Starling Cover Reveal

Hey Blogger Buds,
I feel like all I ever do around here is cover reveals, lately. But these covers are pretty, I'm having a bad day, and this is my blog, so you'll just have to deal with it, eh?

So you might remember this lovely lady:

She wrote this book:

And you can't mention that book without mentioning these books:

And she also wrote this one:

Remember her now?

Excellent! Because Lesley Livingston is coming out with another book, Starling, in a few months! So add it on Goodreads!
When? you ask.

August 15, 2012

Perfect! Now that you all know, I can take my leave! Tah!



Oh. Wait. You were expecting something more? What? Oh. A...a cover? I can't imagine why you want a cover. I'll go look for one...

...

Oh! There it is!  I found it! Nice, ain't it? I love that dress, and that Mona-Lisa expression. The New York City background is gorgeous.

New York City? Of course! Lesley has these amazing NYC setting.

What'd you say? How did I know it was New York? Because I live there, of course! And I'm psychotic psychic!

Oh. And it's mentioned in the description. I'm assuming you want to read it, yes?

Well, if you insist...

"Love is just the beginning... of the end."

When Mason Starling rescues an unconscious young man from the ravages of a terrible storm—and he rescues her from the otherworldly creatures lurking in that storm—little does she know her whole life is about to spiral dramatically, mystically out of control. Someone is trying to kill her, someone else is trying to use her, and the only one who seems willing to help her is the tantalizing, dangerous stranger who can’t even remember who—or what—he is. All he remembers is his name: Fennrys Wolf.

What Fennrys doesn’t know is that, thanks in part to his past actions, a crack has appeared in the barrier between the mortal world and the Beyond Realms. The crack has opened up a nexus of dark energy in the middle of the East River and it’s attracting the attention of powerful entities on both sides of the rift.

Because of that, a longstanding truce involving the members of several ancient underworld cartels is now in jeopardy. Mason, Fennrys, and the students of elite Gosforth Academy—a neutral-ground “safe haven” for children of the Families—soon find themselves caught in the crossfire as the servants of the warring pantheons fight to see whose gods come out on top...and whose demons go down in flames.

Set in New York City, with all its dark, gritty sparkle, the STARLING saga explores the spaces between the worlds and the realms of the ancient gods… only a heartbeat beyond. It’s a tale spun from ancient mythologies—Norse and Greek and Egyptian—filled to the brim with adventure, danger, and romance, and played out against the backdrop of a city with its own siren-song.

From the universe of Lesley Livingston’s WONDROUS STRANGE, a new series and captivating heroine make their exciting debut.

Excited? Me too. Don't forget that date!

August 15, 2012

Peace and fairies,

Riv Re

Current Music: Soundtrack from A Very Potter Sequel (Not Over Yet + Harry Freakin' Potter)

Character Dolls: Cadan,

Hey Blogger Buds,
I know, I missed Tuesday. I barely even got today's post in, my life has been so crazy. And it's probably a really bad idea that I'm posting today, since I've got a mountain of work to do.
But I love you guys so much I made you a picture of Cadan from Angelfire and Wings of the Wicked.

If you've spent more than three seconds on my blog, you KNOW how much I love me some Cadan.

First, a meme reminder:
"Character Dolls" is a weekly meme here at Riv Reads every Thursday. Doll-making websites, like elouai, are my guilty pleasure, and I figured that while I'm on them, I might as well fan-girl a bit! And while I'm doing that, why not share some of my creations on the blog?
Please don't use this meme without express permission from myself first.
Unless otherwise stated, all dolls are made with elouai.
And, of course, I ask that you don't alter my dolls, or claim them as your own. If you like one of the dolls, and want to spread the love, please don't post the picture on your own blog, but instead link back here! And you're welcome to give it a go, of course, and create your own dolls. If you do, let me know so I can check it out!

This week's character is Will from the Angelfire series.

Check out my review of Angelfire.

Add the book on Goodreads.

(drumroll, please)

*drumroll*

I had an idea of where I wanted to go with Cadan. Though I was scared I wouldn't be able to portray his steaminess, I don't think this one's an #epicfail.

1) The eyes were pretty easy to find, since Cadan's got this killer gaze, like all reapers. The rest of the face is pretty meh, and the hair wasn't too difficult either.

2) I added wings! I love them.

3) It wasn't so hard to find shirts and pairs of pants that fit, nor to narrow it down. Cadan is the classy kind of guy reaper, the kind who wears long-sleeve shirts and ties, or t-shirts with vests. I narrowed my outfits down to two: This one, and another that's pretty much the same with inverted colors, and a bit of blue on the shirt. I decided on this outfit for a few reasons: (a) I wanted white pants (b) I like the classiness of the checkered button-down and vest and (c) White is usually a sign of good. The facts that his whole outfit, including his wings, is almost confusing, since he's a demonic reaper. I wanted to raise the question on whether he's good or evil. He's all white, with that big black thing smack in the center, messing it all up.

4) In retrospect, I should have given him white shoes to go with the whole "good or evil" thing, but I instinctively chose black.

Overall: I don't really like his face, but I think Cadan is pretty okay. He also contrasts with Will quite nicely.

What do you think?

~TEAM RIVDAN~

I Am a Bad Blogger...So Here's a Cover!

Hey Blogger Buds,

I feel like a really bad blogger. *shakes fist at self* My Sunday posts are kind of lacking. I'm proud of myself that I'm still pretty much maintaining my Tuesday reviews and Thursday meme, but I've got so much else going on in my life that I can't think about Sunday posts, and take the time to write them.

So instead I'll just leave you with two things:

1) My writing is going wonderfully. Remember my post on goals a little bit ago? Well I just reached my goal of 3,375 words for the second time, and earned my second episode of TV. It's very satisfying, in multiple ways.

I just finished this insanely emotional scene. Like, emotional-hurricane type.

2) You probably saw it already, but the cover of Crown of Embers was released! You know, Crown of Embers. The sequel to Girl of Fire and Thorns. Oh, you forgot what Girl of Fire and Thorns looks like? Here's a reminder:

Aaaaand here's the new cover:

Side by side:

Add the series on Goodreads!

Adios, stalkers followers.

Peace,

Riv

Character Dolls: Will

Hey Blogger Buds,
I'm back with another character this Thursday! Today, I've got a picture of Will from Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton. I read Angelfire a while back, and I have Wings of the Wicked sitting on my shelf right now, waiting for me to start. (Oh Em Geeeee, my hardcover set is GORGEOUS.)
First, a reminder what this meme is about:


"Character Dolls" is a weekly meme here at Riv Reads every Thursday. Doll-making websites, like elouai, are my guilty pleasure, and I figured that while I'm on them, I might as well fan-girl a bit! And while I'm doing that, why not share some of my creations on the blog?
Please don't use this meme without express permission from myself first.
Unless otherwise stated, all dolls are made with elouai.
And, of course, I ask that you don't alter my dolls, or claim them as your own. If you like one of the dolls, and want to spread the love, please don't post the picture on your own blog, but instead link back here! And you're welcome to give it a go, of course, and create your own dolls. If you do, let me know so I can check it out!

This week's character is Will from the Angelfire series.

Check out my review.

Add the book on Goodreads.

(Drumroll please)

*drumroll*

Will was really easy and really hard at the same time. I don't really like the shirt, but the wings were definitely fun to add. :)

1) I did the head first, as usual. It was very easy. I found a good pair of green eyes, a normal nose and mouth (I'm not into giving guys girly lips. I can't handle it.) The hair was also pretty easy, since there are surprisingly few normal brown hairstyles, which is what Will has. I also picked out a nice, strong jaw for him.

2) The shirt is what most annoys me. I wanted a t-shirt, maybe sleeveless, maybe not. I found this one, and I first took it as a pretty average shirt, with the bonus of having Will's tattoos. Looking at it again, I don't really like the shirt, though the tattoos are still great.

3) Pants and boots are pretty average, with a tough-guy feel.

4) The wings, which I actually did before even the shirt, are my favorite part. It's not every day I get to design a character with wings, and aren't these just so cute and fluffy?

Overall: The shirt's a little too...I dunno, modern?....for my tastes, and he has kind of boring features, but he didn't come out so bad.

Peace,

Riv

Current Music: Dance with the Devil by Breaking Benjamin

Les Miserables Mini Review

Hey Blogger Buds,
Sorry, I haven't finished any books lately, aside from Les Miserables, which I had an Midway Mention of last week.
I finished it over the weekend, and I have two words for you:

MIND = BLOWN

(Sorry, I wanted to find you guys a gif, but that's not where my talents lie)

In other news, I just got Courtney Allison Moulton's Wings of the Wicked in the mail today, and I almost died.

Peace,
Riv

Nothing To Say

I really should be writing, so I'm going to not-blog today.
But, like I said, I SHOULD be writing. What am I doing instead, you ask?
Watching Hank Green make a bunch of awesome ten word videos on Youtube. PRECIOUS.

Peace,
R