Ahoy, lovely readers!
Welcome to the world of 2015! I hope the first
week of the new year treated you kindly. Let’s make sure the second week is
even better by bringing you some new good reads!
As I’m sure most of you know, I am a huge fan of
Ariella Moon’s Teen Wytche series.
The fourth installment in the series came out during my hiatus. So, it is my
honor to bring to you Spell for Sophia!
Sometimes
the worst scars are the ones you cannot see.
Sophia Perez-Hidalgo’s survival depends
upon her mastering magic and the supernatural before her
lawless parents and their vengeful boss catch up to her. How
far must she flee to escape them forever? Sophia runs until she’s out
of stolen money, then…Fate delivers her into the arms of Louisiana teen
Shiloh Breaux Martine, and his grand-mère, a voodoo priestess living deep in the bayou.
Breaux knows
Sophia is trouble — but he’ll travel through time, battle zombies,
and risk his bright future to protect her. While Ainslie, best friend
extraordinaire, will jeopardize her sanity to find and aid
Sophia. When friendship, magic, and love are not enough, Sophia will
have to save herself. But first, she must believe she’s worth saving.
______
I am digging so many things about this book.
First, the protagonist is named Sophia, one of our own favorites in the Lucid series. Though she is not an old
man, I am sure Moon’s Sophia is just as clever! Second, this story takes place
in my homeland of New Orleans. Reading about my hometown, especially while I’m
abroad, always brings a tear to my eye.
One thing Ariella Moon has mastered is doing excellent research on the
settings of her stories. I personally know she did extensive research about New
Orleans, even taking a swamp tour and the like, to bring you an accurate and
compelling tale. Don’t believe me? Check out who’s mentioned in the
acknowledgements ;)
But enough of my gushing, let’s let Spell for Sophia do the talking, as if you really need any more convincing that this is a must-read!
______
But enough of my gushing, let’s let Spell for Sophia do the talking, as if you really need any more convincing that this is a must-read!
______
Um…Sophia?"
Worry tinged Breaux's voice as he rose to his feet.
I
lifted my chin. The pain over my right eye resumed stabbing. I blinked several
times to clear the wobbly vision in my left eye, and a fresh wave of nausea
crashed over me. An elongated white light shimmered in my peripheral vision.
Seizing the other oar, I stood and faced it. The white light glittered and
assembled into a shaky form. "Mam'zelle?"
"Grand-mère?"
We
lowered the oars to our waists. Though Mam'zelle's features were no longer
distinguishable, I recognized her essence. In my mind's eye she shook her head
and wagged her finger at me. Child,
didn't I teach you anyt’ing? What did you forget?
Panic
seized me. "We forgot something. Something important."
Breaux's
eyes rolled upward, then back to center. "We purposely skipped some steps
because we didn't have time—"
Mam'zelle
vanished. My arms tingled. A luminous red mist gathered along the bayou's edge.
Corpses — men, women, and children — rose from the blood-colored vapors.
Breaux
hefted the oar. "Do you see them?"
"The
zombie army?" The boat rocked as we assumed a back-to-back stance and
raised the oars to chest level. "Why are they here?"
Breaux
shifted his stance. The boat groaned and creaked. "Maybe a portal
opened—"
A
gasp convulsed my throat. "I forgot to ask Papa Legba to close the
gate!"
"Soph!"
I
dropped my oar and dove for my backpack. The zipper slipped from my sweaty
grasp. I found it again and pinched the tab between my thumb and forefinger.
Nylon teeth unthreaded with a ripping sound. I shoved my hand into the pack and
dug through its contents. "Where's the pencil?"
Breaux
fingered the top of his ear and his oar clattered to the floor of the boat.
Along the bayou banks, a contingent of undead rocked from side to side. Breaux
reached into his front jeans pocket, withdrew the pencil stub, and thrust it
into my hand. "Hurry."
The
lantern illuminated the edge of the seat bench. Between the migraine and the
magic, I had difficulty focusing. Working half-blind in the meager light, I
sketched a crossroad onto the wood.
"Will
it work?" Breaux asked. "Using a different crossroad?"
"We'll
find out."
Breaux
swore under his breath and cast a nervous glance at the shore. His eyes widened
and he retrieved his oar — sure signs the undead had grown in number or were on
the move. Something tumbled down the slight incline and plopped into the
shallow water.
"Any
time now." Breaux's fingers twitched against the oar.
Swamp
zombies got you hooked, yeah? How about we seal the deal with this epic book
video?
You can buy Spell
for Sophia as an e-book at the various links:
Since it’s been a long time since I’ve had her, or anyone, on my blog, let’s get reacquainted with Ariella Moon!
(Ariella Moon
with her new Louisiana friend!)
Ariella
Moon is the author of the Teen Wytche Saga, a sweet Young Adult paranormal
series. Ariella writes about magic, friendship, high school, secrets, and love
in Spell Check, Spell Struck, Spell Fire,
and Spell For Sophia from Astraea Press.
Ariella spent
her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to
Narnia. Extreme math anxiety, and taller students who mistook her for a leaning
post, marred her youth. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude
from the University of California at Davis. Ariella is a Reiki Master, author,
and shaman. She lives a nearly normal life with her extraordinary daughter, two
shamelessly spoiled dogs, and an enormous dragon.
Connect
with Ariella Moon
That’s it for now, y’all!! I suggest you get to reading Spell for Sophia at an early hour because it will keep you up all night! I’ll leave you to that for now!
Until next time, keep readin’ and dreamin’!
-Fred
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