Dual Review: July Thunder & July Lightning by Shannon A. Thompson || A bitter-sweet yet strong read

Title: July Thunder
Author: Shannon A. Thompson
Series: Bad Bloods, book 3
Genre: Dystopia, Sci-fi, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 165 pages, Ebook
Published: April 10th, 2017 by Clean Teen Publishing
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Fourteen-year-old Violet has been called many things: a bad blood, a survivor, an immortal…now she has a new name–citizen. But adjusting to a lawful life is not easy, especially when she must live under the rule of the same officers who justified the killings of her flock only eight months earlier.

Segregation of bad bloods and humans is still in effect, and rebellious Violet steps into a school where she is not allowed. When the police get involved, things deteriorate quickly, sparking a new revolution at the wall separating the Highlands from the outskirts.

That’s when Caleb steps in. He might appear to be an average sixteen-year-old bad blood, but he has secrets, and Violet is determined to figure them out. Caleb knows who’s attacking the wall and why, but his true identity remains a mystery–and how he relates to Violet could shake the threatened city to its very core.

Together or not, a storm will form, a rally will start, and shocking truths will be revealed.

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This book was a quick read. I really loved getting back to the world of the Bad Bloods again and I really enjoyed the diverse characters.  You can read my review of November Rain (book 1), here and November Snow (book 2), here.

The last book ended with the Bad Bloods finally getting recognised as citizens of Vendona. But equal rights are yet to be totally implied. Violet survived the massacre of her flock a few months ago and she’s not ready to forgive the humans for it just yet but when a new rebellion sparks that might be a danger to the Bad Bloods as well, she figures Caleb is the only one who can help but will he?

The plot was refreshing and easy to read. The Bad Bloods were considered a threat to the society because of their powers but after Serena and Daniel fought for their rights, they were finally granted some freedom but the consequences remained. We got a glimpse of Violet in the previous books but we get to know more about her in this book. I really liked the interesting fact about her age and how everything actually worked for her. I really liked her, from the very start. She was rebellious and brave, she just wanted to be treated like a normal person and not someone to be feared but I liked the fact that she didn’t take shit from others and always stood up for herself.

“Some rumors said she was a demon from another world. Other rumors said she was death incarnate, someone to remind us of our misdeeds. But no one had said how beautiful she was. No one had mentioned her eyes. The ones that showed color only for a second. A hint of beauty in absolute blackness.”

We are also introduced to Caleb’s herd where we get to see so many new characters and each one possessed a unique ability. I especially liked Nuo’s powers, Kuthun was quite a unique character as well. This book dragged a little in the middle but it picked up towards the end. Caleb’s true identity is also revealed and it ended on a pretty interesting note which made me pick up the next book in this series immediately after finishing this one.

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Title: July Lightning
Author: Shannon A. Thompson
Series: Bad Bloods, book 4
Genre: Dystopia, Sci-fi, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 267 pages, Ebook
Published: May 1st, 2017 by Clean Teen Publishing
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Sixteen-year-old Caleb has been called many things: a patient, a musician, even a prostitute…now he has a new name- son. After his identity is uncovered, Caleb bands together with the family he once rejected in order to save the city of Vendona. But it won’t be easy. Enemies wait around every corner and so do harsh realities. With Violet and Kuthun by his side though, nothing seems impossible. As Vendona sits on the verge of an economic collapse and a massive hurricane threatens the city, Violet and Caleb must show its citizens how to overcome decades of hostility and division to save themselves. Standing or not, a sea will rage, a wall may fall, and all will depend on immortal pain and sacrifice.

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This book was pretty awesome. I was on the edge from the very start and couldn’t put this book down.

The threat that looms over their shoulder is becoming bigger and bigger and when Violet finally learns the truth, she knows she has to do something to save them all. With the help of Caleb, will she be able to stop the impending disaster?

This book was not devoid of politics and it was quite and interesting aspect. So many things happened in this book which kept me interested till the very end. I really enjoyed seeing the characters from the previous Bad Bloods duology as well. The character development in this book was one of my most favourite things about this book. I really loved how Violet handled every situation maturely and protected the ones she dearly loved.

The storm added a violent twist to the story. And along with that, the rebellion played a huge role and when we finally get to know who was behind everything, I was a little shocked. Violet knew she couldn’t stop that person and she along with her friends did everything in their power to save everyone but there were tear-jerker moments as well.

“A heroic act is not always followed by glory and parades and forever freedom,” she said. “It’s often small, disregarded, or forgotten. But it matters.”

Another fact that I loved was that Caleb finally forgiving his family and accepting them. He was a real strong character and it took strength what he had to do in the last moments though it was Violet who stole the show for me. This book was unpredictable and although it ended on a bittersweet note, I was left satisfied with the ending.

Overall, July Thunder & July Lightning were a great read. I enjoyed how the plot was executed and the character development throughout the books. The writing was beautiful and smooth and it was fast-paced, I can’t wait to read more by this author.

Recommend it?

Yes!

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So guys, what do you think of this series? Have you read any other book by this author?

Interview with Shannon A. Thompson || Author of the Bad Bloods series and the Timely Death trilogy!

I recently read the Bad Bloods series and the Timely Death trilogy by Shannon A. Thompson. I loved both of the series and I had the pleasure of interviewing the author herself! Without further ado here goes…

Interview:

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a young adult, blogger, and poet, but outside of writing, I’m the neighborhood cat lady known for climbing rooftops (with my three cats), and I enjoy murder shows and baking. I grew up all over the country—I can’t even count how many times I’ve moved—but I graduated from the University of Kansas, and I currently hide out in Kansas City, Missouri.

2. Which authors were your inspiration?

The first series I remember FREAKING out about was The Magic Tree House series, probably because my brother and I were like best friends growing up (especially since we moved so much), and I loved reading a story with siblings. As I got older, I fell in love with Meg Cabot books. Her female leads were always so strong and independent and funny and confident of doing their own thing, whether that be motorcycles, bald heads, or talking to dead guys. I love her books.

3. What do you love most about writing?

Exploring new worlds and seeing what makes each character tick. There’s nothing better than a character finally revealing a secret you’ve been dying to know yourself. It feels like making a new best friend.

4. Which character did you enjoy writing most till now?

It’s so hard to choose one character over another! I really can’t pick.

5. If you could spend time with only one of the character from the Timely Death trilogy or the Bad Bloods, who would you choose and why?

In The Timely Death Trilogy, I’d hang out with Pierce, hands down. He’s so insightful but doesn’t let it destroy his humor. I think quiet types never get enough attention for how much they bring to the table. Everything they’ve ever observed from the sidelines is important and vital for survival.

In Bad Bloods, I really love Daniel, but I’m not sure I would want to hang out with him. He’s a walking panic attack. So, I’d probably choose Violet. She’s sassy, independent, and a little bit scary. She walks on the wild side. And I’m super looking forward to spending more time with her in the sequel, Bad Bloods: July Thunder. She will tell half of the novel.

6. What was the most challenging aspect you faced while writing the Timely Death trilogy and the Bad Bloods?

The Timely Death Trilogy was a mess from the beginning. It was one of those novels that I tackled way too soon with few tools in my pocket. For example, I actually wrote it backward. I wrote book 2 first, and realized it didn’t make sense without a book before it, so book 1 happened. Overcoming my lack of organization was the hardest with that trilogy.

In Bad Bloods, the most difficult part was—by far—the large cast. I know how many people wanted me to cut it down, but in the end, I simply couldn’t. Each character matters, and each character’s death or survival is symbolic in some way to the city and political structures. I try to tell people to tackle the cast like symbols rather than people, even though they are, of course, people. Example? Let’s take Tessa from the Northern Flock. Her powers allow her to grow and kill plants, but there’s a passage that talks about how every time she revives a plant, it dies twice as fast as it did the first time. This is more or less discussing the tragedy between the original flocks and the two new flocks that stem out of the past. That being said, these symbols are much clearer during a second or third read. So, the book is designed to be read more than once, especially as sequels release.

7. Name a few of your favourite books.

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. The Inventor’s Secret by Andrea Creamer. A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray. All Ally Carter books. And Billy Collins. And Poe.

8. What is your advice for aspiring authors?

Remember why you write. Publishing is a difficult journey to take, even after you have an agent or you’re published. It sounds obvious enough to say remember how much you love writing, but you can get lost. You will get down. You might even feel like giving up, but don’t. Walk away. Take a trip to the bookstore. Writing something terrible that gives you no pressure to ever be published. Read a book. Breathe. Then, get back up and try again. Fall in love with writing over and over again.

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Purchase Links:

My review
Amazon || Barnes & Noble || iBooks || Smashwords ||  Kobo || Goodreads

My Review
Amazon || Barnes & Noble || iBooks || Smashwords || Kobo || Goodreads

My Review
Amazon || Barnes & Noble || iBooks || Smashwords || Kobo || Goodreads

My Review
Amazon || Barnes & Noble || iBooks || Kobo || Smashwords || Goodreads

My Review
Amazon || Barnes & Noble || iBooks || Kobo || Smashwords || Goodreads

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Author Bio:

Shannon A. Thompson is a young adult author, avid reader, and a habitual chatterbox.

As a novelist, poet, and blogger, Thompson spends her free time writing and sharing ideas with her black cat, Bogart, named after her favorite actor, Humphrey Bogart. Her other two cats bring her coffee. Between writing and befriending cats, Thompson graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing, and her work has appeared in numerous poetry collections and anthologies. Represented by Clean Teen Publishing, Thompson is the best-selling author of The Timely Death Trilogy and the Bad Bloods duology. When she is not writing, she is climbing rooftops, baking cookies, or watching murder shows in the middle of the night, often done with her cats by her side.

Visit her blog for writers and readers at http://www.ShannonAThompson.com.

Author Links:

Website || Twitter || Facebook

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So guys did you enjoy the interview? I sure hope you did!

Have you read any of the series written by this author? If yes, how was your experience? If not yet, then do you want to? Are these books already in your tbr? Share your thoughts with me!

Review: November Snow by Shannon A. Thompson

Title: November Snow

Author: Shannon A. Thompson

Series: Bad Bloods, book 2

Genre: Dystopia, Sci-fi, Romance, [Young-Adult]

Heat Rating: Cool

Page Count and Format: 199 pages, Ebook

Expected Publication: July 25, 2016 by Smashwords Edition

Source: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating: 

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Blurb (from Goodreads):

When Daniel and Serena unite, their accidental relationship becomes the catalyst for a twelve-year war to continue. Exposing the twisted past of a corrupt city, Daniel, Serena, and everyone they know will come together to fight. But Serena has another battle.

After a political rumor threatens their lives, Serena must leave her family and join the political front against her will. To survive apart, Daniel has to separate his love from his hatred and join forces with his worst memory to secure Vendona’s war. But very few of them will survive to see the last day. Bad blood or human, a city will burn, snow will fall, and all will be united by catastrophic secrets and irrevocable tragedy.

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This book was an emotional roller-coaster! So much happened in this book, I couldn’t entirely believe my eyes. I ended up loving this book more than I thought I would. Oh and you can read my review of November Rain, i.e. book 1, here.

After Serena gives a chance to Daniel to explain everything, she agrees to play a certain role that might end up saving all the Bad Bloods. But playing that part means leaving everyone behind, she only agrees to it for one condition but that ultimately leads to more chaos. When the entire flock of Bad Bloods are suddenly ambushed once again, old truths resurfaces. But will they even live to go past that?

I loved this book more than the first one. Although the first part of this book was a bit slow but it picked its pace soon enough. This book was filled with political intrigue which made it an even more interesting read. I loved knowing the history of the two flocks which was a mystery in the first book but I did guess a little and it ended up being true but there was another plot twist I didn’t see coming which tore my heart to pieces! I almost cried! I couldn’t believe that actually happened. But I’m not telling you guys, you have to read it to know what happens!

I liked the characters even more in this book, Serena was a great protagonist and I loved Daniel from the start. All the other characters were pretty amazing as well. Everything was executed so well. So many secrets were revealed and I really enjoyed it! Although this book ended in a positive note but as there are going to be other books in this series as well, I am hoping we’ll get to know more about Robert because he still remained a kind of mystery to me although his past was revealed but I need to know his part of the story. Nonetheless even if it’s not his story I’m excited to continue reading this series!

Overall, November Snow was a great read! I enjoyed the plot and the characters kept me interested throughout the book. This book was pretty low on romance but I liked Serena and Daniel’s relationship. The writing was great and easy to read. I’m definitely interested to read more books by this author in the future!

Recommend it?

Yes!

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So guys, are you interested in reading this book? What do you think about it in general? Share your thoughts with me!