#bookreview The Fading Dusk by Melissa Giorgio

The Fading Dusk

 By Melissa Giorgio 

~My Review~

4 stars

Irina is a magician's assistant, taken in when her mom died at a young age by the street magician Bantheir. Never did she think it was possible to end up smack in the middle of a murder investigation with direct blame going to her generous caregiver or that she would be sitting in a prison cell until he is found. But of course the accusations that he would use magic to kill people was even more baffling to her, not show magic, but the real kind that has been forbidden for many years. 

The Fading Dusk is a great story about murder, magic, deceit and ultimately love. I really enjoyed this story as it was quite unique and a different twist then recent books I have read where Magic is involved. I truly felt bad for Irina and all she had to go through and the hurt she suffered, and was pleasantly surprised to find which characters I ended up liking and which ones I just could not. I would consider this a great Y/A with a fantasy twist and recommend it for all ages. 

About the Book:

In the gritty city of Dusk, seventeen-year-old Irina makes her living as the street magician Bantheir’s assistant. The job isn’t glamorous, but she loves the crowds, the shows, and most of all, the illusion of magic. But Irina’s world is shattered the night she is arrested and charged as Bantheir’s accomplice to murder—murder by magic.
Real magic, the kind that’s been forbidden since the old wars.
Irina finds the idea of flashy showman Bantheir using actual magic to kill someone laughable, but she’s the only one who sees how ridiculous the claim is. But how can she convince everyone Bantheir is innocent when they’ve already made up their minds? Desperate, Irina must decide who she can trust to help her win her freedom. Is the surly, handsome Captain Leonid telling the truth when he says he believes Irina is innocent, or is he just using her to get to Bantheir? What about Aden, the sweet soldier and longtime fan of Irina’s who claims he’s on her side?
Irina said she wanted to know the truth, but when she stumbles across a dark secret that changes everything, will she be strong enough to survive?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25954617-the-fading-dusk

Purchase: 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0125KV45W/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fading-dusk-melissa-giorgio/1122399040?ean=9781515150589

About the Author:

Melissa Giorgio is a native New Yorker who graduated from Queens College with a degree in English. She’s always dreamed of being a writer and has been creating stories (mostly in her head) since she was a little girl. Also an avid reader, Melissa loves to devour thick YA novels. When not reading or writing, she enjoys watching animated films, listening to music by her favorite Japanese boy band, or exploring Manhattan. She is also the author of the Silver Moon Saga.

Author links:

https://melissagiorgio.wordpress.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7133276.Melissa_Giorgio

https://www.facebook.com/melissagiorgiofan

https://twitter.com/melissa_giorgio

#bookreview Collision By P J Byer

Collision

By PJ Byer

~My Review~ 

4.5 stars

Collision is a unique story that reads as a Y/A, but with an added benefit of slightly paranormal with a mix of history. I'm not sure what to categorize it as, but loved the combination! It made for a really good read, as well as allowing you into the insight of a troubled teens life, as well as how hard it is to be that parent waiting for news at home when a teen disappears. 

Stella is a runaway that finds herself in many difficult and scary situations, but as luck...or perhaps fate would have it-Stella ends up making friends with people who seem to want to help her even while she is struggling to work out the trouble rambling around in her head. The slightly paranorm part is when Stella begins to have dream's that make absolutely no sense to her, but occur as if a story is being told, a story that she can tell belong's in the past. The why to the dreams is what is messing with her head the most, but like all good stories this one play's out in a way that allows it to all make sense. 

I love what I was able to take from the story, it's not your typical feel good story, but it has so much insight into the troubles that a teen goes through, something often so hard to understand for the people watching the struggle. This was a great read and I highly recommend it! 








About the author:

What happened when PJ found her old journal, and in it was jotted the bones of a story?

What happened when that story had been rattling around in her head for fourteen years?

What happened when she admitted she’d always wanted to write, and now newly retired had time to pursue this dream?

She started, of course!

In the journal the story outline was set at Trial Bay gaol near South West Rocks, a beautiful place where PJ’s family had holidayed for years. She was inspired by the history of the  Germans interned at the forbidding gaol during the First World War.

PJ grew up in Sydney’s Northern beaches, married Ivor, and they have raised two wonderful daughters, Zoe and Hannah, on the Central Coast. She had a long career as an  English, History and Drama teacher, and is passionate about youth literacy and encouraging young people to read. This book is pitched as Young Adult genre, one of the world’s fastest growing genres, and is part of a series. A prequel and sequel will follow.

She has a diverse range of interests, including reading, bushwalking, a cappella harmony singing, film, theatre, swimming as well as volunteer work for a disaster relief charity called ShelterBox.

Links 

pjbyerwriterblog.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/pj.byer/

Twitter: @PJ Byer

Pinterest@PJ Byer 

http://amzn.to/1HbZsKP

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25865098-collision

UPDATE

My update and My apologies

I have sadly had to step back in much of my reviewing in order to get my family through a very stressful year. The doctors started my son on testing for Epilepsy Surgery, we had no idea the roller coaster ride we were beginning with that appointment and the decision to see if our son was a candidate for surgery. Perhaps one can't prepare for these sorts of things and that is just the way it is. We began with the first test's. He had a PET, an MRI, a FMRI, 2 SPECS, a MEG which required another MRI a 3 channel one or something, he took tests with the Neuro-psychologist, who then ordered a WADA and of course he has had about a dozen EEG's and 100's of seizures while he was off his meds for 2 of our tests. This boy has been put through the ringer! We are now awaiting the surgical teams decision on if we go forward. Which means if he has surgery, it will be done in 2 parts, both requiring him to stay in the hospital during all of it (at the least 2 weeks), then home for recovery, we have been told to expect significant memory issues that could last up to 9 months after surgery! Which will prove a challenge for a 14 year old boy in 8th grade that is active and social. 

This is what my fall/winter looks like, so I post this here to let all authors, fellow bloggers, readers and anyone who follows me, that I am not gone, but I may not be reviewing as often as I have been known too until My boy is over his next hurdle in life. I ask for your amazing patience with me, any book I have committed to reading and reviewing, will get done. It just may not be as quickly as originally promised. Before I became a stressed out mom, I read a book a day...currently i have to fight to focus to read even one a week. So please please have patience and understanding with me. 

We are currently expecting a surgical date very near Christmas, which of course will alter things for our home as well. We hope that if he is to be at the hospital during the holiday we will be allowed to make it a very special day for him. He being my amazing trooper, shrugs his shoulder and says "it's ok mom, let's just get it done!"