January Black Tour and Review

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January Black Sixteen-year-old genius Matty Ducayn has never fit in on The Hill, an ordered place seriously lacking a sense of humor. After his school’s headmaster expels him for a small act of mischief, Matty’s future looks grim until King Hadrian comes to his rescue with a challenge: answer a question for a master’s diploma. More than a second chance, this means freedom. Masters can choose where they work, a rarity among Regents, and the question is simple. What was January Black? It’s a ship. Everyone knows that. Hadrian rejects that answer, though, and Matty becomes compelled by curiosity and pride to solve the puzzle. When his search for an answer turns up long-buried state secrets, Matty’s journey becomes a collision course with a deadly royal decree. He's been set up to fail, which forces him to choose. Run for his life with the challenge lost...or call the king’s bluff.  

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This book was totally unexpected.  I read the summary, it looked interesting so I signed up for the tour and asked for a review copy.  Boy was I surprised!

The twists and turns this book take will keep you reading. Little hints dropped here and there, to keep your attention.  Did I know what was going to happen in this book? Yes sometimes there were just too many little hints to make it almost obvious.  But I'm good at solving puzzles so that could be why.  However, that being said it still managed to throw a couple surprises in there to keep me going.

I saw such a strong comparison in the story between their lives and our own.  Such strong political views were represented. And I must say as a politically minded woman I enjoyed seeing someone mirror my beliefs.  Freedom isn't Free, it MUST be fought for, sometimes with dire consequences.  I loved how the author mixed in the fantasy world she created along with our own foundation as Americans. *yes I know I live in Australia but I am now and always will be an American*  As such my values get me into trouble here when I open my mouth and my freedom of speech is not protected here as it is in the USA.  So luckily or unluckily I have been on BOTH sides of this story.  One where Freedom rings, and one where things are hidden from the populace for their own good.  Personally like the characters in this book, I would fight for the previous and turn over the later.

I highly recommend this book.  You will immediately love Matty and Iris, and even "Jack".  You will form a strong bond with the characters and you will want good to overcome corruption.  And you will even be surprised at a few things that pop up in the book that you will recognize from your own lifetime.

5 out of this world stars for this book!

Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review

Praise Refreshingly intelligent and loads of fun! I lost a few hours as I read this book. It's a Young Adult novel that is refreshingly and astonishingly intelligent, and the love story is perfectly played out. ~Christine Ashworth, Amazon Review The mystery was intriguing - I loved how Wendy Russo weaved in all her secrets throughout the book, how she incorporated just enough to keep you reading, while never actually divulging much of anything. I was guessing for most of it and that's pretty hard to make me do. ~Julie, Clean Teen Reads Wendy Russo has created a masterpiece. ~Ivan Amberlake, Author

Book Trailer

Author Wendy S. Russo Wendy S. Russo got her start writing in the sixth grade. That story involved a talisman with crystals that had to be found and assembled before bad things happened, and dialog that read like classroom roll call. Since then, she’s majored in journalism (for one semester), published poetry, taken a course on short novels, and watched most everything ever filmed by Quentin Tarantino. A Wyoming native transplanted in Baton Rouge, Wendy works for Louisiana State University as an IT analyst. She’s a wife, a mom, a Tiger, a Who Dat, and she falls asleep on her couch at 8:30 on weeknights.  

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January Black 100th Amazon Review Giveaway

  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/8/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

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