Guest Post with Samantha Durante!!!

A Profile of Evil: the Engineers by Samantha Durante, author of the Stitch Trilogy

As readers learned in Shudder (or got a glimpse of in the sneak peek at the back of Stitch), the true villains in the Stitch Trilogy are not the Ruling Class (the elite high society governing over the citizens of Paragon), but a small group of crafty baddies (also known as the Engineers) who masterminded the entire colony and put the Ruling Class in power. Following is a quick cheat sheet with a profile of each of the individuals within the Engineers:

The Developer

Role: Architect behind the entire Paragon scheme and de facto leader of the Engineers

Skills/Experience: Talented software programmer/hacker, world’s youngest billionaire after launching an online social media outlet that eventually grew to include almost every individual on the planet

Appearance: Your classic computer nerd – lanky, greasy hair, glasses, t-shirt, whiny voice

Defining Traits: Intelligent, arrogant, impatient, brusque

Classic Quote: “Zombie apocalypse. The people eat that garbage up.”

The General

Role: Leads Paragon’s military and prison, delegates labor assignments to citizens, also organized a secret ring of forced concubines

Skills/Experience: Previously the head of the government’s mandatory civil service program, had access to classified military intelligence including stolen research on the “stitch” technology

Appearance: Shorter in stature, handsome except for cold dark eyes and rasping voice, scar across lips

Defining Traits: Cruel, brash, misogynistic, defensive

Classic Quote: “I say we make an example of her, send a message to the rebels that we won’t tolerate their insubordination any longer. Stupid bitch.”

The Doctor

Role: Oversees Paragon’s medical center, including administering the “stitch” and researching the viral outbreak

Skills/Experience: A leading world geneticist who mapped the human genome and studied the role of trait inheritance in species survival

Appearance: Silver-haired, tall, trim, often seen in a long white lab coat

Defining Traits: Severe, logical, calculating, dry

Classic Quote: “The memory alteration research mentioned some, well, unfortunate side effects…”

The Economist

Role: Guides the Ruling Class in their deliberations to determine Paragon’s future structure and laws

Skills/Experience: Built a quiet legacy in academia studying socialist economics and espousing the merits of a communist government

Appearance: Middle-aged, boyish face, side-parted hair, slight stutter

Defining Traits: Nervous, idealistic, fervent, warm

Classic Quote: “Just imagine it – no hunger, no poverty, no war. Ever. Never again. We’ve learned from the m-mistakes of those who came before us, and we are building upon the foundation they laid to create something more.”

The Draftsman

Role: Manages daily operations of the colony, including logistics for food, shelter, power, maintenance, sanitation, infrastructure, etc.

Skills/Experience: An experienced engineer with expertise across the fields of mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering

Appearance: Older, plump, thick gray beard/whiskers, glasses, soft-spoken

Defining Traits: Paternal, practical, craven

Classic Quote: “But the plans were already in motion, whether I got on board or not. Perhaps I’m a coward, but I quickly realized that I was better off with them than against them. You think on that now.”

Want to know more? Get to know the Engineers in Shudder, Book 2 of the Stitch Trilogy!

If you haven’t read Stitch yet, you definitely should!!! You can see my review of that amazing book HERE.

Shudder by Samantha Durante (Stitch Trilogy #2)

— Book 2 in the Stitch Trilogy —

It’s only been three days, and already everything is different.

Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa’s life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she’d counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she’d thought she’d tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she’s discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.

And then there are the visions.

The memory-altering “stitch” unlocked something in Alessa’s mind, and now she can’t shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers – and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world’s sorry history – will soon leave Alessa reeling…

The second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante’s shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages turning.–Goodreads

Wow, this book just blew my mind. I just finished reading it and the last page of the book was amazing and horrible all at the same time. There were moments throughout the book that I kinda wanted to smack Alessa upside the head and tell her she was wasting a perfectly amazing relationship with Isaac by what if’ing everything. But lets start from the beginning.

This book is done in multiple people’s POV, I loved that. You got to see behind the Engineers thought processes, through Regina’s, Nikhail’s, Phoenix, and of course Isaac and Alessa. The book started immediately up too, so there was no large time gap. Which I really appreciate and like in a book. This time around though Alessa and Isaac are out of Paragon and are looking for shelter for the Rebels per orders from Regina. Everyone else is just trying to stay hidden in Paragon or surviving in Paragon.

While searching, Alessa and Isaac are being tracked by what you don’t find out until the very end of this book. I will definitely not be telling you what they are though so you should read the book and take a guess until you get to the answer from the book. They manage to eventually find shelter and head back to Paragon.

A lot happens to them  as a couple and as individuals.  I am glad that Alessa was able to get over what had been bothering her the whole time and that she finally goes all in with Isaac. I love that Isaac knows that something is wrong with her but instead of freaking out on her, he waits till she gives him the answers to what is wrong. Their relationship is amazing and strong, I hope it stays that way.

I don’t want to give too much away because the book is definitely a buy even though I received it as an ARC from Samantha. I recommend everyone to read this book and the first in the trilogy Stitch.

RATING:

Stitch by Samantha Durante

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa’s body screams at her to run… but yet she’s powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees – and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell – Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.

Because what Alessa hasn’t figured out yet is that she’s not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university’s idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface…

The opening installment in a twist-laden trilogy, Stitch spans the genres of paranormal romance and dystopian sci-fi to explore the challenges of a society in transition, where morality, vision, and pragmatism collide leaving the average citizen to suffer the results. From Goodreads.

I received this book for the tour that Samantha is doing right now. I meant to post this earlier but I got sidetracked with working very very long hours and being sick at the same time. Stitch was a pretty amazing book. My mind was blown at the end of this book. Every aspect that happened in the book, I can honestly say I really didn’t see coming and I have read so many books that I can almost always see what MAY come about in the book.

There were ghosts and Alessa thinking that she is going crazy the whole time because she sees the ghost of Isaac. Everything seemed so real to Alessa, which of course why wouldn’t it? I would have thought my parents died too if I had the memories of it. She goes to college, makes friends with certain people like Janie, goes to parties and just seems to live a very normal college life without her parents around anymore.

I loved how Alessa and Isaac fell in love with each other. Again. I can’t go into too much detail about it because obviously you would be told what happens at that point. I like the thought that their relationship wasn’t just overnight or instant, they had a friendship first and foremost and slowly fell in love with each other. And then they did it again.

I think Samantha did a great job weaving the world that you see in this book.  I literally thought the whole time that it was based on today. This book was defintely not like any other dystopian book I have read recently. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed them but the concept to this one was just WOW. There aren’t many that deal with mind control and they definitely don’t have anything to do with memory modification.

There was definitely secrets and lies in the book but that is bound to be in almost any and all YA books today. I honestly didn’t think there could have been more secrets and lies in this book because then it wouldn’t have been as great as it was. I loved that no matter what there was always love and hope. I can’t wait to read the second book.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Darkness before Dawn by J.A. London (Darkness before Dawn #1)

Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London (Darkness Before Dawn #1)

Only sunlight can save us.

We built the wall to keep them out, to keep us safe. But it also makes us prisoners, trapped in what’s left of our ravaged city, fearing nightfall.

After the death of my parents, it’s up to me–as the newest delegate for humanity–to bargain with our vampire overlord. I thought I was ready. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the monsters. Then again, nothing could have prepared me for Lord Valentine . . . or his son. Maybe not all vampires are killers. Maybe it’s safe to let one in.

Only one thing is certain: Even the wall is not enough. A war is coming and we cannot hide forever. From Goodreads.

I loved this take on vampires; it was completely different and amazing. I loved most of the characters, I wasn’t too fond of Michael (Dawn’s boyfriend), he was sweet but when he didn’t get his way or the reassurance that he needed, he was an ass.

Poor Dawn though, she lost everything because of vampires, her brother, her mom and dad. I felt bad for her and I loved how she eventually grew as a character and stood up the vampire ruler of their area, Lord Valentine. Because he was just crazy, luckily he had a saner son Victor.

I loved how Victor and Dawn’s relationship grew; it went from savior, to enemy, to friend, to love interest. I don’t think it was possible for someone to go through all those positions in person’s life, especially within such a short amount of time. But then again, she is a teenager and a female so it is our prerogative to change our minds whenever we want.

This was the first book in the trilogy and I can’t wait to find out what happens next between Victor and Dawn now. I don’t want to give away too many spoilers about their relationship, but I am sure it is about to be a lot more difficult now.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Another Cover Reveal!!

Set to be released on January 8, 2013! I can’t wait to read this story, it is the second book.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.

DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she’s never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He’s searching for someone too. He’s also wild – a savage – but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other’s best hope for finding answers. From Goodreads.

This is the first book and let me tell you it does not disappoint you at all. There is so much going on throughout the story that I couldn’t put down the book until it was done. I honestly can’t wait for the second book.

It starts out with a fire and a possible assault on Aria by one of the councilmen’s sons. Luckily enough Perry had gotten in and was able to save Aria. Of course that looked really bad on her since only her and her assaulter survived the fire. After that she was lied to and kicked out of her Pod. Yea I can see how she had a really bad week. She hadn’t heard from her mom in a week, her friend died in a fire and then she was kicked out.

Thinking she was going to die from the air and from the Aether storms going on around her she basically gives up only to actually meet Perry. Seeing as she was unconscious for the last time that they met. Of course he rips her medical suit off her by accident and takes care of her while she is passed out. When she comes too finally she isn’t exactly nice to him. Of course he isn’t nice to her either.

They become allies and work their way to Marron to help fix something of hers so that Perry can use it to get in contact with someone. Mainly because he needs something that they took from him. After awhile they kinda make friends. From there they end up liking each other but knowing that nothing could happen. They were completely opposites and Perry knows that his tribe won’t accept her since she is a Dweller. But boy was I rooting for them to stay together.

Eventually they meet up with Roar, Perry’s friend and Cinder a boy who has been following Roar around. At the same time they are being chased by a cannibal tribe. Not everyone wants to get eaten. After a while they make it to Marron’s tribe and are fixed up medically and given clothes and food.

He ends up fixing Aria’s item and Perry is able to get in touch with who he needs to talk too. There are still lies and secrets. Aria finds out a huge secret her mom hid from her and explained why she survived and was getting stronger outside of the Pod.

Honestly if you don’t read this book and like it, I can’t understand you. The love that grows from Aria and Perry is absolutely beautiful. It isn’t rushed or anything. The friendship between Aria, Perry and Roar is amazing. It is just an absolutely great book with an amazing cover, I don’t know how I will survive until the second book comes out.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.