Book Blitz – The Aviary by Emily Shore

The Aviary
Emily Shore
(The Uncaged Series, #1)
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: March 5th 2019
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult

“Gentlemen, we have a special treat for you today. Feast your eyes on this pure-blooded beauty!”

Sixteen-year-old Serenity has spent her entire life in hiding to protect her from this exact moment. In a world where beauty is bought and sold on the streets like a corporate commodity, Serenity’s natural assets are more like liabilities. Despite her parents’ best efforts, she’s been taken—ripped from her home and the only life she’s ever known—to find herself on sale to the highest bidder. And that bidder? Enigmatic and dangerous, Luc is the director of The Aviary—an elite museum where girls are displayed as living art by day…and cater to the lascivious whims of the highest bidder by night. In this elaborate and competitive world, girls go by names like Raven and Nightingale, and will stop at nothing to become top Bird.

Luc comes to idolize Serenity’s purity and aims to turn her into his grandest exhibit of all time—The Swan. In no time, she becomes one of the most coveted exhibits in Aviary history. When she discovers Luc holds the key to finding her parents, she must learn to play The Swan to perfection…to win his heart and earn his trust. But she doesn’t anticipate falling for him in the process. Now she faces an impossible choice: escape The Aviary and lose her only chance at finding her parents—or become Luc’s Swan for good and lose her identity forever.

The Jewel by Amy Ewing meets Tricks by Ellen Hopkins in this gritty Young Adult Dystopian that tells of a fear-inducing future where the world of sex trafficking has become a social norm and where woman aren’t treated as humans and are no safer than they were than they were in The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.

purchaselinks

 Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

addongoodreads2

divider4

readanexcerpt2

On the way over in his self-driving-limousine, which is Family-branded so they have immunity, Luc gave me a digital tour of his Aviary, but seeing the building from the vehicles one-way windows was completely different than up close. Against the darkness, it was like a diamond sitting in a bed of ash. Grand spotlights and high-tech holographic images of birds light the entrance.
Now, it just looks like a giant glass dollhouse. From the observation deck within the domed ceiling of the Aviary where I stand with Luc, I stare down at the men flooding the lobby as they stray to girl-encrusted exhibits. If they pay more, they will advance to the second level. The ones with deep pockets continue to the third where the highest-ranking girls are.
It shouldn’t impress me, but it does.

divider4

abouttheauthor

Emily Shore is a MN author with a B.A. in Creative Writing from Metro State University and was a grand prize winner of #PitchtoPublication, which led her to working with professionals in the publishing industry. She is signed with Clean Teen Publishing for her anti-trafficking dystopian The Aviary, first in the Uncaged Series. For every sale, proceeds return to trafficking rescue and to Emily and her husband’s international adoption fund.

Throughout the years, Emily has connected with rescue organizations and survivors of sex-trafficking and injects the truths she’s learned into her books for youth. She loves motivational speaking on the issue of sex-trafficking and always hopes for more speaking events in schools, churches, and libraries. Please contact her on her website if you are interested in hearing her speak.

Emily lives in Saint Paul with her husband and two daughters. They are currently in the process of adopting a little girl from India.

 

authorlinks

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

entergiveaway

One Signed Copy of The Aviary

One 5X7 image of The Aviary artwork by Anna Friendt of Anchor13 Studio

Rafflecopter giveaway

XBTBanner1

divider3

sincerelykjologo

 

Book Review – The Balance of Heaven and Earth: A Magistrate Zhu Mystery by Laurence Eastwood

bookreview

Happy Sunday Everyone!! I hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend. Today, I have my review for The Balance of Heaven and Earth: A Magistrate Zhu Mystery by Laurence Eastwood.

divider3

balanceheaven.jpg

Published:  September 30th 2018

Published by: Shikra Press

Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Mystery

Pages: Paperback 277

buyonamazondivider4synopsis

I have been unable to write a judgement that does not seem to offend my conscience, or indeed Heaven, in some manner. Because I do not wish to influence your thinking unduly, I have destroyed all my personal papers and notes in regard to this dispute, preferring you to start afresh. Forgive me for this. All I ask is that you consider and examine Jade Moon most carefully before coming to a decision. I find her fascinating and unsettling in equal measure, and fear the consequences of a wrongful judgement. I will say no more.

My sincerest best wishes to you and your family,

Magistrate Qian
Fifth District, Chengdu Prefecture
1st day of the 2nd Moon, 1085

So ends the letter of welcome (and of warning) to Magistrate Zhu, newly arrived in the remote border town of Tranquil Mountain. He has travelled far from his extensive family estates on the outskirts of Kaifeng – the glorious Song Dynasty capital – hoping to find atonement for past mistakes.

Yet he quickly discovers that Tranquil Mountain is anything but tranquil. The town is beset with simmering tensions since the death of his predecessor. Before Magistrate Zhu even has time to accustom himself to his inexperienced and wayward constabulary and the lowliness of his new surroundings, there is a mysterious murder, rumours of ghosts and blood-thirsty bandits out on the streets, and a disturbing kidnapping to solve – as well as the tragic and tangled legal circumstances of the local heroine Jade Moon to unravel.

For the balance of Heaven and Earth to be maintained, and to prevent catastrophe coming to Tranquil Mountain, Magistrate Zhu is well aware that not a single injustice can be allowed to stand. As he struggles to reach the correct judgements, he realises he has no choice but to offer up his career and perhaps even his own life for the greater good. And, in so doing, he discovers that as Jade Moon’s fate rests in his hands, so his fate ultimately rests in hers.

addongoodreads2

divider4

mythoughts

A Fascinating Read with Wonderful Characters and Beautiful Scenery

3halfhearts (1)

I’ve been trying to be more open-minded about reading more books outside my comfort zone, so when the author contacted me and offered a copy of this book, I decided that this could be a fun and interesting story. I’ve actually been liking many mystery books in the past year and I love reading diverse books. And, being ¼ Chinese, I was curious to see what this book would be about. Oh and the cover looked amazing too! Well, I can’t say I loved The Balance of Heaven and Earth: A Magistrate Zhu Mystery by Laurence Eastwood, but it was enjoyable in its own way.

So, there was mystery, intrigue, some action, and a little romance, but I personally didn’t feel excited about the story as much as I thought I would. The writing was amazing and the storyline was well-developed. Eastwood’s knowledge about ancient China did shine through in the book and I was fascinated by the world-building. However, I just wasn’t entirely sucked in and I felt quite disconnected with the story. At the end of the day, this just wasn’t what I thought it would be and that’s okay. I appreciated this book for what it was and I enjoyed the wonderful characters, the beautiful scenery and exploring Tranquil Mountain, and all the interesting things about China.

Overall, I thought The Balance of Heaven and Earth: A Magistrate Zhu Mystery was an interesting book. While it may not have been the story for me, I did enjoy the writing, the vibrant world-building, the intrigue, and lovely characters. If you’re a history enthusiast and love a good mystery, then this might be the perfect book for you.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

divider4

abouttheauthor

laurenceeastwood.jpg

Graduating from the University of York with a (probably ill-advised) degree in Theoretical Physics, Laurence commenced upon a varied career in law enforcement and management consultancy.

After a few years with Birmingham Trading Standards where he specialised in anti-competitive practices investigations, he led an investigation team for the software industry tasked with intellectual property enforcement across the United Kingdom as well as the provision of training in computer law and computer forensics to all UK law enforcement authorities and the military.

In 2001, he set up his own management consultancy firm providing training and advice to both the public and private sectors on legal risk and information security. He regularly lectures at the University of Warwick on computer law and IP enforcement.

He has had a long-standing fascination with the political, military, social and legal history of China.

He lives just outside of Stratford-upon-Avon.

authorlinks

WEBSITEGOODREADS 

divider3

Thanks for stopping by loves! Hope you enjoyed reading this review.

sincerelykjologo