Wereling Givaway!

In celebration of the second book in the Wereling series coming out, Dark Moon (February 1st), I am happy to giveaway the first book away to one winner.


Here's a little bit about the book (from Goodreads):

Fourteen-year-old Trey Laporte is not a kid anymore. Not after the day he wakes up in agony—retina-splitting, vomit-inducing agony. His clothes are torn. His room is trashed.

Enter Lucien Charron, the mysterious, long-lost “uncle” with freakish fire-flecked eyes and skin that blisters in the sun. Suddenly, Trey finds himself living in a luxury penthouse at the heart of a strange and sinister empire built on the powers of the Netherworld—vampires, demons, sorcerers, and djinn.

And there is a girl—Alexa Charron—who is half vampire, half human, and insanely pretty, with powers all of her own. Trey is falling for her.

Trey is training night and day to control the newly discovered power lurking inside him. Now, demons are closing in on every side, and the most psychopathic bloodsucker to rock the Netherworld wants to destroy him. Above all, he must face one terrifying question:

Is he a boy . . . or is he a beast?

Check out my review of Wereling.

To enter, you must live in the US or Canada and fill out the form below. Ends Friday, February 4th.

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Review: The Pace

Title: The Pace (Pace Series 1)
Author: Shelena Shorts
Publisher: Lands Atlantic
Pages: 302
Source: book was won
Rate:

Description: (from Goodreads) Weston Wilson is not immortal and he is of this world. But, aging is not part of his existence, and eighteen-year-old Sophie Slone is determined to find out why. In doing so, she could also uncover something about her own life expectancy that she may not want to know. Suddenly, immortality will mean everything and nothing all at the same time.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book so much. I can't really fully explain how I did. I loved Wes and Sophie's love story. You don't always get those relationships that you can really connect with. The ones that you feel for. These two even though they would be seperated at times would still love each other. One way or another Sophie always comes back into Wes's life at just the right time for him.

I will say that for me the ending was a serious cliff hanger. I finished and was like that can't be it. Is the character okay? Where is the other character taking them? (Can you tell I'm trying to not spoil things by getting too specific in my questions?)

The story moved along at a really good pace. I can not wait to read the other books in this series. I have to find out what will happen with Sophie and Wes. I have to know if someone will learn the secret. I have to quickly get my hands on the next book!

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The Weekly Happenings

Hope you guys had a great weekend! Another jam-packed week on the blog coming up. Check it out.


The Week to Come:

Monday: We will giveaway a copy of Wereling by Steve Feasey, April Reviews The Pace by Shelena Shorts

Tuesday: Kristen reviews The Vyne by David Walls

Wednesday: Kristen reviews Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday: Kristen reviews Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, Link a Contest Thursday

Friday: Kristen reviews The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Saturday: Saturday Blogger Spotlight

Sunday: In My Mailbox




The Week in Rewind:

Monday: Kristen interviewed Quincie from Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith (and there's a giveaway!)

Tuesday: Kristen reviewed Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink

Wednesday: Kristen reviewed Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray, Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday: Kristen reviewed Blood Prophecy by Stefan Petrucha, Link a Contest Thursday

Friday: Kristen talked about ordering books in The Library Corner

Saturday: Saturday Blogger Spotlight - The Mountains of Instead

Sunday: In My Mailbox, Kristen wrapped up her Bloggiesta weekend! Ole!





This fantastic meme is now hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

Kristen read this past week:
Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Kristen is currently reading:
Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell
Captivate by Carrie Jones (audiobook)

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Bloggiesta 4 Wrap up!

Oh, these past three days flew by. I think I spent about a total of 20 hours working on blog stuff.

From my original list here is what I got done

• Catching up with reviews (Only wrote 2 new ones out of the .. 10ish I have to do)
  
• Scheduling reviews so they're 100% ready to go. Wrote and scheduled 6 reviews.
• Schedule WoW posts 3 scheduled
  
• Schedule Blogger Spotlights Scheduled only 1
• Updating review lists
  
• Updating Blogger Spotlight lists
• Updating Author interview lists
• Try to figure out how to get a drop down menu.
  
• Complete all of the mini challenges
• Get all of my latest reviews on Random Buzzers
• Go through and organize my Google Reader (again)
• Find a few new, awesome blogs to follow

So, I didn't get to a few things, but I did find a blog or two more to follow. I also bookmarked a site that talks about drop down for my navigation menu.

Here's what else I did:

• I scheduled next week's Link a Contest Thursday.
• Commented on a bunch of blogs.
• Kept up with my Google Reader.
• Made a WoW button:
• Email - got my gmail inbox from 170ish to 5 emails. That's right. Narrowed my yahoo, which is more family/listserv orientated from over 400 to about 170.
  
• Added my 2011 Bloody Jack Challenge button and link to post to my sidebar.
  
• Read a graphic novel and half of a YA book.
  

So, not to shabby for the hours I put in. How did you guys do?

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Bloggiesta Day 2 Update

So, yesterday... was sort of a bust for me. I had this horrid migraine most of the morning and then we went and spent some time with family in the late afternoon. I still got about 2 or 3 hours of work in though...

Here's what I accomplished:

• Email - got my gmail inbox from 170ish to 5 emails. That's right. Narrowed my yahoo, which is more family/listserv orientated from over 400 to about 170.
  
• Commented on some posts.
• Added my 2011 Bloody Jack Challenge button and link to post to my sidebar.
  
• Read a bit.
  

So, looking at my original list.. I'm not sure I'll get everything done I needed to. Not sure what I want to tackle first, but I do plan on trying to finish Fallen Angel today as well as blog work. And, see the Green Hornet with my hubby. We'll have the Bears game on, but we don't actually just sit and watch those kinds of things. He'll do some homework, I'll do some blog work.

So, I'll probably start with reviews so I can have this week pretty much covered post wise, then maybe update my Random Buzzers... and hopefully maybe get to some html stuff for my menubars. How are you guys doing?

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In My Mailbox - January 23rd

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.

April Nichole:

For Review:



With Friends Like These by Reshonda Tate Billingsley

Bought:



Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley
The Dark is Rising (The Complete Sequence) by Susan Cooper



Kristen
For Review:



Warrior by Bryan Davis
Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis
Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore

Bought:



Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
Triskellion by Will Peterson
Kid Pirates by Allan Zullo
The Giver by Lois Lowry

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Bloggiesta Day 1 Update

Alright, yesterday I spent about 6 hours on my blog. We ended up going over to my sister's place around 8:30 pm to drink some Abuelita (spanish cocoa) and play our favorite board game - Carcassone. When we got home, we crashed (it was midnight after all...).

So, what did I get accomplished:

• Finished reformatting/updating my series review page. It was only half way done (from a few weeks ago.. woops), so that took me a few hours.
• Updated Review pages with all reviews posted this month.
• Updated Author Interview page with what was posted this month.
• Updated Blogger Spotlight page with what was posted this month.
• I scheduled next week's Waiting on Wednesday post, which I made the button for below.
• I scheduled next week's Link a Contest Thursday.
• I also commented on about 10 or so of the blogs that are participating in Bloggiesta. :)
  

• Completed the On blogging goals challenge from - Amy from My Friend Amy (@myfriendamy)

• Gave a lending hand on twitter with this challenge from – Tasha from Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Books (@heidenkind)

• Played around with Google Forms thanks to this challenge from – Jen from Devourer of Books (@DevourerofBooks)

• Jenn from Jenn’s Bookshelf (@jennsbookshelf) asked us how we organized our books and to share our tips which I shared my love of goodreads and my separate bookshelf for review books.
  

• Made the Waiting on Wednesday button with some advice from – Callista at SMS Book Reviews (@callista83)

• Shared my tip about Email best practices and solutions over at – Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’? (@trishheylady)

• Read about 10 things bloggers should not do and talked about making blogs more navigational with – Hannah at WordLily (@Wordlily)

• Played around with Mr Linky with some help from- Jennifer at Teach Mentor Texts (@mentortexts)

Up for today is mainly review stuff, add in a little bit of reading and then hopefully some commenting. We're spending some time with family, which means me dragging my laundry with to do at my parents while we're up there for part of the day.


Leave a link below to your latest update and I'll try and swing by today.

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Saturday Spotlight - The Mountains of Instead

Today, I have with me a UK blogger who loves YA fiction. Check out Sya and her blog below.

Name: Sya
Nickname and/or blog name: Splendibird @ The Mountains of Instead
Blog URL: www.mountainsofinstead.blogspot.com

Tell me a bit about yourself.
I am 31 and live in the far north of the UK with my little daughter, Mila. We live in a tiny cottage that is rapidly becoming filled to the brim with books. I regularly look at my bookshelves and think that I'm going to need a bigger boat. So to speak. In a previous life I studied publishing and had a career in marketing.

When and why did you start your blog?
I started my blog in April 2010. I only got into YA fiction after the birth of my daughter (although I have loved Harry Potter long time, it was the buzz around Twilight that drew my interest back to the YA shelves). I was initially a bit ashamed of reading books aimed at teens but on trawling the blogosphere I realized that there were plenty other Adult Young Adults out there and decided to come clean about my reading habits. And boy, am I glad I did! Not only do I have somewhere to discuss books but I am also in contact with so many lovely people - which is a plus when living in aforementioned tiny cottage in the frozen North.

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?
It's all about book reviews - they really do feature more than any other type of post. As I've built up relationships with publishers and authors I've been able to post some interesting interviews and giveaways as well. However, I have also posted some rants/asides/lectures on a variety of random subjects and have been amazed (and gratified) by the response and I ran a hugely successful Zombie Week in September which was contributed to by bloggers from around the world. It's fun to write lighthearted stuff and I am currently trying to think up more discussion/random topics to write about in the future. Any and all ideas welcome!

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?
I'll read pretty much any genre - for a while I steered clear of contemporary teen stuff, but have really gotten into it recently. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly also helped me conquer my fear of historical genre novels. I really love dystopian fiction and I actually think that some of the finest YA writing out there is in that genre. Since starting blogging my favourite books include The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson and the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness. Recent great finds have been Entangled by Cat Clarke and Delirium by Lauren Oliver. The standard of writing in YA just gets better and better and I'm constantly delighted by new authors - both those who are debuting for the first time or those who are merely new to me.

How do you find out about the books you read?
Mainly from fellow bloggers. I sit down to go through In My Mailbox posts with a pen and notebook each week and note down anything I fancy (a lethal practice - my wish list is stupidly long). I also signed up to get newsletters, catalogues and press releases from publishers and trade journals (like Publisher's Weekly). I have also recently started using Net Galley which is a great way for us UK bloggers to access American review copies.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?
Just do it! I spent a few weeks playing about with designs and writing reviews (to this day I like to have an average of four reviews saved and ready to publish - it means that if I read a book and don't want to review it, I always still have something to post). I also emailed a blogger that I admired (thank you, Carla at The Crooked Shelf!) asking if she had any tips - she was hugely patient, very encouraging and her thoughts really helped a lot. Lastly, I spent a lot of time looking at information posts on sites like The Story Siren and Presenting Lenore. They are experienced bloggers who have plenty of information for newbies on everything from design to etiquette.


Thank you Sya for stopping by my blog today and sharing more about yours!

If you're interested in being a spotlighted blogger, please fill out this form.

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Bloggiesta Ole! 4th Edition!

Alright guys, it's time again for the awesome Bloggiesta! This is my fourth time doing bloggiesta and I swear it's the reason I kept blogging and kept improving my blog over the past year and a half. I don't have a ton to do.. well not by my standards and I'm not going to be doing what I did last year (as in 48 hours of work.. which made me into a zombie and my feet swelled too...) but I do have a lot I want to get to.


So here's what I want to accomplish:

• Catching up with reviews
• Scheduling reviews so they're 100% ready to go.
• Schedule WoW posts
• Schedule Blogger Spotlights
• Updating review lists
• Updating Blogger Spotlight lists
• Updating Author interview lists
• Try to figure out how to get a drop down menu.
  
• Complete all of the mini challenges
• Get all of my latest reviews on Random Buzzers
• Go through and organize my Google Reader (again)
• Find a few new, awesome blogs to follow

There's probably a few more things, but I think that will keep me busy for the next few days. And maybe I will get ahead for once. (Maybe...) You can find me tweeting all day @bookgoil on Twitter, so come chat with me about what you guys are improving on your blog.

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The Library Corner

The Library Corner is a new feature that April and I talked about starting to share different favorite books, aspects of my school library and really anything library and/or book related that we decide.

Today I will talk about one of my favorite aspects of my job - ordering books! I have a pretty nice budget at my school - we have over 800 students that I have to buy materials for, so sometimes it's a tough decision. I have low readers and high readers, 1st through 5th grade that check out library materials.

So, I have to be smart and to be smart - I use the wonderful beautiful company called Follett first and foremost. They have this beautiful thing called Titlewave, where I can upload my records, see where I'm lacking based on what research says a school library should have in each dewey number, fiction section etc.

Not to mention, they carry a ton of stuff. So I can order without having to go through a bazillion companies to get the series my students love.

Although, that being said, I found that sometimes buying from the publisher can really pay you back. Literally. Early this year, when I saw an ad from Capstone, saying they'd give me 30% back in free books.. well I couldn't resist. After all, a lot of the graphic novels and hi-low nonfiction series I buy are Capstone books.

Not only are they awesome because I'm actually getting FREE books... but they make it so easy to buy with their scan and buy catalog. You can just scan away from their catalog to their online catalog with your handy book scanner. I ended up spending way too much this way btw. :)

Also, they are trying out a "green" program, which is awesome so far. I scan all the books I'm discarding but still in good condition and they will give me rewards points for sending them off to Better World Books for free. I get rid of old musty books and get points for new books.

I love Capstone's line of books - they have some of the best graphic novels for elementary students, nonfiction books that are interesting but still at low reading levels for my struggling readers.

Last, but definitely not least, I order from Junior Library Guild.


They really select the greatest books. I only get their graphic novels right now, but after seeing how many of their picks won ALA awards.. I'm considering upping what I get from them. They send you one book a month in the categories you choose and that way you are getting new and fantastic books every month for the full school year. I love their latest graphic novel selection - Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch.

Here's the description from Goodreads:

Spunky, strong-willed eleven-year-old Mirka Herschberg isn’t interested in knitting lessons from her stepmother, or how-to-find-a-husband advice from her sister, or you-better-not warnings from her brother. There’s only one thing she does want: to fight dragons!

Granted, no dragons have been breathing fire around Hereville, the Orthodox Jewish community where Mirka lives, but that doesn’t stop the plucky girl from honing her skills. She fearlessly stands up to local bullies. She battles a very large, very menacing pig. And she boldly accepts a challenge from a mysterious witch, a challenge that could bring Mirka her heart’s desire: a dragon-slaying sword! All she has to do is find—and outwit—the giant troll who’s got it!

I have a lot of fun compiling my lists and use magazines like School Library Journal and Booklist to help guide me along the way. It's hard because I am a slave to Accelerated Reader, meaning I often have to weigh buying a book that doesn't have a test yet because it probably won't get checked out as much as one that does. A sad fact of life, but definitely one that defines some of my choices in book selection.

So, hopefully this was interesting to some of you and I didn't make any of you snooze away. Next time, I'll highlight more books. :)

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Review: Blood Prophecy

Author: Stefan Petrucha
Publication Date: October 2010
Genre: Adult Historical Fantasy
Copy provided by: Publisher
Summary (via Goodreads):

His name is Jeremiah Fall. A soldier of fortune, he has been fighting his own war for 150 years—ever since the beast in him was born.

Desperate to restore his lost humanity, Fall crosses the sands of Egypt, discovers a lost city off the coast of France, and finally arrives at the birthplace of all mankind. Shunning daylight and feeding only when he must, he battles the monster who transformed him forever. He can share his deepest secret with no one . . . not even the beautiful woman he starts to love, the only human who grasps the mysteries of an ebony stone as old as creation itself.

Across the world, across time, Fall seeks the stone's secret. But has he found a cure for himself or unleashed a final curse on all mankind?

Why I read this: I haven't been reading a lot of adult novels, but this one really peaked my interest, involving vampires mixed with history.

Plot: Jeremiah was the son of a farmer in the colonies of America, until one day the prison of a creature both human and animal like is uncovered and the creature attacks Jeremiah's father, turning him into something surreal. Jeremiah then becomes one, only manages to start to control the beast that stirs inside of him. He spends his life researching what he is, trying to find out what the creature that made him this way truly was and how to become human once again.

His journey leads him into war during Napoleon's reign of conquering as many countries as he possibly could before failing against the British. Jeremiah discovers what could cure him or end the world and he must choose what is more important - preserving humanity or finding out more about what he is and curing himself from the beast.

Mix in some romance, and a ton of action and Petrucha has really made a stunning novel that philosophizes the vampire and what it truly is.

Characters: Jeremiah was an interesting character. A flawed one and it was interesting to try to analyze how he could have possibly tamed the beast for so long. His romantic interest was somewhat of a bore to be honest. Typical smart, yet damsel in distress mode with a slight twist at the end. I didn't fall for her and wasn't quite sure why he did in the novel. Stranger things could have happened.

As for the ultimate evil, well it definitely was creepy. I wouldn't want to be fighting that thing, super human strength or not. Definite heebee jeebees on that aspect.

Relatability: I think those that enjoy some a little more historical with a vampiric twist will enjoy this novel.

Cover Commentary: Nothing like a sexy man with a sword, although he doesn't quite fit my image for Jeremiah quite completely.

Rating: 4/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.

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Link a Contest Thursday

Rules (or at least STRONG suggestions):
1. Name the item being given away (instead of the blog name)
2. Give the end date in () after the name
3. Make sure to link DIRECTLY to that contest post - if you don't know how to do this - just click on the title of the contest blog and it will give a direct URL you can use.
4. If you want to post a contest you've found, make sure it isn't already posted.

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A $20 Amazon GC for only $10?

Living Social is a new site to me, but when I saw something for basically getting free money to spend on Amazon.com, I was all ears. Check it out - Living Social and if you get three of your friends to do it then the deal is free. Pretty cool huh? Just thought I'd share since Amazon is a great place to buy books.

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Review: Lily of the Nile

Author: Stephanie Dray
Publication Date: January 4, 2011
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Copy provided by: Publisher
Summary (via Goodreads):

To Isis worshippers, Princess Selene and her twin brother Helios embody the divine celestial pair who will bring about a Golden Age. But when Selene's parents are vanquished by Rome, her auspicious birth becomes a curse. Trapped in an empire that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, the young messianic princess struggles for survival in a Roman court of intrigue. She can't hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her hands, nor can she stop the emperor from using her powers for his own ends. But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined to resurrect her mother's dreams. Can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win-or die?

Why I read this: As of late, I haven't been reading a lot of historical fiction in general and this era really peaks my interest, so I had to check it out. Also, it's a debut novel!

Plot: This breathtaking novel follows the daughter of Cleopatra as her and her brothers are brought into Caesar's home after Cleopatra takes her own life. Selene and her brother Helios are viewed by Isis worshipers to be the pair that will bring about a Golden Age. When Selene's body suddenly becomes engraved with bleeding hieroglyphics on her arms, she knows that she cannot deny that the goddess Isis is speaking through her - or can she? Selene is torn between trying to preserve the lives of her and her brothers as they adjust to Roman life and between her religion and beliefs. Filled with magic, mythology and such a colorful historical experience that I finished the book wanting more. Luckily, there is to be a sequel to this rich and wonderful novel.

Characters: Selene is a strong and smart young woman who realizes she cannot act like her twin Helios - who brays at the idea of becoming Roman, even if it may save his life. Selene must try to convince Caesar that she can be of use to him in a way that will benefit them both and possibly lead her and her brothers one day back to Egypt. She is still a girl in that she falls in love easily, but truth and wisdom keep her out of trouble. I really enjoyed watching her character grow and I cannot wait to learn more of her journeys and adventures in the next novel.

Relatability: I think lovers of Egyptian mythology and historical fiction will fall in love with this novel. I'm no historian, but Stephanie paints a world so real that she must have done quite a bit of research to make it seem so real.

Cover Commentary: Lovely, definitely one that will appeal to historical fiction lovers.

Rating: 5/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads



*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.

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Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a Meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. It is to spotlight books that are soon to be released that we wished would be released sooner. Here are our picks.


Kristen's Pick:
Title: Kat, Incorrigible
Author: Stephanie Burgis
Expected Publication: April 5,2011 from Atheneum
Description: (from Goodreads) Twelve-year-old Kat Stephenson may be the despair of her social-climbing Step-Mama, but she was born to be a magical Guardian and protector of Society--if she can ever find true acceptance in the secret Order that expelled her own mother. She’s ready to turn the hidebound Order of the Guardians inside-out, whether the older members like it or not. And in a society where magic is the greatest scandal of all, Kat is determined to use all her powers to help her three older siblings--saintly Elissa, practicing-witch Angeline, and hopelessly foolish Charles--find their own true loves, even if she has to turn highwayman, battle wild magic, and confront real ghosts along the way!

April's Pick:
Title: Angelfire
Author: Courtney Allison Moulton
Expected Publication: February 15, 2011 from HarperCollins
Description: (from Goodreads)This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

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