Mar 12, 2014

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway! -- The Wolf's Cry by Natalie Crown


Thanks for stopping by my tour stop for The Wolf's Cry by Natalie Crown. This is a YA Fantasy book that released in January 2014. This is the first book in the The Semei Trilogy.  This tour will run March 10th-21st and consist of reviews, author interviews, guest posts, top tens and a giveaway.  Stop by the tour page for the full list of tour stops.

The Wolf's Cry (Book One in the Semei Trilogy)
Author: Natalie Crown
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: YA
Length: PDF is 199 pages

About the Book
She is his weakness.
And she will ruin everything.
Kammy Helseth's idea of adventure never amounted to more than getting a boat across to the mainland and finally escaping to London. That was until she stumbled through the mouth of the forest into a world beneath our own, the world of the Semei.

Her only wish is to find her way home but when Jamie, her best friend, is taken into this new world of shapeshifters and Crystals she has no choice but to stand up to her fear and to remain beneath the surface. Hunted by Bagor, King of Alashdial, and those that are loyal to him, Kammy finds herself in the company of a group of outlaws led by Jad, a Prince with a bitter past and a similarly bitter demeanour.

They overcome age-old prejudice to find a way to work together. But Bagor knows a secret about the Crystals that threatens to change everything. Kammy and Jad must find a way to thwart the king and to save Jamie, but that is just the beginning. For Kammy is in possession of a Key and the fate of countless lives, both human and Semei, may rest in her hands.
This was a wonderfully creative story about shape-shifters, other realms, and impending war. A beautifully created fantasy that pulled me in from the first chapter and kept giving the reader more to look forward to as the story moved forward. Kammy is an outcast but strangely finds her way to a new world and from there all the craziness breaks loose, people changing into animals, she goes missing, there is a prince, and a race of people living right beneath our noses that humans don't know about. Going from a shunned outcast in your world to being hunted in another is not necessarily a want of mine, but the suspense it created was overwhelming and amazing to read.

The world building in this book is just so good it even goes so far as to tell you of its creation through a tale that Fi (one of the Semei) tells Kammy. That world just pulls the reader in. The world of Semei, or shape shifters was enveloping, the characters there are strong, passionate, and determined and intriguing! I mean, come on, they are SHAPE SHIFTERS! Jad and Eric are the swoon-worthy male leads and one changes into a wolf, so what is not to love about that?! 
 
The plot was very deep, as most fantasy are. There was a lot of story building before the real action occurred but that does not mean that those parts were boring. The whole story was worth the read. I would strongly recommend to lovers of fantasy and it is a clean book, so no hanky-panky to worry about for younger readers. You should definitely go get it. 

Book Links:  


About the Author
I grew up in a village called Swilland, in the countryside of Suffolk, England. There wasn't much around, other than farms and fields, but for the most part I loved it, and I still do. I’m a passionate person by nature. I don’t just LIKE things, I LOVE things. Whether it’s a book, a film, or a sports team. Once I decide to enjoy something, I enjoy it to the MAX.

I’m a terrible cook. I prioritise essential social media work over keeping my flat tidy, because I know best. I

Onto my love of reading and, consequently, writing - it was my dad that played a big role in encouraging me to read. He didn't push me towards books necessarily; he simply read a lot himself. Then I would pick up his books and read them after him. I was reading high and epic fantasy from a very young age. I guess that might explain why I have always loved adventure stories with magic and intrigue and princes and princesses in.

I was aware that I wanted to ‘be a writer’ from a very young age. I was convinced I would be the first best seller that hadn't reached double figures in age yet! I wrote about the Danshees, furry creatures that lived through a mirror. I wrote about a Sand Bottle that transported a boy into a world of magic. I wrote about a sick girl finding a music boy that healed her, but transported her back in time. (Wow, I always have loved alternate universes…)

When I was eight I wrote my first novel called The Land of No Return. Despite the title, I am determined to return to it one day. I feel like I owe it to my past self. So, as you can see, I have always been writing. There have been times when I have gone weeks without scratching down a word. Then there are days where I churn out multiple chapters and only my body’s silly desire for sleep and/or food can stop me.

I write because I enjoy it. I write fantasy because I enjoy it. I try my hardest to put something of myself into my writing. I like to think my characters have depth, I like to think that my fantasy worlds reflect upon the real world in some way. You guys will be the judge of that but even if you don't agree I know that I at least try and I can do no more than that.

These days I live in North London and I love it. I work full time and London is a hectic city. Juggling work, writing and a social life is tough but nobody is forcing me to do it so I can't complain. The dream is that writing will be my career one day but it doesn't matter if I never quite make it. I love writing too much to ever pack it in.

I am desperate to get a dog. My mum suspects I miss my cats at home more than I miss her. I am a devout Arsenal/Ferrari/Rafael Nadal fan. I get all mad when confronted with a case of social injustice and then I get all mad when people take the fight for social justice too far. I mostly keep those thoughts to myself and simmer with rage. I watch good TV and bad TV, because I can. What I can’t do is enjoy bad books (subjective opinion of course). I just can’t.

Find the author:
2 $50 Amazon Gift Cards (INT)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

This tour was organized by CBB Book Promotions
 

6 comments:

  1. YAY! I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! Wonderful review! Thanks so much for hosting a tour stop!

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  2. Thank you so much for taking part in the tour! Your review makes me very happy!

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    1. It was my pleasure. I really enjoyed the book!

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  3. Go Kammy! I hope she saves Jamie and falls in love with Jad!

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    1. Such enthusiasm! :) Thanks for stopping by!

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