reviewed - Maria V Snyder. She's written two trilogies set in the same world - the Study series and the Glass series both of which are excellent reads - as well as a YA series, Inside Out and Outside In (Reviews of both coming up in the next month). There doesn't seem to be as much buzz around her work as she deserves and I honestly can't recommend these books enough, so in order to convert people to her writing or just spread joy if you've already discovered her writing I've decided to give one lucky person the chance to win a book of their choice from her back catalogue. The winner can choose a copy of one of these books (I've only put the synopsis for the first book of each trilogy up as there are some spoilers in the following synopsis!).
POISON STUDY (Study Book 1)
About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered a reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace, and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia. And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust, and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison. As Yelena tries to escape her dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and she develops magical powers she can't control. Her life’s at stake again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren’t so clear!
         MAGIC STUDY (Study Book 2)
FIRE STUDY (Study Book 3)
 











STORM GLASS (Glass Book 1) - review here

Untrained. Untested. Unleashed. With her unique magical abilities, Opal has always felt unsure of her place at Sitia's magic academy. But when the Stormdancer clan needs help, Opal's knowledge makes her the perfect choice - until the mission goes awry. Pulling her powers in unfamiliar directions, Opal finds herself tapping into a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. Now Opal must deal with plotters out to destroy the Stormdancer clan, as well as a traitor in their midst. With danger and deception rising around her, will Opal's untested abilities destroy her - or save them all?
SEA GLASS (Glass Book 2)- review here
SPY GLASS (Glass Book 3) - review here


INSIDE OUT (Insiders Book 1)

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. One of thousands who work in the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. The Trava family who rules our world from their spacious Upper levels wants us to be docile and obedient, like sheep. To insure we behave, they send the Pop Cops to police us.
So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous--the only neck at risk is my own.
Until a lower level prophet claims a Gateway to Outside exists. And guess who he wants to steal into the Upper levels to get the proof? You’re right. Me. I alone know every single duct, pipe, corridor, shortcut, hole and ladder of Inside. It’s suicide plain and simple. But guess who can’t let a challenge like that go unanswered? Right again. Me.
I should have just said no...


OUSIDE IN (Insider Book 2) - Out March 2011

Sound good? So, the prize will a book of the winners choice from Maria V Synder's back catalogue (or pre-order if you you would like Outside In!)
Rules (cos otherwise they’ll be chaos!):
-          Leave a comment on this post on which author you feel should have a wider recognition
-          Don’t forget to leave a way for me to contact you
-          Competition is International – as long as The Book Depository ships to you. Not sure check here.
-          Giveway ends Sunday 9th January 2011 and the winner will be picked at random and announced the following week

Good Luck! :)

19 comments:

  1. I love the "original" covers of the books, but these look fine too. New GFC follower.

    I think that Susanne Dunlap should have more recognition. Her historical YA, Anastasia's Secret, is one of my favourites. :)

    cc932005 at hotmail dot com

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  3. An author I think deserves more recognition is Kristen Britain. I've loved her Green Rider series ever since the first book was published in 1998. I'm really looking forward to the fourth book, Blackveil that's out soon.

    Since I've already got most of Maria's books please don't enter me in the giveaway, as I'd love for someone new to her work to discover her writing! I just wanted to answer your question and give some more attention to Kristen :D

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  4. An author who I think deserves more recognition is Zoe Heller. I know "Notes on a Scandal" made her big here in the UK, but I think she could do with a lot more international recognition. I've read three of her books and they were all wonderful.

    I'm going to enter the giveaway for Poison Study. I accidentally bought the second in the series so it would be good to have the first! My email is s.murray10@yahoo.co.uk

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  5. One author I think should have wider recognition is Skyler White. I read one of her books for the first time this past year, and I was absolutely blown away by her style, her research, and her ability to draw a person into an amazing story. So much so that I went and ordered her other book, because I want more of her writing!

    Me, I think I'll enter the giveaway for Poison Study. I've heard good things about the series and I'd love to give it a try. My email's jazriyah@gmail.com

    (BTW, I've now started following this blog. Looks pretty cool!)

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  6. Joanne Valiukas definitely deserves to be noticed!

    the_happy_soulATyahooDOT com

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  7. I think an author that deserves more recognition is Melissa Dela Cruz. Her books have been around for awhile but I haven't many reviews or any mention of the Blue bloods series or her other books around. Her BB series is great.

    Maria's books sounds so different from the books I usually read but these look inviting and the synopsis sound very intriguing. I hope I get to read one of her books one day. :D

    Thanks for the chance to win one of her books.

    najla(dot)qamber(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. I think Kristen Marquette and her Vampiric Housewife series is very underrated. It's an excellent series and I'd love to see more bloggers talking about it.

    I don't like leaving my email in comments but this comment should direct you to my blog and my email is on there :)))

    Great giveaway! I just ordered Inside Outside actually, which will be my first book by this author.

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  9. Thanks for the giveaway! I loved Maria V. Snyder's work the moment I read Poison Study and I've been recommending it to all my friends. I can't wait to read Magic Study and even if I don't win I'll buy it as soon as I can :).

    Someone I think who may not get as much recognition as she deserves is Cinda Williams Chima. I've just recently read two books by her - The Demon King and The Exiled Queen and they were both fantastic and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. She's also the author of The Warrior's Heir and I don't know if she is well known but I've only heard about her from my friend.

    sterr004[at]gmail[dot]com

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  10. You know, I'm not sure who would deserve a wider recognition. I know there are several and one's I'd pick already have a great following. Hmm...

    I've been wanting to read Maria's books so I think you have a good choice here!

    Oh, I do like chaos, but oh well... ;)
    books (dot) things (at) yahoo (dot) com
    I did put this on my giveaways page and tweeted it for you!

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  11. I think I would pick China Mieville deserves wider recognition. His novel City in the City was fantastic and it took nearly 3 chapters to figure out what was going on.

    I have never read any of Maria's books but always on the look out for something new to read.

    Melanie
    melanie.sanderson@btopenworld.com

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  12. Hello, I am a new follower who found your blog thru Book Blogs. Hope you will visit me and follow back.
    Laurie

    http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com/
    http://lauries-interviews.blogspot.com/

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  13. A writer who I think deserves more recognition...Isobelle Carmody. I love her books, but I've never actually met anyone who has even heard of her!!! (run into a few people on the web, though)

    http://susie-bookworm.blogspot.com
    susanna dot pyatt at student dot rcsnc dot org

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  14. I've read books by Renee Wildes...guardians of the light series and loved them. I never see anything by her and the library didn't have anything either. I have not met anybody who has heard of that series. I think they should be well known because they are so good and well written. I've really enjoyed them. Thank you for the contest.
    Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  15. Great giveaway! I really enjoyed the Poison Study series.

    I think S. L. Naeole deserves wider recognition. Her Fallen From Grace Series is really good.

    tabbylewis (AT) hotmail.com

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  16. Thanks for the giveaway! I think Michelle Rowen should have more recognition. I love her YA books and her adult ones are so great too!

    Kim
    bookbutterfly9 at gmail dot com

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  17. I think an author who deserves more recognition is Sarah Addison Allen. Her books are set in the modern world, and they each have *just* enough magic to be tantalizing. Love them!

    Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

    Penelopelolohea {a} gmail {dot} com

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  18. Hey!

    Well... I think Maria V Snyder should get more recognition, because she has a very unique 'voice' and brings something new to the genre. I, for one, haven't heard about her until recently, and I doubt that many of my Romanian fellows have.

    Thanks for the giveaway and for making it International!
    xo

    andreea(dot)c88(at)gmail(dot)com.

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  19. Sarah Dessen deserves more recognition.

    I have to also agree with Deea .

    raluk.93 at gmail (dot) com

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