Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Release Day! INFINITY-CHRONICLES of NICK by NYT Bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon. Book Review and Giveaway.


Title: Infinity-Chronicles of Nick
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Publisher: Griffin/St. Martins Press
Format: ARC
ISBN: 978-0-312-59907-2
Price: $17.99  Pages: 464
Release Date: May 25, 2010



Sherrilyn Kenyon is a prolific writer of a number of paranormal series. Infinity: Chronicles of Nick, a teen novel, is the first in a series for young adults. It is a prequel of sorts, telling the tale of one of her adult characters from his earlier, formative years.

Nick Gautier is a fourteen year-old boy from a single-parent home and the wrong side of the tracks. His classmates at the private school he attends on scholarship never let him forget it, either. Each day is a struggle to find acceptance from his peers, seek understanding from his mother, and keep himself on track so he doesn’t let her down. Nick always knew his father, incarcerated, was a monster and a threat. He just didn’t know he should take it literally.

One fateful night, Nick turns back from joining his so-called friends in a scheme to make a few extra dollars the wrong way. It’s cataclysmic and the beginning of a new era in Nick’s life. If he thought he had it rough before, he hasn’t seen anything yet. He’s about to learn that a lot of creatures exist beyond what mortal man can see or believe and they’re all after him. He just doesn’t understand why. Life’s about to get a whole lot better and a whole lot worse.



Today's young adult novels are rife with paranormal elements. I am fond of such and looked forward to delving into what Infinity had to offer. I was surprised to learn that a significant focus of the supernatural posse consists of zombies. The scenes with zombies had a slapstick quality that was less than engrossing. That being said, this is more an issue of my personal preference than an issue with the writing or the story.

Zombies aside, the story is well-written and interesting. Infinity is well paced. The characters have depth, are fleshed out, and reveal many interesting layers to each personality. Supernatural or not, the characters all have varying conflicts that weave and intertwine with one another in a way that keeps the reader engaged and turning the pages. Even the storyline with the zombies, while not a personal favorite, had me laughing aloud more than a few times at their antics and how the other characters chose to deal with them. Ms. Kenyon has done an excellent job of capturing the teen voice.

Nick’s story will be told over a total of twelve books in the series. Zombies or not, the reader is sure to look forward to hanging in for the duration of the ride. This saga will likely only get more engrossing and interesting as the Chronicles of Nick unfold.

Now, on to the giveaway requirements. I wanted to have two winners for this book and tried to get another one from the publisher, but review copies flew out the door quickly and I (and you) were out of luck. I'm going to giveaway my personal ARC. I can't keep every book I receive, though I so love the cover of this one! I was tempted to keep it, but I know someone will enjoy having it and give Nick a good home, so off it goes.

If you're interested in a chance to receive it, just become a follower if you're not already, leave a comment telling me what you think of Zombies and your email or a way to contact you. That is all. How you feel about Zombies, doesn't impact on your chances to win, I'm just curious, so tell me the truth!

Giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only. (It gets expensive folks).
Giveaway ends Tuesday, June 1 2010

Toodles!

19 comments:

  1. To me, zombies are super creepy!! Gosh I hope I win. Love Sherrilyn's books and have been waiting on Nick's story, and this is an awesome cover!!

    I am an old follower

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Follower
    I love Sherrilyn Kenyon and can't wait to read her latest book
    Review sounds awesome!
    elizabethcerna2011@gmail.com

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  3. I think zombies are creepy, but cool. I really enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. As well as The Forest of Hands and Teeth and The Dead-Tossed Waves. I had an English teacher once who was obsessed with zombies so needless to say that was a constant topic of discussion. :)

    henderkd(at)email(dot)sc(dot)edu

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  4. That's interesting about the slapstick zombies!! Hmm, I do think zombies have a reputation as some of the more sillier supernatural creatures. So I can kind of see the slapstick angle. I think zombies can be fun as well as scary. Thank you for the contest!!

    inthehammockblog (at) gmail (d0t) com

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  5. I am a follower.

    I like to read about zombies, but I would not like to meet one.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  6. Well, it depends on who's writing the book. Zombies have the creep factor incrusted in them but some authors have a way of spinning things. Hey, if werewolves and vampires haven't been enough of an example, then i don't know what =P!

    alannahjavier@gmail.com

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  7. I don't know that I have read that many books with zombies. I do think they are creepier than some of the other paranormal characters.

    seriousreader at live dot com

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  8. Please enter me, I love Kenyon's book. I think many people have a hard time writing seriously about zombies because they are usually portrayed with a bit of humor thrown in. I'm interested to see how she did it.

    jasmyn9[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  9. I have had a harder time getting into the whole Zombie feel of the books. But I think I am finally coming around..

    bkwhisperer(at)bluemarble(dot)net

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  10. I'm glad I'm not a zombie! But I like them in my fiction. ; )

    ambience.of.rain {at} gmail.com

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  11. I actually don't mind zombie books or movies. Generation Dead by Daniel Waters is a favourite of mine. That doesn't mean I'd like to wake up tomorrow and see one personally though.

    I'm an old follower.

    icewoman96 at gmail dot com

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  12. I'm a new follower. Not really into Zombies, but a completely open minded reader (I'm a YA Librarian, that's just in our blood!~) :)

    My email is: terresaw@gmail.com

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  13. This book sounded awesome until I got to the zombie part...double ick...I will take a vamp over a zombie any day...

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  14. I'm so glad to hear she's allowed zombies to play a prominant role. I'm of the opinion that zombies are one of the "new vampires." The books sounds fabulous and I can't wait to read it.
    Rebecca
    rebecca@rebeccaleighromance.com

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  15. Already following Writing is a Blessing with Google Friend Connect [Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug}] -- I love horror and like zombie movies, so I'd enjoy reading about them too :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
    theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

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  16. I've read one zombie novella so far and it was okay, mostly because I wasn't getting a visual of what the zombie looked like. I can't get over the fact that they are rotting corpses that eat brains. D: Very icky. I guess they're okay in books, but in movies or tv, I don't want to see them, I'll get nightmares. O_O

    Anna ♥
    goodgonegirl@gmail.com

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  17. I think zombies are awesome (:
    I follow
    bratdownstair @yahoo.com

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  18. I'm a new follower... I love paranormal fiction, but zombies creap me out. I'm interested to see if this book will change my opinion.

    brenda.bickham@gmail.com

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I enjoy reading what you have to say. Seriously!