Blog Tour: Blood Ties -- Rayne's This or That

(Sorry for the overload on author features. More reviews coming soon!)

I reviewed BLOOD TIES last week on behalf of The {Teen} Book Scene blog tour, but I'm back again with a character This or That from our favorite girl on the dark side -- Rayne McDonald!

1) I know you're a fan of Tim Burton. I'll be excluding your favorite, Edward Scissorhands, for: Corpse Bride or Alice in Wonderland

I'm going to go with Corpse Bride. It's just so dark and romantic and I adore classic stop-motion animation. That said, I do adore all the outfits Alice wears in Alice in Wonderland. I so want that red, black and white dress she wears when she goes to the Red Queen's palace for my own closet.

LOVE. WATCHIT.

2) The classics: All American Rejects or Fall Out Boys
Can I put a vote in for My Chemical Romance instead? -- me: TOTALLY. <3

3) The scarier animal: Bunny or Puppy
I'm with Anya from Buffy--bunnies are way freaky. Those twitchy noses, those beady red eyes...

oh, Draco...

4) Music-listening preference: Headphones or Earbuds
Headphones. I like to totally immerse myself in the music.

5) Kids TV character: Barney or Blues Clues
Blues Clues. I can't stand that happy go lucky purple dinosaur. He gives me the creeps.

6) Paranormal: Faeries or Vampires
Even though my family is fae, I still love the vampires! I guess fairies are just too frilly for me. And I absolutely hate the color pink.

7) HP love: Harry Potter or Draco Malfoy
Draco! I'm all about the bad boys!

8) Weather: Snow or Rain
Rain - my namesake! Especially if it comes with crashing thunder and lightning streaking through the sky. It's beautiful and so romantic.

9) Clothes: Dress or Skirt
I love dresses. Especially Japanese inspired Gothic Lolita ones. Skirts are okay, too...especially leather ones. But you won't catch me dead in pants.

10) Architecture: Gothic or Victorian
Gothic. Dark and rich in detail. Someday when I have my own house, I want to decorate it like a gothic crypt. Maybe even get one of those amazing coffin couches. (http://coffincouches.com/) How cool would that be?

11) Boys: Dark-and-handsome or Blond-and-fun
Normally I'd go for dark and handsome, but Jareth, my boyfriend and blood mate, is a blond. Of course he used to be blond and dark, but ever since he gained the ability to hang out in the sunshine, he's become more of a beach bum. Not really my thing, but, of course, I love him anyway and I'm happy he found something he likes to do. (However you won't catch me surfing anytime soon!)

12) Ideal date: Classy dinner or Out on the beach
The beach at night is beautiful. I'm not so much on the sunshine during the day. A goth's gotta keep her pale skin, after all. As for dinner, while I'd love to eat one, since I've become a vampire food's totally off the menu. So I guess a blood picnic at the beach would be the way to go.

Check it out on goodreads!

Am I the Only Blogger/Reader Who...

source

• Just reads her review books whenever she wants, wherever she wants (as long as the review is on time)
• Feels stifled when scheduling posts
• Now writes reviews in a stream of consciousness, without multiple edits
• Needs occasional blog hiatuses 
• May have her fidelity questioned by her 492 literary crushes
• Picks up whatever is lying around when reading and uses it as a bookmark
• Often cries in empathy over literary heartbreak
• Thinks she's pretty prepared at this point for a vampire takeover or the fall of society
• Feels like a disappointment if she can't keep up with upcoming releases
• Sometimes pretends she remembers a little more about a book than she actually does
• Still isn't completely sure where the reviewer line lies between brutal honesty and brutal attack
• Is, at times, too emotionally-driven and impulsive -- and regrets some of her previous posts
• Gets intimidated meeting authors and other bloggers face-to-face
• Would be happy if her life mirrored THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, INKSPELL, or HARRY POTTER
• Needs an about page -- WHEN DID THIS ABOUT PAGE TREND START *rageface* (forever ago, sigh)
• Wishes some of her books could have lovely book cover babies together
• Can't help but want to review like some other bloggers she admires -- and sometimes tries and fails
• Frequently has a hard time seeing past eye-searing blog designs, but it's possible
• Still pictures a computer behind every blog (though I SHOULDN'T, AGH)
• That doesn't really have a social life, but is okay with her life the way it is
• Is shy as a caterpillar in real life -- and is scared of caterpillars in real life
• Is putting an end to her struggles over these two years and finally resolves to BE HERSELF 24/7 (as lame as that is)
• ...sucks at resolutions

It's a mix of blogger and reader, serious and non-serious things up there, but some of the blogger bullets are legitimately areas that I feel... alone on? Like a disappointment as a blogger.

Do you share any of the same bullets (serious or no)? Are there any things you do/habits you have/etc. that you feel alone on?

TFFOS: Amber Argyle -- Deleted Scene & Giveaway

AMBER ARGYLE is the last of TTFOS, for real this time. She's giving an exclusive peek at a deleted scene from her upcoming novel, WITCH SONG, which releases on September 1st. Read on, and enjoy! :)

Very Clickable Links: {website} · {blog} · {goodreads} · {amazon} · {book depository}

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Author intro: This scene was probably about 1/4 of the way through the book. Senna is running from the Witch Hunters, who want to imprisoner her with the rest of the witches. She meets a former Guardian--Wittin--and his son--Joshen, but refuses their help because she doesn't trust them . Knowing how much danger Senna is in, Wittin finally tell's Joshen the truth.

I changed the story so that Joshen has been training to be Senna's Guardian since he was a young boy, so this scene no longer fit. Plus, there's a bit too much dialogue for my taste.

The 90% of the story is told from Senna's perspective. 10% from Joshen. 

Deleted Scene:

Joshen's father took a long, drawn out breath. “Son, I need to tell you about the Witch War.”

Joshen’s forehead creased with confusion. “I know all about it.”

“No, you don’t.” His father had that look, the one that said keep your mouth closed and your ears open. “You think it was just as fight between the witches. That it doesn’t concern us. But you’re wrong. Most people were wrong about that.

“Whenever the witches have trouble,” he continued, “it affects us all. Take this blasted drought. You think it’s just a twist of fate, that the seasons rule themselves. But they don’t. The Witches control it.

“That’s what started the war. A group of the witches broke away from the main group. Called themselves Espen’s Servants. They wanted to sell their songs for money and power. But the other witches, the Sisters, believed everyone had the right to their songs. Each witch took a side.”

Joshen opened his mouth to speak, but his father’s warning look reminded him to be silent.

“Many, many witches died.” Wittin’s voice caught, and Joshen looked at his father in surprise. Emotion wasn’t something he showed. “When the Servants started loosing, their leader, Espen, began . . . murdering the Sister’s and their families. Eventually, the Sisters managed to defeat the Servants. But they never found Espen. They never stopped looking, but everyone they sent to capture her disappeared. And there were other . . . disappearances. Until all the remaining witches were forced into hiding.”

He shook his head, a look of immense sadness in his eyes. “We knew it was bad, but, after seeing Senna . . . My guess is she might be the only witch left.”

A hard knot of unease tightened in Joshen’s stomach. “And the two men who are chasing Senna?”

His father gave a helpless shrug. “Witch Hunters—a division of Espen’s Servants.’”

Wittin rolled up his shirt sleeve, revealing the familiar green tattoo that was about the size and shape of a round pebble. “But Espen isn’t the only one with helpers. They mark us as a Guardian when we’ve proven ourselves worthy.” He ran his fingertips across the mark. “I was marked long ago, but then Espen snapped my leg and I couldn’t be much help.”

“I thought you got bucked off a horse!” Joshen exclaimed.

His father smiled as he tugged his sleeve down. “Nope.”

Joshen gazed in the direction Senna had gone. “Why are we the only ones helping the Witches?”

“The people are no friends of witches, son. Most don’t believe in any of this. Those that do blame the witches for every flood or early frost we’ve ever had. They don’t realize that handling the seasons is more like controlling a half wild colt than ordering a side of beef from a butcher.”

Joshen thought of the girl he’d met earlier. Her wide golden eyes full of fear, like a hunted animal. She couldn’t face this alone. “I have to go after her,” Joshen finally said. “Whether she wants my help or not.”

Wittin nodded. “I know.”

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Summary:   



The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons-but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fades, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.
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GIVEAWAY

Courtesy of Amber, I have one ARC of WITCH SONG to giveaway! And, yes, it does come with the gorgeous cover. <3 For an extra entry, tell me what would you do if the fate of the world was in your hands? Would you rush off like Joshen to save it?

To enter, fill out the form below. Contest ends 8/15 at 11:59PM EST, and open to US only (sorry, I'm broke. ):).